The managament plan for the large carnivores in the Czech Republic Petra Nová 1, Jaroslav Červený 2, Petr Koubek 2, Luděk Bufka 3, Dana Bartošová 4, Jaromír Bláha 5 a Pavel Marhoul 1 1 Agentura ochrany přírody a krajiny ČR Praha, 2 Ústav biologie obratlovců AV ČR Brno, 3 Správa NP a CHKO Šumava Kašperské Hory, 4 Správa CHKO Beskydy Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, 5 Hnutí DUHA Brno

Actual state of the project processing the document suggestions from the Ministry of Environment and project opponents prepairing for resubmitting to a Ministry of Environment Project duration: 10 years (expected dates: 2008/ /8)‏ Project partners: AOPK ČR, UBO AV ČR Brno, DUHA

Project content taxonomy, distribution, biology, legal status conservation measures taken recently major threats targets of the management plan plan of actions success criteria and plan of the realisation

Major threats unknown Diseases very low Decrease of prey number -meduim - low-Hybridisation very lowlowmediumEnvironmental changes low mediumDisturbance medium Fragmentation of biotopes medium Genetic isolation medium highlowNegative public opinion medium Mortality caused by traffic high Poaching Eurasian lynxWolfBrown bear Impact of threat Threat

Targets of the management plan To achieve at least the area of distribution and population abundance of Eurasian lynx, that would correspond to a recent maximum held in years 1995 – To preserve the actual area of distribution and population abundance of wolf and brown bear in the ČR and, in case of their further expansion, to ensure the protection of these animals in newly occupied areas. To lower negative impact of poaching on large carnivores populations. To change negative public attitude to large carnivores and involve public in the protection of large carnivores. To ensure long-term occurence of wolf, brown bear and Eurasian lynx as wild-living animals in the Czech Republic together with minimalization of damages and conflicts caused by these large carnivores.

Plan of actions 1. Public educational campaign

2. Maintaining the transmittance of corridors Plan of actions

3.Protection of large carnivores via Natura 2000 sites Lynx lynx, Canis lupus, Ursus arctos pSCI Beskydy Lynx lynx pSCI Šumava, Blanský les, Boletice, Beskydy Plan of actions

4.1Creation of common program of large carnivores monitoring and research 4. Cross-border cooperation 4.2Initiation of the discussion about enlargement of the area with continual protection of wolf in the Slovakia Plan of actions

5.1 Detailed monitoring in selected areas 5.2Mapping the carnivores' area of distribution in the whole Czech Republic using questionnaires 5.3Collecting the data about dead individuals 5. Detailed monitoring of the populations state Plan of actions

6. Increasing the effectiveness of the compensation system 6.1Modification of legislature concerning compensations 6.2Education of employees of state administration, veterinaries and authorized experts 6.3Edition of the methodology of damage assessment 6.4Creation of the system for monitoring damages and its central database Plan of actions

7. Cooperation with police of the CR on the procedure of poaching investigation. 8.Elimination of the problematic individuals 9. Research 9.1Effect of large carnivores on forest ecosystems 9.2Research of the genetic structure of populations Plan of actions

Acknowledgement Miloš Anděra (NM Praha), Pavel Benda (NP ČŠ), Ota Buršík (LČR-LS Rumburk), Alena Červená (MŽP ČR), Marek Drha, Ladislav Kašík, Libor Pena, Milan Suk (NPŠ- LS Křemelná), Thomas Engleder (Önj. Haslach), Petra Fejklová (PFřUK Praha), Werner Hentschel (CHKO Labské pískovce), Marco Heurich (NP Bayer.Wald), František Jaskula (CHKO Beskydy), Michaela Kocurová (PřF UK Praha), Ludvík Kunc (Ostrava), František Šulgan (Rožnov p. R.), František Shrbený (VLS Praha), Radek Střeleček (NP Šumava), Ondřej Volf (AOPK ČR), Manfred Wölfl (Naturpark Bayer.Wald) Creation of the management plan for the large carnivores in the CR was financially supported by grant MŽP ČR VaV 620/1/03.