CSPS Research Seminar | Living with or versus nature? – mitigation of human-bear conflicts as a bridge towards „politics of conviviality” | By Svetoslava Toncheva Time: Tuesday, 3 March 12:30-13:30 |Location: Wageningen University | Leeuwenborch room C81

Various conflicts concerning wildlife and large predators such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos), in particular, are rising both globally and in Europe and Bulgaria in particular. Their conservation is, therefore, a significant challenge in landscapes which are as densely populated and heavily modified as those found in much of Europe. The presentation discusses this issue examining the various human-bear conflicts arising in diverse settlements in the region of Rodopi mountains, Bulgaria where humans and bears share the same living space. The mitigation of human-carnivore conflicts is considered a major challenge to conservation efforts worldwide as well as priority issue in the context of the contemporary conservation debates and the convivial conservation, based on the notion of cohabitation of humans and animals, in particular. By outlining the core reasons for the human-carnivore conflicts in Rodopi mountains, as well as the inadequacies of the applied conservation policies, the case aims and contribute to the convivial conservation debates discussing possible ways for mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts and more successful and just approaches to living with nature.

Svetoslava Toncheva works at the Center for Advanced Study, Sofia/Bulgarian Academy of Sciences