Managing livestock protection and summer pasture farming - new publication

Conducted in South Tyrol, Italy between 2022 and 2025, the research brought together farmers, conservationists, scientists, and other stakeholders to jointly identify barriers and solutions to livestock protection.

The findings show that the issue goes far beyond technical fixes like fences or guardian dogs. Instead, broader socio-economic pressures—such as labor shortages, low profitability of summer pasture farming, and limited political support—play an equally important role. Through workshops and collaborative working groups, participants developed and implemented 13 practical interventions, including improved shepherd training, awareness campaigns, and new income opportunities linked to nature conservation.

Despite initial skepticism, the participatory approach helped build trust, encourage knowledge exchange, and produce widely accepted solutions. The study, conducted within the framework of the European LIFEstockProtect project, concludes that long-term success will depend on sustained political commitment and adaptive policies, offering valuable lessons for managing human–wildlife conflicts in other regions.