July 2004

On the last workshop on the development of the Wolf Management Plan, held in Baške Oštarije in June 2004, the participants agreed on the Draft of the Wolf Management Plan. Altogether six workshops on development of the Plan were held within the project from the beginning of 2003, with the three workshops held before the project. Representatives of all interest groups participated in these workshops. The Draft of the Plan was also approved by the Committee for Monitoring Large Carnivore Populations in Croatia. This document was sent to the Ministry of Culture for the official approval. We expect for Plan to be adopted this autumn. Integral version of the Plan will be available on our web pages upon the official approval. At this moment, we disclose the summary of the Plan.

Wolf Management Plan for Croatia

Summary

Wolf Management Plan is an active document that represents guidelines for the activities that will ensure a long-term conservation of wolves in Croatia and their co-existence with humans.
The Plan consists of two main parts: Background and Operative Management Plan. The first part includes analyses of all available data that are important for wolf population. They represent a basis for the Operative Management Plan.
The Plan includes the following themes:

1. Research and monitoring
2. Habitat preservation
3. Hunting
4. Livestock breeding
5. Interventions into the wolf population
6. Education and information
7. Public participation in decision-making
8. Tourism
9. Cooperation with neighbouring countries
10. Implementation of the Plan
11. Revision of the Plan
12. Financing implementation of the Plan

One of the basic activities regarding research and monitoring is the establishment of a national system for monitoring wolf population, that includes collection of data on wolves (telemetric research, mortality analysis) and monitoring of prey population.
This Plan also proposes the measures for maintaining habitat integrity and quality. These measures include, among all, building Ťgreen bridgesť; maintaining the existing spatial proportions among forests, meadows and arable plots; monitoring quality of habitats physical planning that takes into account the presence of wolves, selective forest management and prevention of introduction of alien animal species.
The Plan also proposes certain measures for harmonisation of hunting management with the conservation measures for wolf and other predators. Thus, when calculating the game increment cofficient and game fund, the presence of wolf must be considered. A system of game monitoring must be established and game population increades. Scientifically justified objective assessment of the impact of wolves and other predator on game populations must be implemented. A special emphasis is given on the prevention of illegal kills both of wolves and game. It is agreed that the stricter sanctions should be introduced.
Livestock breeding should include proper management that stimulate larger herds. Certain measures for livestock protection must be implemented as well. Continuation of the dog and fences donation programme is strongly recommended. Livestock registration process of Croatia must be finalised. The existing system of damage compensation should be imroved as well. The Plan also proposes the improved coordination among livestock breeders, solving the problem of strey dogs and prevention of illegal disposal of slaughterhouse waste.

The Plan also includes a chapter about possible interventions into the wolf population, if those do not disturb the stability of the wolf population and on strictly selective basis.
These interventions are allowed only if there is no other solution and in cases of big damage to domestic animals, contagious disease, unacceptable and proven impact on game and threat to humans. The Large Carnivores Monitoring Committee proposes the quota on annually basis, concidering regional differences. These quotas include regional quotas, emergency response, traffic kills and other death causes. It also takes into account the social capacity and acceptance. After the first 6 months a status analysis must be made, which may result in a decrease o ran increase of the planned intervention size. This intervention is only allowed in the period that exclude reproduction time. It is performed by a local game concessionaire in cooperation with the local coordinators that should report about this activity. In certain situations (rabbies, attacks on humans etc.), outside the planned annual intervention, emergency response may be required. In that connection, it is necessary to develop an emergency plan. Wolf carcasses should be used only for scientific purposes, if there is no other interest. A broader group to control the intervention process will be established, including representatives of all interest groups.
Education and information activities should continue with already started educational and information campaigns. Lectures on wolves, publications, exhibitions and regular press conferences and public announcements are foreseen. The knowledge on wolves will be monitored through human dimension research.
Public participation in decision-making should be furtherly enforced through direct involvement (joint workshops, meetings etc.) and quantitative monitoring of broad public and interest groups attitudes.
Wolf tourism should be initiated as well, as the possibility for economic benefits from wolves. In this regard, the establishment of an educational and information centre for all three large carnivores in Croatia is proposed, along with the design and organisation of visiting tours and design of thematic souvenirs.
The Plan puts a special emphasis on international cooperation with the neighbouring countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. Bosnia and Herzegovina must join the bern Convention and Croatia is willing to assist in implementation of this convention, wolf management planning and public involvement.
Cooperation with Slovenia is already started with the preparation of this Plan. However, it should be improved through regular meetings and joint implementation of the certain activities proposed in this Plan.
The Ministry of Culture is responsible for implementation of this Plan with cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and Ministra for Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction. Other relevant institutions and bodies are also included in this proces slike the State Institute for Nature Protection, Large Carnivores Monitoring Committee and other interest groups. The Plan should undergo its first revision within two years and later as necessary.
Funds for its implementation must be ensured from the State Budget with possible assistance from international sources and the Fund for Environmental Protection.