LIFE DinPin Bear is a large international conservation project working towards coordinated, population-level conservation of brown bears across the Dinaric–Pindos region. At DivjaLabs, we bring our expertise in conservation genetics, population monitoring, citizen science and human–wildlife coexistence to a partnership spanning nine countries.
Introduction
The Dinaric–Pindos brown bear population extends across numerous national borders. Effective conservation therefore depends on countries working together rather than managing bears as separate national populations.
LIFE DinPin Bear brings together researchers, conservation organisations and public authorities from across the region. The project aims to improve knowledge of bear populations and connectivity, reduce human–bear conflicts, harmonise monitoring and management, strengthen transboundary cooperation, and involve local communities and key stakeholders in long-term bear conservation.
Running from 2026 to 2031, the project works across nine countries of the Dinaric–Pindos bear range and builds on knowledge and experience developed through previous LIFE projects and established monitoring programmes.
DivjaLabs has a major scientific and coordinating role in the project, particularly in conservation genetics and population monitoring, harmonisation of monitoring methods, citizen science and stakeholder engagement, and development of sustainable economic opportunities linked to bear conservation.
Learn more about the international project at lifedinpinbear.eu.
A regional partnership
LIFE DinPin Bear works across Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece and Kosovo, covering much of the Dinaric–Pindos brown bear population.
The project is coordinated by EuroNatur in Germany and brings together 21 participating organisations, including research institutions, conservation organisations, forestry and protected-area authorities, environmental agencies and government ministries.
By connecting organisations working across the bear population, the project combines scientific research with practical conservation, policy development, conflict prevention, capacity building and stakeholder involvement.
Understanding the bear population through genetics
One of the central challenges is still surprisingly basic: we need to know how many bears there are, how populations are connected and how effectively bears move and reproduce across the region. We coordinate the project-wide assessment of bear population status and implementation of best practices for genetic monitoring. Non-invasive genetic samples will be collected across large parts of the project area, with hunters, foresters, protected-area staff and other volunteers playing an important role in field sampling.
At DivjaLabs, we will carry out the laboratory and genetic data analyses using high-throughput sequencing (HTS), population-genetic analyses and capture–mark–recapture modelling.
The genetic data will provide information on:
- bear abundance and sex structure;
- genetic diversity;
- effective population size;
- population structure and management units;
- gene flow and connectivity between different parts of the population.
By combining new samples with existing genetic data, we will investigate how bears are connected across the Dinaric–Pindos region and identify potential barriers to movement and gene flow. These results will provide an important scientific basis for habitat-connectivity analyses and future transboundary conservation and management.
Harmonising monitoring across borders
Collecting data is only useful at the population level if results from different countries can be meaningfully compared. We therefore also coordinate the development of harmonised guidelines for brown bear population monitoring across the project area. Existing approaches will be reviewed and common guidelines developed for genetic sampling, laboratory methods, population analyses and complementary monitoring methods.
The aim is not to impose one identical monitoring programme everywhere, but to ensure that methods and data are sufficiently compatible to allow countries to compare results, share information and jointly assess the status of the Dinaric–Pindos population.
Ultimately, the project aims to establish a practical basis for coordinated, cost-effective and long-term population monitoring that can continue after LIFE DinPin Bear ends.
Citizen science
Monitoring a wildlife population spread across such a large area would not be possible without people who know and regularly work in the landscape. We coordinate the project’s citizen-science activities, involving hunters, foresters, protected-area rangers and other wildlife enthusiasts directly in project activities, particularly the collection of non-invasive genetic samples.
Around 1,000 participants are expected to become involved across the project area.
Citizen science greatly increases the geographical coverage of monitoring, but its value goes beyond collecting samples. It also creates opportunities for direct cooperation between researchers, wildlife managers and people with extensive local knowledge, while building capacity for future monitoring.
Sustainable economies for people and bears
Long-term conservation also depends on whether people living alongside bears see opportunities as well as costs associated with their presence. We coordinate activities promoting sustainable economies for people and bears. The aim is to encourage economic activities that provide benefits to local communities while remaining compatible with bear conservation.
These activities include:
- responsible bear watching and other wildlife-tourism experiences;
- bear-friendly products and services;
- support and training for local businesses;
- development and promotion of approaches that reduce impacts on bears and avoid habituation to people;
- expansion of the Bear Friendly concept into additional parts of the project area.
We also coordinate the assessment of the impacts of these activities. Surveys, interviews and other indicators will be used to evaluate their uptake, benefits for participating businesses and communities, and contribution to coexistence between people and bears.
Together, these activities connect science, conservation practice and people – from analysing DNA in the laboratory and understanding population connectivity across borders to working with wildlife managers, volunteers and local businesses throughout bear range.
Project partners
Germany
EuroNatur – Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe (project coordinator)
Slovenia
DivjaLabs
Slovenia Forest Service – Zavod za gozdove Slovenije
Croatia
University of Zagreb – Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Resource Environmental Center (REC)
Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska
Center for Environment – Centar za životnu sredinu
Serbia
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia – Zavod za zaštitu prirode Srbije
Albania
National Agency of Protected Areas (NAPA)
Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA)
North Macedonia
Macedonian Ecological Society (MES)
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning
Montenegro
Environmental Protection Agency
Center for Protection and Research of Birds (CZIP)
Greece
CALLISTO – Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society
Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA)
Kosovo
Environmentally Responsible Action Group (ERA)
Kosovo Environment Protection Agency (associated partner)
Expected results
By the end of LIFE DinPin Bear, the project is expected to deliver:
- Better knowledge of the Dinaric–Pindos bear population — including abundance, genetic diversity, population structure and connectivity.
- Harmonised bear monitoring — with compatible methods that allow data to be compared and shared across borders.
- Stronger citizen-science networks — involving around 1,000 hunters, foresters, rangers and other wildlife enthusiasts.
- Improved transboundary conservation and management — treating the Dinaric–Pindos bears as one shared population rather than isolated national populations.
- New opportunities for local communities — through responsible tourism and bear-friendly products and services.
Ultimately, LIFE DinPin Bear aims to move brown bear conservation beyond separate national approaches towards coordinated management of one shared transboundary population—supported by robust science, compatible monitoring methods and the active participation of the people who live and work alongside bears.
Project information
Project: LIFE24-NAT-DE-LIFE DinPin Bear – 101214048
Full title: Towards population-level conservation of Dinaric-Pindos brown bears
Duration: January 2026 – June 2031
Programme: LIFE Programme – Nature & Biodiversity
Coordinator: EuroNatur
Project website: lifedinpinbear.eu
LIFE Public Database: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE24-NAT-DE-LIFE-DinPin-Bear-101214048/towards-population-level-conservation-of-dinaric-pindos-brown-bears
