Background In 2001 the municipality of Morino, a small town located in the mountains of the Abruzzo region, completed a LIFE-nature project aimed at the conservation of mixed beech forest (with common yew and holly) and the brown bear, both listed as priority species in the Habitats Directive. The project, the first to apply management experience of this type of forest in the Apennines, was a success, not only because it led to the extension of the area of the habitat, but also for the support it obtained from the local population. This second project extends the actions to two neighbouring Natura 2000 sites, which have similar problems threatening the survival of the forest and the bears. In these areas forest management is still based on outdated criteria, resulting in domination of beech, which prevents the growth of yew trees. In addition, uncontrolled grazing by domestic livestock is destroying the few natural regenerating Taxus plants. The resulting low biodiversity of the forest means that the habitat has also little feeding value for bears, which come over from their main habitat in the neighbouring Abruzzo National Park. Objectives As with the previous project, the main objective was to improve the ecological status of the yew forest, encourage its expansion and create a suitable habitat for the brown bear. The actions foreseen are mainly sylvicultural. The biodiversity of the beech/yew/holly forest would be improved by selective felling, opening up clearings and planting thousand of yew trees, while planting and pruning of fruit trees would increase food availability for the bear. Placing drinking troughs and improving the pastures outside the beech forest would address the problem of uncontrolled grazing. Moreover, an awareness campaign directed at local farmers was planned to encourage the redirection of livestock to these open areas, thus reducing grazing pressure within the forest. The bear population would be constantly monitored and possible human disturbance to the species would be prevented through continuous surveillance of the sites. A specific school education program was planned to highlight the importance of safeguarding their natural heritage among the younger generation. Results Results were achieved in the two reserves of the Abruzzo Region. At the forest habitats, the main results were the improvement of the vertical structure and the composition of the mixed forests of beech and yew. This was achieved through low intensity thinning from the bottom and the creation of favourable ecological conditions for natural regeneration through the opening of gaps of about 300-400m2. Fences were also constructed around an area of yew regeneration to prevent illegal grazing. The project also had a positive impact on grasslands. The clearing of old open space colonised by woody shrubs, the diffusion of fruit trees and the pruning of old fruit trees created suitable conditions for fauna and bears in particular. The project encountered several difficulties, in the regional park of Monti Simbruini, not all the management interventions were performed, and expected plan to regulate the grazing in the Natural park of Monti Simbruini was not drawn up and the threat of illegal grazing still remains. In addition, the maintenance of the project interventions was not assured, and long-term conservation is in doubt. As a consequence, the irrational sylvicultural interventions of the mixed forest beech-yew still remain a threat. It will remain so until the approval of a new forest management plan for implementing the best management practice obtained from this LIFE project and the previous one.