Highlights from the Tusnad EcoBear Conference: Nature FIRST’s Contribution to Human-Wildlife Coexistence
The Tusnad EcoBear Conference 2024 (October 2024) in Băile Tușnad, Romania, provided a platform for discussions on human-wildlife coexistence, particularly in regions where large carnivores pose challenges to communities. The EU-funded project Nature FIRST actively contributed through presentations, workshops, and expert panels, sharing research findings and technological advancements.
A key highlight was the first public demonstration of the Human-Bear Conflict Radar—a digital twin prototype designed to predict and mitigate human-bear conflicts in real time. This tool represents a major step forward in integrating technology with conservation strategies and attracted significant attention from both experts and the media.
Bridging Science and Practice: The Tusnad EcoBear Conference on Human-Wildlife Coexistence
The annual Tusnad EcoBear Conference brings together experts from across Europe and beyond to share practical solutions for reducing human-wildlife conflicts. The programme includes presentations, field trips, and workshops, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among attendees.
This event is part of the CERV project (101146879) 'Coexisting with Bears - Conservation Needs Conversation!' funded by the European Union, with support from Nature FIRST (101060954), a project under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
Conference organiser Istvan Imecs highlighted two key measures of success for the 2024 edition: strong logistics and the ability to make scientific knowledge accessible to local communities.
“We gather experts here to share their work and help us understand how to implement scientific and technological advancements in our local context. But the real success is when we can translate this knowledge into the local language and ensure it reaches those who need it most,” Istvan explained.
One of the biggest challenges is bridging the gap between technology and local adoption. While research institutions develop new conservation tools, their implementation depends on engagement with local communities and policymakers. Istvan stressed the importance of including government officials, field practitioners, and NGOs to ensure that the knowledge shared during the conference leads to tangible, long-term benefits.
Nature FIRST played a vital role in this process by facilitating discussions and providing multiple formats for engagement, including scientific presentations, field workshops, and panel discussions. This diverse approach ensured that stakeholders, regardless of their expertise, could connect with the project’s findings.
Advancing Coexistence: Human-Bear Conflict Radar Debuts at Tusnad EcoBear Conference
A highlight of Nature FIRST’s participation was the first public demonstration of the Human-Bear Conflict Radar, presented by Anna Davison, PhD Candidate at Wageningen University & Research. The radar integrates real-time data to predict human-bear conflicts, offering local stakeholders an early-warning system to reduce risks and promote coexistence.
Reflecting on her presentation, Anna noted:
“Several people approached me afterwards, expressing interest in applying the digital twin model in their own regions. It was encouraging to see that the technology sparked discussions about potential case study areas and future collaborations.”
The conference was also the perfect forum to receive valuable feedback from experts working in the field on potential future directions for expanding the radar’s capabilities. This included important discussions on additional model components needed to adapt the radar to further locations, such as those which experience bear attacks on humans. This feedback provides an idea of how the radar might evolve beyond the timeline of Nature FIRST and highlights the widely perceived value of this tool for adaptive decision-making.
Despite the enthusiasm, Anna acknowledged the challenges of implementation:
“Many local teams are unfamiliar with this type of technology. To make the digital twin effective, we need to work closely with people on the ground—not only to ensure the tool aligns with their needs but also to provide training so they understand how to use it effectively.”
Looking ahead, she envisions the Human-Bear Conflict Radar playing a central role in developing Bear-Smart Communities across Europe, equipping them with data-driven insights for more effective wildlife management.
Nature FIRST at Tusnad EcoBear: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice in Conservation
Nature FIRST played a key role in shaping discussions at the conference, serving as a bridge between scientific research and practical conservation measures. The project contributed through:
Presenting cutting-edge research
Engaging in policy-oriented discussions
Facilitating knowledge-sharing between researchers and practitioners
Beyond showcasing the Human-Bear Conflict Radar, Nature FIRST attracted broad media attention across multiple channels, including television, online platforms, and regional and international publications. The project was featured in more than 20 media outlets, reflecting its impact and growing interest in technological solutions for human-wildlife conflict management.
Researchers from Nature FIRST contributed valuable insights on biodiversity monitoring and conservation strategies, reinforcing the project’s commitment to predictive and proactive conservation. Presentations included (list in alphabetical order):
Albin Ahmeti (Semantic Web Company, Austria): A species conservation simulation system based on a knowledge graph for brown bear movement prediction
Alexandra Sallay-Moșoi (WWF-RO, Romania): Technical overview of the bear-smart community of Baile Tusnad, Romania
Boris Hinojo (3eData, Spain): Habitat mapping and its contribution to human-bear coexistence in the Băile Tușnad region, Romania
Claire Gwinnett (Stratford University, United Kingdom): Sherlock Holmes and the Bear Poaching Case
Cristian Papp (WWF-RO, Romania): Can ecological connectivity support human-large carnivore coexistence?
Ilya Acosta-Pankov (Bulgarian Academy of Science, Bulgaria): Human-Bear conflict recorded with the Cluey app in a pilot site: a preliminary study on the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Bulgaria
Jan Kees Schakel (Sensing Clues, Netherlands):
Caught in the Camera Trap: Navigating the Myriad of Options
Bear Habitat Suitability Maps: introduction of a novel and cost-effective mapping approach
Janka Faller (dotSpace, Netherlands): Assessing market dynamics and financial constraints in relation to data-driven biodiversity monitoring: Insights from the Horizon Europe Nature FIRST Project
Roman Cherepanyn (WWF-UA, Ukraine): Structure and dynamics of conflicts with large carnivores in the Ukrainian Carpathians
Vladimir Todorov (Bulgarian Academy of Science, Bulgaria): Human disturbance to the brown bear (Ursus arctos) winter dens
Covering a broad range of conservation topics, Nature FIRST positioned itself as a key driver of practical, data-driven conservation solutions. The diversity of these presentations demonstrated the project’s interdisciplinary approach, merging ecological research with technological advancements.
Looking Forward
Nature FIRST’s participation in the Tusnad EcoBear Conference reaffirmed its role in bridging scientific research with real-world conservation applications. While the Nature FIRST project itself is coming to an end in September 2025, its impact will continue through its consortium partners and the tools it has developed.
As Istvan noted, WWF teams have already begun integrating Nature FIRST products into their conservation efforts, ensuring long-term benefits for communities facing human-wildlife conflicts.
The positive reception at the conference also sets the stage for future collaborations. With growing international interest and strong engagement from local stakeholders, upcoming editions of the Tusnad EcoBear Conference will remain an important venue for fostering innovative conservation solutions.
As Nature FIRST wraps up, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the methodologies, insights and technological tools developed are shared with and remain accessible to conservation practitioners. For decision support tools such as the Human-Bear Conflict Radar, development now shifts to an iterative improvement process to better meet the needs of our field partners. Embedding tools like the Human-Bear Conflict Radar in local decision-making processes will be a critical step toward more effective and sustainable wildlife management.