Handbook for integrating brown bear presence in spatial planning

In the Dinarics, traffic
related mortality represents a major cause of brown bear mortality and also
limits bear expansion into Alps. With increasing awareness of the dangers of
fragmentation, mitigation measures are increasingly being used worldwide to
increase permeability and allow safe crossing across such structures (green
bridges, overpasses or viaducts for larger mammals and underpasses for
smaller).

We published a handbook with guidelines for integrating bear habitat suitability and connectivity to spatial planning in Slovenian and English languages. Prepared mainly for different specialists dealing with spatial planning, it briefly explains the issues, challenges and offers solutions as mitigation measures that can be used to lessen the impact of road infrastructure on animals. Using the maps of habitat suitability for bears and potential corridors among different patches, spatial planners will now be able to recognize and avoid critical areas.

Here you can read our press release about the Handbook.