EU LIFE DinPin Bear: An ambitious EU project for the conservation of the brown bear in the Dinaric–Pindos region

The MOEPP (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia) is part of the new European project LIFE DinPin Bear, which started in January 2026 in nine countries located along the Dinaric–Pindos region, with the aim of implementing a comprehensive population-level conservation strategy for the brown bear in this region.

The project is being implemented across nine countries, three of which are European Union member states: Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina / Republika Srpska), Greece, Kosovo*, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. LIFE DinPin Bear brings together a multidisciplinary partnership of 20 organizations, including universities and research institutions, national and local authorities, and environmental NGOs such as the Macedonian Ecological Society.

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Dinaric–Pindos region is estimated at approximately 4,000 individuals. This is the bear population in Europe that spans the largest number of countries within its range, making its management highly challenging.

The LIFE DinPin Bear project focuses on creating the legal, governance, and socio-economic conditions necessary to ensure the protection of the brown bear population in the Dinaric–Pindos region.

The main activities of the project are:

1. Research and reduction of habitat fragmentation and the decline/loss of bear populations.
2. Effective management of human–bear conflicts and provision of tools to support coexistence with local communities.
3. Strengthening the legal and procedural framework for monitoring and managing bear populations.
4. Strengthening and harmonizing transnational cooperation in management.
5. Securing the support of key stakeholders to ensure the long-term conservation of the species.