Finally, the first census of bears is ready, and we now know how many bears live in our country. Representatives of the Ministry of Environment announced on Thursday the preliminary results of the study estimating the brown bear population in Romania. Former Minister of Environment, Tanczos Barna, stated that he hopes the necessary measures will now be taken to protect human lives and agricultural crops.
The data presented on Thursday by officials from the Ministry of Environment show that between 10,419 and 12,770 brown bears live in Romania.
"The determination of the minimum number of individuals was based on the results of genetic sample analyses, genetic diversity, and the population structure of the brown bear species in Romania," Ministry of Environment representatives stated in a press release quoted by News.ro on Thursday.
The study is part of the Project "Implementation of the national action plan for the conservation of the brown bear population in Romania."
Romania now clearly knows how many bears are in the forests
"The figure that opens this presentation is a historic one: according to the analyses conducted on over 24,000 samples collected from 25 counties, the study's authors estimate that between 10,419 and 12,770 brown bears live in Romania, with a 95% confidence level.
It is the first time Romania can assert, with a solid scientific basis, how many bears it has in its forests.
Until now, we have worked with estimates, sometimes controversial, based on visual observations or indirect methods. Today, however, we have a clear picture, based on national DNA collection," stated the Minister of Environment, Waters, and Forests, Mircea Fechet.
Ministry representatives specify that the project will continue with the completion, this year, of the long-term genetic monitoring plan, so that these efforts are not sporadic but continue year after year.
"By the end of 2025, national zoning and genetic monitoring plan will be approved by normative act, so that these tools are officially integrated into public policies," ministry representatives stated.
Four types of zones for bear monitoring
According to them, the national zoning of brown bear population management divides the territory into four distinct categories:
- key conservation areas
- conflict management zones (or risk zones)
- sustainable management zones
- marginal zones.
"This classification is the result of a complex analysis that integrated genetic data, habitat distribution, agricultural and tourist areas, emergency calls to 112, and even the history of damages caused by bears.
Thus, depending on the area they live in, bears will benefit from differentiated management, from strict conservation to prevention and intervention measures in conflict zones. For the first time, Romania will have a digital tool, with national coverage, that will allow for quick and informed decisions in real-time," ministry officials further specified.
The Ministry of Environment, Waters, and Forests, as the beneficiary, is implementing in partnership with the Local Public Forest Administration Kronstadt R.A., the National Forest Administration - Romsilva, and the National Research and Development Institute for Silviculture "Marin Drăcea," the project "Implementation of the national action plan for the conservation of the brown bear population in Romania."
The Ministry has announced the resources it uses to improve the management of the brown bear species at the national level:
- Android/iOS mobile application for collecting and inventorying genetic samples collected from the field;
- 400 trained individuals for collecting genetic samples from the field;
- 3 dogs trained for locating genetic samples;
- animal genetic analysis equipment purchased and functional;
- 1,140 electric fence systems for protecting domestic animals, agricultural crops, and material goods, purchased and delivered to hunting fund managers, installed in counties in the Carpathian chain region where the presence of brown bears is known;
- 150 photo/video monitoring systems for electric fence systems, purchased and installed in the field;
- 10 bear transport cages;
- 10 tranquilizer kits, purchased and delivered to Regional Forest Guards.
Tanczos Barna demands results
Minister of Finance, Tanczos Barna, former Minister of Environment, stated on Thursday evening, to Agerpres, that ten years ago he first stated that over 10,000 bears live in Romania and hopes that after this has been confirmed through a scientific study, the necessary measures will be taken to protect human lives and farmers' crops.
"Some specialists and many from NGOs needed ten years and 10 million euros to be convinced that what we were saying (UDMR - editor's note) was true. Ten years ago, I stated for the first time that over 10,000 bears live in Romania. When I became minister, we, the UDMR, were the ones who proposed immediate intervention to protect human lives, and we were the ones who submitted the bill for the reintroduction of hunting.
Now both the Ministry of Environment and NGOs have been convinced that additional measures are needed to protect human life and farmers' crops. I hope that finally, the ministry will take the necessary measures," stated Tanczos Barna.
This scientific confirmation will help the Ministry of Environment implement measures to protect human life and finalize a package of measures to protect agricultural crops, he emphasized.
"This scientific confirmation will greatly assist the Ministry of Environment in justifying the next measures needed to protect human life and will greatly help the Ministry of Environment finalize the package of measures needed to protect farmers' crops and prevent the generalization of habituated bears, bears present in rural and urban areas," stated Tanczos Barna.
He also emphasized that there are positive examples, but preventive measures must continue.
"There are a few positive examples. If we think about Băile Tușnad, there we clearly have a positive example regarding the measures that mayors need to take to prevent attacks like the one that occurred in Predeal.
Furthermore, preventive measures must continue, through preventive quotas applied through hunting, and this will probably yield results in a few years because lost time is very difficult to recover. Firmness and political courage are needed where decisions are necessary and must be taken immediately," Barna added.
T.D.