Status and Management of the Brown Bear in Europe

The total number of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Europe is presently about 50,000 (about 14,000 outside Russia), within an area of more than 2.5 million km (800,000 km outside Russia). About 37,500 bears are found in the northeastern European population; 8,100 in the Carpathian Mountains; 2,800 in the Alps–Dinaric–Pindos; 1,000 in Scandinavia; 520 in the Rila–Rhodope Mountains; 200 in the Stara Planina Mountains; 50– 65 in the western Cantabrian Mountains; 40–80 in Apennine Mountains; 20 in the eastern Cantabrian Mountains; 6 in the Western Pyrenees; 5 in the Central Pyrenees; and 4 in the southern Alps. The brown bear is either a protected or game species in all of the countries discussed in this paper. Most countries manage the brown bear at the national level, although several ministries are often involved. All European countries with bears within their national borders (except Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Yugoslav Federation) have signed the Bern Convention; almost half have prepared, or are preparing, a management plan for brown bears. In addition, most countries engage in monitoring, research, information dissemination, and conservation activities. In areas where bear range includes human settlements, damage to livestock, orchards, and beehives occurs but, in most countries, stakeholders are compensated for damage, either by the state, regional government, or hunter clubs. In 1995–96 about 1.15 million US$ was paid to compensate such damage throughout Europe.