Bison-Rewilding-Plan-2014

Objective Action Result7. Bison protection 7.1 Encourage range states to ensure legal protectionfor European bison, with effective sanctions in place todeter illegal poaching.7.2 Encourage range states to ensure protection of largecarnivores (wolves, lynx, bear) is in place in all bisonreintroduction areasWorkshop on development of effectiveprotection held by 2020, involvingrepresentatives of all European bison rangestates.Protection of large carnivores improved in fiverewilding areas to allow natural predation.7.3 Rewilding Europe to develop formalised responsein the case of poaching of bison in any of its rewildingareas.Anti-poaching strategy available in 2015.7.4 Bison rangers to be recruited in all bisonreintroduction areas, preferably from local people.First wave of rangers recruited in SouthernCarpathians (2014), Eastern Carpathians (2014),Velebit (2014–2015), Rhodope Mountains (2014–2015) and Oder Delta (2015–2016).8. Internationaland national policy8.1 Rewilding Europe to strengthen their links with theIUCN Bison Specialist Group.Annual meetings held with the IUCN BisonSpecialist Group to align European bisonprotection and rewilding activities.8.2 Encourage all governments within the natural rangeof European bison to develop bison rewilding plans by2020.National Bison Rewilding Plans operational inRomania (2015), Poland (2016), Bulgaria (2017),Germany (2018) and Croatia (2019).9. Publicengagement andeducation9.1 Organise field trips for local schools to visit bisonrewilding areas.At least five school classes per year visiting thebison projects in Southern Carpathians (as of2014), Eastern Carpathians (as of 2015), Velebit(as of 2015–2016), Thracian Mountains (as of2015) and Odra Delta (as of 2015–2016).9.2. Education on European bison and rewilding builtinto the curriculum of local schools.Integration into curriculum, with tailor-madematerials, ready and disseminated in SouthernCarpathians (2014), Eastern Carpathians (2015),Velebit (2015–2016), Thracian Mountains (2015)and Odra Delta (2015–2016).9.3 Develop educational materials for and with localschools on European bison and rewilding.Local schools actively using bison and rewildingeducation materials.9.4 Train teachers in European bison ecology andrewilding.First wave of teacher training completedin Southern Carpathians (2014), EasternCarpathians (2015), Velebit (2015–2016), ThracianMountains (2015) and Odra Delta (2015–2016).9.5 Participation of local community in all bison releaseevents.At least one press release and one local radio PRpublicising release events in local area.9.6 Establish annual ‘Bison day’ in all rewilding areas topromote conservation work with local communities.Bison day established in Southern Carpathians(2014), Eastern Carpathians (2015), Velebit(2015–2016), Thracian Mountains (2015) andOdra Delta (2015–2016).9.7. Develop a communication strategy for bisonrewilding.Communication strategy, with special attentionto communication with local people, availablein Southern Carpathians (2014), EasternCarpathians (2015), Velebit (2015–2016), ThracianMountains (2015) and Odra Delta (2015–2016).44