EU Large Carnivore Platform Regional Workshop in Finland

The Finnish Reindeer Herders Association and EUROPARC co-organised the latest EU Platform Regional Workshop. The workshop was held back-to-back with the LUKE Reindeer & Fish Days Conference in Rovaniemi on 6–7 May 2026, which explored topics including (Sámi) reindeer herding communities, the impacts of climate change, the presence of wolves in the reindeer herding area, and bear watching tourism. The regional workshop  focused on eco-tourism and the challenges of feeding practices used to attract large carnivores in parts of the Finnish reindeer herding area. Local communities can benefit economically from the presence of large carnivores through eco-tourism. However, if certain practices are not carried out sensitively, i.e. in a way that minimises disturbance and considers the impact on wildlife, they can lead to habituation to human presence or increased damage to livestock. This workshop explored these dynamics in the specific context of reindeer herding communities in Kuusamo, northern Finland, where many large carnivore viewing sites rely on feeding to attract wildlife. Such practices can impact natural animal behaviour, lead to food conditioning, and contribute to greater damages to reindeer herds.

The first day of the EU Large Carnivore Platform’s regional workshop featured sessions on the local context of large carnivores and reindeer herder livelihoods in Lapland. Speakers from Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (Italy), Alto Narcea Muniellos (Spain), also shared case studies and local perspectives on eco-tourism practices linked to large carnivores, including insights from a local shepherd (Sopravissana dei Sibillini, Italy). Other speakers included representatives from the European Commission, who presented recent policy updates on large carnivore as well as EU funding and other support instruments to support local communities in the coexistence with large carnivores. After the afternoon session, participants travelled to Kuusamo to visit the Taiga Bear Site, a local bear tourism company. During a guided visit, participants gained first-hand insight into the company’s operations and perspectives on large carnivore tourism, while also having the possibility to observe bears. The second day in Kuusamo focussed on discussions with local businesses, herders and other stakeholders at a local reindeer farm. 

More detailed information can be found in the agenda and in this background document. 

For further reading, consult the case study: Northern Finland: Large carnivores in the reindeer husbandry area.

Presentations held at the meeting:

• Introduction to the EU Large Carnivore Platform 
  Jurgen Tack, EU Platform Chair, ELO
• The EU approach to large carnivore management 
  Kim De Rijck & Nicole Wanders-Wengler, DG ENV
• The impact of large carnivores on reindeer herder livelihoods
  Hanna Nurmi, Finnish Reindeer Herders Association
• Large carnivore management in Finland 
  Harri Norberg, Finnish Wildlife Agency
• Tourism and coexistence with wildlife 
  Marta Gagliardi, Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
• Sustainable tourism management 
  Alejandra Fernández, Alto Narcea Muniellos
• From Italy to Finland: Building coexistence across Europe 
  Silvia Bonomi, “La Sopravissana” farming enterprise