Parks Dinarides and WWF Adria, in cooperation with NP Biogradska gora from Montenegro and NP Tara from Serbia, have implemented the initiative “Bear watching”, which is the basis for the development of nature-oriented tourism but promoting measures to protect and improve bear habitat and prevent poaching.

Through the project, an efficient brown bear monitoring system was built using standardized monitoring methods, in order to contribute to the conservation of this species in the area of ​​NP Biogradska gora and NP Tara.

Based on the obtained data, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, the project implemented specific activities in the field and with intensive cooperation with managers and local actors made visible progress in the protection and conservation of wild species and their habitats.

The goal is to establish an attractive tourist product “Bear Observation” in the long run, which would benefit both NP Biogradska gora and NP Tara, as well as the local community. Residents of protected and surrounding areas were given the opportunity to get involved in brown bear protection measures through training in DNA collection and other activities, then creating an attractive tourist offer as guides for bear watching or by providing accommodation, gastronomy, branded souvenirs and other tourist nature-oriented products and services.

Parks Dinarides worked actively with partners to raise awareness and educate the local population about the values ​​in protected areas, in order to ensure the sustainability of this form of eco-tourism.

This initiative was realized within the project “Protected areas for nature and people”, and you can see the developed project material at the following link.