Brown Bear Project

INTRODUCTION

Fapas started to work for the protection of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in 1982. The overall aim being to put into action different activities, which together, favour the conservation of the less than 80 examples of the species which survive in the wild in the Cantabrian mountains.

These bears are the last survivors of a population that once inhabited nearly all the mountains and sierras of the Iberian Peninsula. Unfortunately human activity has all but wiped out this species and today the bear population, which is in grave danger of extinction, only manages to survive in a few remote corners of northern Spain.

The conflict of interests between man and the bear still persists and continues to be one of the major threats to the bear’s survival. The aim, therefore, of Fapas is to try to gradually eliminate these conflicts and in doing so guarantee the conservation of this important species of the Iberian fauna.

The first activities of FAPAS centred on eliminating, or at least minimalizing confrontations between man and the bear. Livestock and other agricultural damages and losses caused by bears were in the past a perpetual source of conflict. Fapas initiated a campaign to ensure the rapid payment of compensation for damage and losses thereby avoiding fatal repercussions.

Another priority was to make the public aware of the importance and urgency to save the brown bear from the brink of extinction, and so a broad on-going environmental awareness campaign was initiated.

In 1984, Fapas signed an agreement of collaboration with the Regional Agricultural Ministry of the Principado de Asturias. This agreement authorized members of Fapas to inspect and verify any damages or losses caused by bears to agricultural or livestock farming interests.

On positive verification, compensation payments were made rapidly by the Administration, and FAPAS also paid a 20% premium on the value of the damage or losses to compensate for inconveniences and indirect losses as a result of the bears.

This action had positive results and eliminated one of the risks to the bears, i.e. the once real threat of a farmer killing a bear in defence of his fragile mountain economy.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The proposal by Fapas was to "take the bears into the schools". This was not always easy. Some rural schools in the mountains were inaccessible by car and at times, there wasn’t even electricity.

Members of FAPAS visited rural schools in those areas inhabited by the bear. Short talks about the importance of protecting the bears were given to the school children and they were also provided with related didactic material in the hope of stimulating their interest in conserving this species.

Not in vain, those boys and girls are now the young adults who share their land with the brown bear and on whom the bear’s survival largely depends.

PREVENTING DAMAGES & LOSSES

Members of FAPAS obtained valuable information on the behaviour of the bear through the experience of verifying damages and losses caused by these animals. Using this information, it was possible to determine where and those times of the year when damage and/or losses were more likely to occur. As a result FAPAS put into action a Prevention programme to safeguard the interests of local farmers and agriculturists from attacks by bears.

Apiaries are one of the most frequent targets for attacks by bears. It is no myth that bears love honey and in periods when other food supplies are scarce, beehives suffer attacks with the consequent loss of the honey harvest.

Fapas put protective fencing round specific apiaries, which were more prone to the forays of the bears. The fencing was constructed of either metallic railings, or electric fencing run off solar-powered storage batteries.

CEREAL PLANTING

Rural depopulation over the past few decades in mountainous zones inhabited by the bears has resulted in the loss of many traditional farming methods and other customs. One major change, which affects the bears, has been the disappearance of many traditional crops.

What man once produced for himself, also served as a dietary supplement to wildlife populations. The disappearance of maize plantations, once a widespread and traditional crop, in these mountain valleys has meant the loss of an important food supply for the bears.

Fapas acquired a tractor and other machinery for cultivation and in zones of specific interest for the conservation of the bear, abandoned fields were transformed into maize plantations. This maize was not harvested but left as a dietary supplement for the bear.

Without a shadow of a doubt the gravest threat to the bears’ has been and still is illegal hunting.

The brown bear is a species protected by law. Its hunting is prohibited. Nevertheless, the death of bears by poachers is the main reason why the species is on the verge of extinction in Spain. For a long time the killing of a bear has been a symbol of pride and bravery for the hunting fraternity.

Over the years Fapas has worked in close collaboration with the Civil Guard’s Nature protection service SEPRONA (Servicio de Protección de La Naturaleza). On occasions it has been possible to arrest "important" illegal hunters, confiscate the "hides" of dead animals and even rescue bear cubs that were in the hands of hunters who had killed the mother bear.

Deplorably, illegal hunting still persists. Steel cable traps set in mountains inhabited by the bear are a serious threat not just to bears but to other wildlife species too. For this reason, Fapas has created a team of rangers, whose principal mission is to "track" determined zones in search of such traps. If this arduous task were not undertaken then some bears would no doubt fall into the traps and die, thus nullifying all the other conservation efforts that the association has carried out over a long period of time.

FRUITS FOR THE BEAR

Habitat conservation is also a priority. Many zones classified as having a high ecological value as a result of their wild fruit production are disappearing.

In particular forest fires and rural depopulation have resulted in certain areas suffering a loss of diversity of wild fruit-producing trees and other plants, some of which in the past were kept in a good state of conservation because "man" collected the fruits. These trees also provided food for the bears.

Oaks, wild apple, pear and cherry trees are gradually becoming more and more scarce, and the few that remain are avidly searched out by the bears as important food resources in spring, summer and autumn.

Fapas initiated a "Fruits for the Bear" campaign, in which thousands of fruit trees germinated in the organization’s own native tree nursery were planted. It is hoped that in years to come these trees will begin to produce fruits thereby supplementing the bears and other wildlife species food supplies.

HABITAT RESTORATION

In 1998, FAPAS initiated an ambitious habitat improvement programme in zones bordering brown bear habitat. Bears visit these zones sporadically. Fapas believes that some areas bordering existing brown bear habitat could possibly be re-occupied by the bear following a series of habitat improvement programmes.

The work includes the plantation of native trees and scrub clearance in an attempt to reduce the risk of forest fires. A further aim is to bring about a definitive end to illegal hunting.

Fapas has signed several conventions of collaboration with hunt societies that manage those areas where work is currently taking place as part of this programme. These are areas (some 100,000 hectares in total) which were inhabited by bears no more than 60 years ago.

The "Fruits for the Bear" Campaign initiated by Fapas in 1990, is now in a new phase.

Cherries constitute an important part of the diet for the bears at the beginning of the summer months. As a result cherry trees suffer a lot of damage by the bears in their effort to obtain the fruits. The bears climb the trees, break off branches which are then tossed to the ground where they can then feed off the cherries.

Fapas is planning to set up a tree nursery exclusively dedicated to the propagation of wild cherry trees. In 1998 the association started the new programme. During the coming decade, the aim is to plant thousands of wild cherry trees in various zones of specific interest within the distribution area of the brown bear in the Cantabrian mountain range over the coming decade.

BROWN BEAR PROJECT – 15 YEARS ON EXHIBITION

In 1998, Fapas celebrated its 15^th year of activities related to the conservation of the brown bear in the Cantabrian Mountains.

Thousands of people have supported the many initiatives that have served to arouse public interest in the protection of the bears.

As part of the 15^th anniversary celebrations, Fapas has put together an exhibition that provides information on the bears. The exhibition includes an insight into the bear’s behaviour, its biology and problems involved in the bear’s conservation. In order to reach as many people as possible the exhibition is of an itinerant nature.

FAPAS IN FOREIGN PARTS

Fapas has projected its activities beyond the Spanish borders to Portugal and even as far afield as Venezuela. In these two countries, Fapas has assisted in the creation of two new organizations that are now carrying out nature conservation activities.

Fapas has also received international support from other institutions. The Stiftung Europäisches Naturebe (Euronature) in Germany has responded to the association’s requests for sponsorship and the Brown Bear Project of Fapas is currently included within a European Union LIFE programme for the conservation of the brown bear in Asturias.

Fapas Portugal works on diverse activities related to nature conservation, including habitat improvements for various wildlife species threatened with extinction and public awareness raising campaigns

Fapas Venezuela evolved in response to a petition for help from conservation groups that are working to protect the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the only species of bear that inhabits South America.

By exporting knowledge and experience gained from the work Fapas had developed over 14 years of working for the conservation of the brown bear in Spain, a programme to conserve the Spectacled bear in Venezuela emerged.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

All the aforementioned activities aimed at the conservation of the brown bear are complemented by environmental awareness campaigns whose aims are to offer participants an introduction to and arouse interest in environmental issues.

Fapas has been organizing summer camps for youngsters for some eight years. All the activities are focussed on the environment and the hope is that the experience establishes an enthusiasm and respect for the natural environment in the young participants. The environmental education team has also organized conservation work camps, courses, workshops and other activities related to the discovery and knowledge of the natural environment.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Currently, the major focus of Fapas is the conservation of the brown bear but it also develops other projects and maintains a close relationship with other organizations.

The very first conservation task carried out by Fapas was the recovery of Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) colonies in the Picos de Europa mountains. The project has had notable success and has saved the species from imminent extinction in this zone. The population now numbers some 100 breeding pairs and is stable.

Another on-going activity is the recovery and treatment of wounded animals with the aim of returning them to the wild once rehabilitated. FAPAS works in close collaboration with the group GREFA (Grupo para la Recuperacion de la Fauna Autóctona) which has veterinary surgeons and other specialists in wildlife recovery at its Madrid-based centre.

This project relies on public co-operation. That is, when a wounded animal is found FAPAS is contacted, the animal is rapidly delivered to FAPAS by a messenger service. If the animal needs more than first aid treatment and/or treatment for malnutrition, it is sent directly to GREFA.

Members of Fapas’ forestry team have also collaborated on various other projects going as far afield as Extremadura to work on a demonstrative project to recover the Dehesas. Fapas has also participated in the recovery of tracts of "Vias Pecurarias" (green corridors) linking different natural ecosystems throughout Spain. The same forestry team has also planted native trees along new mountain tracks in the Picos de Europa National Park. The tracks have been constructed to provide livestock farmers access to high mountain pasture. The aim of the tree planting is to prevent erosion and to diminish the strong visual impact the tracks produce on the landscape.