Tusnad EcoBear 2025 – Science & Community for Human-Bear Coexistence
Tusnad EcoBear 2025 brings together ecologists, wildlife biologists, conservation practitioners, and local communities to advance knowledge and action on human-bear coexistence.
Key topics include:
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Population Management & Ethics: Balancing conservation goals with human activity.
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Monitoring & Technology: Camera traps, AI, and drones for research and conflict prevention.
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Community-Based Conservation: Integrating local stakeholders in decision-making.
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Field Insights: Hands-on workshops at Natura 2000 sites, including Lake Saint Anne and Mohos Peat Bog.
Through expert panels, workshops, and field sessions, participants will gain actionable insights and forge collaborations to enhance cohabitation strategies for bears and other large carnivores.
I’m Alexandra Verdes, an ecologist and environmental project manager with over 5 years of experience in the NGO and conservation sector. I currently work with WWF Romania, supporting the implementation of various projects, including cross-border initiatives focused on wildlife connectivity and conservation in the Carpathians, as well as forestry, innovation, and climate change projects.
My academic background includes a Master’s in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation and specialised training in animal-assisted therapy, waste management, and environmental education. I’ve also worked with youth groups, local communities, and international partners to organise different events, trainings, and outreach programs.
My key interests include:
🟢Biodiversity protection: wildlife and forestry conservation
🟢 Wildlife crime- illegal logging (new interest)
🟢 Environmental education
🟢 Community involvement in conservation
🟢 Project coordination and donor reporting
I’m enthusiastic about collaboration, sharing knowledge, and learning from others working in the field of nature conservation.
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🧸🌲 What an inspiring initiative, Alexandra!
Tusnad EcoBear 2025 sounds like a powerful convergence of science, community, and compassion, exactly the kind of dialogue we need to foster meaningful coexistence with large carnivores. I’m especially drawn to the emphasis on community-based conservation and ethical population management. These are such vital, often under-discussed dimensions of wildlife work.
The hands-on workshops at Lake Saint Anne and Mohos Peat Bog sound like a brilliant way to ground theory in lived experience. I’d love to hear more about how local stories and cultural perspectives are being woven into the sessions. Are there opportunities for participants to share traditional knowledge or co-create solutions?
Also, the use of AI and drones for conflict prevention is fascinating. If you ever feel like sharing examples or lessons learned from these tech applications, I know many of us would be eager to learn.
Please keep posting; your work brings such richness to this space. Looking forward to following the journey and hopefully collaborating in some way!
Warm regards,
Simon
Dear Simon,
Thank you for your interest. I attended last year’s conference only as an audience member, and the main opportunities to share if you are not presenting are during the breaks, lunches, or the field trip. I should have emphasized that this is an in-person conference only, with no online option. This decision was made precisely for the reason you mentioned—to encourage participants to connect directly with each other and exchange challenges, tested solutions, knowledge, and more.
Even if you are unable to attend in person, you can still follow the event page on Facebook, and I will also share the abstract book with all the presented projects, studies, and posters afterwards. In the meantime, you might enjoy looking at the topics from last year here: https://tusnadecobear.ro/conf/abstractbook/
I truly appreciate your thoughtful reflections, and I hope we’ll have the chance to exchange ideas more directly in the future.
Best,
Alexandra V.
Dear Alexandra,
Thank you so much for your kind and clarifying message. I completely understand the emphasis on in-person participation, and I truly admire the intention behind it. There’s something irreplaceable about face-to-face dialogue, especially in a setting as rich and hands-on as Tusnad EcoBear.
While I may not be able to join physically this time, I’ll definitely follow the event page and look forward to exploring the abstract book once it’s available. The link to last year’s topics is already sparking ideas. Thank you for sharing it.
Wishing you and the team a vibrant and impactful gathering. I’ll be cheering from afar and hope our paths cross more directly soon.
Warm regards,
Simon