The region forms a diverse landscape—a mosaic of protected areas, forests, semi-natural grasslands, densely settled valleys (especially in Małopolskie), and growing tourism infrastructure. Livestock farming plays a key role in maintaining this landscape and its biodiversity.
At the same time, the area is a stronghold for large carnivores, including wolves, lynx, and bears. Podkarpackie has long supported the largest wolf population in Poland. Today, increasing numbers of wolves and brown bears contribute to rising conflicts, as livestock depredation and public safety concerns become more significant for local communities.
Municipalities
Geographical size
Human population
Number of livestock farmers
Livestock farming systems
Large carnivore species
Wolf population
Lynx population
Bear population
SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEXT
Małopolskie and Podkarpackie, particularly their southern Carpathian areas, are characterised by relatively low population densities and a fragmented settlement pattern. The landscape is dominated by mountains, forests, and semi-natural grasslands, making the region attractive for tourism and recreation. Agriculture remains an important but highly fragmented sector, based largely on small, family-run farms combining livestock production with off-farm income. Cattle farming dominates, with sheep grazing playing a locally important role. Compared to lowland regions, farming systems are less intensive and constrained by the terrain, shorter growing seasons, and smaller farms. While some commercialisation is occurring, notably in more accessible valleys, many farms remain small-scale and multifunctional.
Tourism is a key component of the regional economy, alongside forestry and wood processing. The region is recognised for its high natural value and extensive protected areas.These areas are important for biodiversity conservation, including populations of large carnivores such as wolves, lynx, and brown bears, creating both opportunities and challenges for livestock farming. At the same time, mountainous regions are facing challenges such as ageing populations, outmigration, and limited economic opportunities, although tourism partly offsets these trends.
FARMING CONTEXT
Agriculture is highly fragmented and dominated by small, family-run farms practising mixed crop–livestock production. Livestock remains an important component of rural livelihoods, often operating at a low commercial intensity. Cattle farming is the dominant livestock system, based on small herds, traditional housing, and locally produced fodder. Production is generally low to medium-intensity. Sheep farming is regionally important in mountain areas, relying on extensive grazing systems and traditional pastoral practices, although it has been declining due to economic and management challenges. Farm structures remain weakly specialised and only partly commercialised, with many households combining agriculture with off-farm income.
Main Challenges:
- Increasing frequency of extreme weather events affects grassland productivity and fodder availability.
- Low profitability of small-scale farming, combined with rising costs, put strong economic pressure on predominantly family-run farms.
- Predation by large carnivores, especially wolves, poses a significant challenge for extensive grazing systems, particularly sheep farming.
- Labour shortages and an ageing farming population reduce the capacity to maintain labour-intensive livestock systems and traditional pastoral practices.
- Administrative complexity and dependence on EU/CAP support.
LOCAL CONFLICT ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE CARNIVORES
Number of attacks:
Małopolska and Podkarpackie, being part of the Polish part of the Carpathians, are the regions that are most affected by livestock depredation, mostly by wolves.
- Between 2022 and 2024, 1,048 wolf attacks on livestock were recorded across the studied municipalities (including 27 in 2024 alone), resulting in 2,104 animals killed.
- Sheep accounted for most losses (832 attacks, 1,774 animals), including several mass depredation events (up to 20 animals in a single attack).
- In addition to cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, wolves also prey on farmed fallow deer and red deer, and domestic dogs.
- Most attacks occur during the grazing season.
Social conflict:
- Limited support for strict wolf protection: Many rural residents view the current legal status of wolves as inadequate and favour regulated hunting in specific seasons or areas, although overall attitudes remain neutral to slightly positive.
- Fear of wolves and bears: Despite long-term coexistence, wolves are still perceived as a source of concern, though reported fear levels are generally low. The presence of wolves and bears within settlements is becoming increasingly common, raising fear levels, which are mostly expressed through social media or traditional media channels. Since 2014, there have been two fatalities caused by brown bears in the area, as well as several human-bear incidents.
- Perceived inadequacy of compensation: Compensation schemes are often seen as insufficient, as they do not account for future losses or unrealised benefits, particularly in cases involving very young animals.
- Increasing social polarisation: This issue reflects a broader division between stakeholder groups with differing views on nature, wildlife, and conservation priorities.
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