Bohemia Platform, Czech Republic

Impact of large carnivores: Královéhradecký kraj (Hradec Králové Region) is one of the two administrative units in the Czech Republic with the highest number of wolf attacks on livestock. The objectives and foundation for wolf conservation in Czechia are outlined in the Wolf Management Plan of 2020. Representatives from mostly government institutions, who helped to create the plan, meet every year at the Wolf Management Plan Board. Some members of livestock breeders and hunting associations, who also participated in its creation wish for more representation of their interests. During the spring and summer of 2023, a wolf pair was repeatedly spotted in close proximity to humans, gaining attention on social media. The male was radio-collared in November 2023, then poached within 2 weeks in the hunting ground managed by the Krknoše National Park. The same year, an emergency plan for dealing with bold wolves was agreed.

Regional economy: Královéhradecký kraj experiences relatively high farming intensity and pressures from tourism, particularly in the Krkonoše National Park and the attractive rocky formations located within the protected landscape area of Broumovsko. Most people in the region work in services (54%), such as health, education, finance or tourism, followed by industry (42.4%), including manufacturing and construction. Only 3.8% work in agriculture, forestry or fishing.

Work carried out so far: The Bohemian platform is a first effort to mitigate the increasing conflicts related to wolf presence in the region. As an initial step a range of focus groups (conservationists, livestock breeders, hunters, landowners) have met, leading up to the full platform meetings.