Project number: BYCZ01-001
Project title: Ecological impacts of the return of wolves to the Šumava/Bavarian Forest ecosystem (WoBoFE)
Program: Interreg Bavaria – Czech Republic 2021 - 2027
Leading partner: Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague
Project partners: Šumava National Park Administration, Bavarian Forest National Park Administration
Associate partner: Bavarian State Institute for Forestry and Forest Management
Investigator for FŽP: Aleš Vorel
Project administration: Jana Vorlová Kortanová
Solution period: 05/2023 - 04/2026
Total project budget: EUR 1,499,832.33
Total budget of CZU: EUR 508,000
Project objectives:
- to evaluate the effects of wolf return on populations of wild ungulates and forest regeneration on the territory of the Šumava and Bavarian Forest National parks,
- unite procedures for monitoring the wolf population, its prey and forest regeneration in the territory of both national parks,
- strengthen cooperation between the two national parks,
- to formulate a common strategy for the management of wild ungulates, which will take into account the return of the wolf to the area,
- to inform experts and the general public about the project's outputs.
Project activities:
1) Monitoring of wolves
The goal of this activity is the introduction of united monitoring of wolves in the territory of both national parks and the creation of a joint database of monitoring data. The annual goal is to determine the number of territories and their size, possibly the number of wolves and to determine individual relationships.
2) Monitoring of wolves' prey
The aim of this activity is to quantify the density of wolf prey (red deer, roe deer and wild boar) in the territory of both national parks and compare it with historical data. Another goal is to determine whether the presence of wolves affects the behavior of the wolf's main prey (red deer).
3) Monitoring of forest damage by ungulates
The aim of this activity is the inventory of damages of forest regeneration in the territory of both national parks and to compare current data with historical data.
4) Synthesis and strategy
The goal of this activity is to analyze the spatio-temporal relationships of all 3 ecosystem components: predator – prey – forest regeneration. Based on the evaluation of the influence of wolves on other components of the ecosystem, a common strategy for the management of wild ungulates will be formulated for the territory of both national parks.
5) Publicity
The aim of this activity is to inform experts and the general public about the results of the project.
6) Project administration and coordination
