The goal of the LIFEstock Protect project is to increase acceptance for livestock protection to decrease the human-wolf conflict in the German speaking part of the Alps. An innovative conservation and bottom-up approach is used. Peer-to-peer capacity building training will take place through farmers’ associations. The project will create a transboundary network of trained experts to achieve effective implementation of livestock protection homogeneously across the project areas. The expected result is used to minimize human wolf conflict.

Canis lupus is a strictly protected species by European law but its population status is unfavourable in Germany and not or inconsistently reported in Austria and South Tyrol. The main threat is low social acceptance and lack of tolerance, often directly linked to the demand to kill wolves or, in extreme cases, create wolf-free zones. The European Commission confirmed that such wolf-free zones are not complying with EU laws and that alternative measures must first be implemented to minimise depredation damages. This project has the objective to enhance the implementation of livestock protection and ultimately contribute to the long-term conservation of the transboundary Alpine wolf population. Objectives:

•  Increase knowledge about livestock protection and provide tools for implementation to achieve a behavioural change in livestock farmers

• Promote use of correctly bred and certified livestock guarding dogs and assist pre-emptive wolf surveillance with wolf scatdogs

• Informing press and general public on fact-based knowledge, using educational and communication activities for optimal engagement and impact

• Establish a volunteer and an ambassador network that provide practical assistance to livestock farmers

•  Improve quality of livestock protection material and identify environmental impact and feasibility of livestock protection in Alpine ecosystem

• Decrease inconsistent legislation on compensation, protection and financing of livestock protection