Background The project is targeting a sub-population of the Dinara-Pindos population of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the third largest in the EU. The sub-population was estimated in 2002 to include at least 19-54 individuals, making the project area of major importance for the conservation of large carnivore biodiversity over the whole of the European continent. The brown bear sub-population and habitat are suffering from severe pressure, degradation and disruption related to the construction of a 72 km stretch of motorway: five bears have died within six months of the opening of the first 40 km of this new road. Immediate mitigation measures are needed to minimise this negative impact. Moreover, bears are threatened by other human activities, such as poaching, which affects around 5% of the bear population (above the sustainable threshold of 4% for a viable bear population). As food opportunists, bears show seasonal feeding patterns connected to human food resources, such as small-scale cultivations of wheat, corn and trifolium as well as small livestock and beehives. Increased contact with humans increases their risk of mortality. Bear habitats in the project area have also suffered degradation from criminal and accidental forest fires, particularly those that occurred in 2007. Objectives The project aims to improve the brown bear conservation status in terms of habitat condition and population by addressing major threats relating to road infrastructure, traffic and human-caused mortality. Specific objectives include maintaining human-caused mortality at a sustainable level not exceeding 4% of the minimum estimated population in the project area and maintaining yearly reproductive females at no lower than 10-12% of the minimum estimated bear population. The project’s communication activities aim to: improve drivers’ awareness of the risk of traffic accidents and hence minimise traffic-related mortalities on some 350 km of major and minor roads; improve the awareness level of specific target groups on existing preventive measures; and produce tools to minimise bear-human conflicts. A further aim is to spread know-how about tools for the conservation and management of the brown bears. Expected results: Human-caused brown bear mortality to be maintained at a sustainable level not exceeding 4% of the minimum estimated population in the project area; Yearly reproductive females to be maintained at no lower than 10-12% of the minimum estimated bear population; and Public servants in competent authorities (e.g. forestry services) will adopt best practice conservation strategies for the brown bear. These objectives will be achieved through: The establishment and monitoring of specific mitigation measures related to traffic mortality risks; Systematic monitoring and analysis of the genetic status of the bear population; Establishment and operation of a bear emergency team; Operation of a long-term support mechanism facilitating awareness raising of local communities and implementation of preventive measures (e.g. guard dogs);and Restoration/cultivation of old orchards present in the brown bear habitat. Information and dissemination activities will include seminars, awareness campaigns, environmental education programmes, and eco-volunteering.