On January 22, our association’s work to protect the Marsican brown bear received significant international recognition: the Italian Defender Awards 2025 in the “Defenders of the Wild” category, dedicated to the protection of the most vulnerable species. The award went to our Bear Smart Landscape project, a model for preventing human-bear conflicts based on concrete actions—electrified fences, bear-proof trash bins, and secured orchards—and on constant dialogue with local communities.
The prize consists of the provision of a Defender 4×4 for two years, a grant of 120,000 euros, and a training program led by industry professionals. These resources will enable us to strengthen monitoring of the territory, enhance field interventions, and continue our awareness-raising work with local communities, promoting peaceful coexistence with bears.
Thanks to this support, our association will also be able to open a new operational headquarters in Valle Roveto, one of the main areas of bear expansion, expanding its presence in territories where logistics are more complex but prevention work is particularly necessary.
The official handover of the vehicle took place on March 18 in Pettorano sul Gizio, during a press conference attended not only by staff from our association and Defender but also by prominent journalists. The event was attended by journalists from major national newspapers. The gathering also provided an opportunity to visit the Small Museum of the Bear and Coexistence, located in the village and dedicated to telling the story of the relationship between local communities and the Marsican brown bear.