Coexistence for Conservation: Human - Brown Bear Harmony

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Regenerative 2030

Protect Albania's threatened Brown Bear species and conserve high biodiversity area.
Conduct scientific research on wildlife and habitats.
Raise awareness and advocate for nature conservation.
Support local communities and involve stakeholders in conservation efforts.

The World Expeditions Foundation, in collaboration with Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), is raising funds to support human-bear conflict prevention efforts in Albania. While a small-scale project launched on April 1st, 2025, has initiated important work in this area, additional funding is needed to fully implement effective protection measures for communities living near bear habitats.

Together, we aim to raise 2,500 Euros to purchase and distribute three electric fences to farmers, beekeepers, and livestock breeders in Albanian Alps National Park where bear-related damages are most frequent.

These fences are essential tools in reducing conflict, protecting rural livelihoods, and fostering coexistence between people and the region’s endangered brown bear population.

Through this partnership, we are working to create lasting, community-based conservation outcomes, and your support will help us get there.

Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Zero Hunger: The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.

Industry Innovation And Infrastructure: Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development.

Life On Land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Impacts

Contributing to global biodiversity by protecting Albania's Brown Bear, listed as critically endangered on Albania's national Red List.
By providing electric fencing to farmers and beekeepers, the project directly prevents property damage caused by bears. This reduces economic loss and fear in rural communities, fostering more peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.
The project includes surveys and local consultations, ensuring community voices are heard and increasing awareness around non-lethal conflict prevention methods. This builds long-term support for conservation and strengthens community–NGO relationships.

Outcomes

The project will result in six electric fences being installed – three in Albanian Alps National Park and three in Korab-Koritnik Nature Park – protecting beehives and farms from bear-related damage.

By introducing practical conflict-prevention tools, the project equips local farmers and beekeepers with the means to safely deter bears, reducing the risk of escalation or retaliatory killings.

Questionnaires and consultations with local communities help gather data on human–bear conflict and raise awareness about non-lethal mitigation methods – laying the groundwork for broader behavioural change.

By decreasing negative interactions between humans and bears, the project contributes to the long-term conservation of a nationally threatened species, supporting Albania’s biodiversity and protected area integrity.

Background

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) conservation in Albania is facing urgent and multifaceted challenges. Once thriving across the country's mountainous landscapes, the species is now increasingly vulnerable due to growing human pressures, weak institutional support, and a lack of coordinated conservation action. Although the brown bear is legally protected in Albania, conservation efforts remain limited and fragmented, placing the population at serious risk.

A key obstacle is low political prioritisation, there is little commitment from authorities to develop and implement effective conservation strategies. This has resulted in the absence of national management plans, minimal enforcement of wildlife protection laws, and under-resourced institutions. Limited scientific research compounds the issue, with major gaps in knowledge about the bear’s population size, range, and ecological needs, making it difficult to base decisions on accurate data.

Habitat destruction and fragmentation from infrastructure development, logging, and unregulated energy projects continue to reduce and isolate bear habitats. This forces bears into closer contact with human settlements, contributing to increased human-bear conflict. Unpublished data from PPNEA reveal frequent bear-related damage to crops, livestock, and beehives, creating tension with local communities and diminishing public support for coexistence.

Further, poaching and illegal killings remain persistent threats, often linked to unresolved conflict and a lack of awareness or preventative measures. Public understanding of conflict mitigation strategies is low, and the tools needed to prevent such incidents, like bear-proof fencing or compensation schemes are rarely implemented.

The brown bear’s situation in Albania highlights the broader issues affecting wildlife conservation in the country: insufficient institutional capacity, limited stakeholder engagement, and a disconnect between policy and practice. Addressing these challenges will require stronger political will, investment in research, and greater community involvement to ensure the long-term survival of this iconic species.