IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Estonian Fund for Nature, | |
| Status of Large Carnivore Conservation in the Baltic States and Action Plan for the Baltic Large Carnivore Initiative, 2001-2005 | |
| 2001 Full Book | |
The present report has been prepared at the request of the Council of Europe with the main aim of giving an overview of the status of large carnivore conservation in the Baltic States - focussing on the developments with national action plans - and to present a work plan for the activities of the Baltic Large Carnivore Initiative, a working group formed in the spring of 2000 under the umbrella of the European Large Carnivore Initiative. Since regaining independence in 1991, the Baltic States have had the eyes of Europe and indeed of the international community on them, including much attention directed to learning about the state of the natural environment. Perhaps the visible signs of environmental degradation in localised "hot spots" in the Baltic States as a result of Soviet military and heavy industry presence was not a surprise, but the picture of largely intact natural landscapes hosting viable populations of large carnivores -- and other natural values lost to a great part of Europe -- was not necessarily expected. The protection of the natural environment and the conservation of large carnivores (Wolf, Eurasian Lynx, and Brown Bear) is an important issue for the three Baltic States, and with the imminent joining of the European Union, the Baltic States' role in protecting the wider European natural heritage has been increasingly under focus. The present report gives a general overview of the status of large carnivore protection for the three Baltic States, focusing on how the national management plans fulfil the guidelines and recommendations set out in the European Action Plans prepared by the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe and the Council of Europe. This comparison and analysis has been possible for Estonia and Latvia, but not for Lithuania, which has not yet begun preparation of such plans. Furthermore, the report attempts to provide a framework action plan for the Baltic Large Carnivore Initiative (BLCI), which can be a tool and reference point for the ongoing work of the various scientific, governmental and non-governmental partners in the region working to ensure the long-term viability of large carnivores. |
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