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Dear friends and colleagues,
The LIFEstockProtect project is now officially complete. More than 13,000 participating farmers and colleagues have actively taken part in the training courses or received advice. This is a clear mandate from the farmers to continue the topic in cooperation. In the current4 anonymous survey, almost 70 % of participants stated that LIFEstockProtect has had a positive influence on their view of livestock protection. Almost 65 % of respondents plan to actively pursue livestock protection in the future, but would like support from colleagues. More than 70% of respondents are interested in further courses and training.
Numerous agricultural associations are once again actively involved in the LIFEstockGuaridan project, this time as partners. This ensures that the topics dealt with in this project also reflect the challenges and needs of pasture animal husbandry. As is well known, sheep and cattle farming in the Alps and Apennines is at a turning point. Climate change, labor shortages, economic pressure and the return of the wolf pose major challenges for alpine farmers and shepherds. In 2024 alone, over 200 animals were lost to wolf attacks in Tyrol. However, prevention and coexistence measures have proven effective where they have been applied. Recently, one of the largest sheep breeders’ associations in Germany with the highest wolf density (58 packs, 8 pairs and some lone wolves) once again made an uncompromising plea for livestock protection.
The transnational LIFEstockGuardian project aims to ensure that Alpine and Mediterranean Shepherd traditions not only survive but thrive in Austria, Bavaria, South Tyrol and Tuscany – through a combination of modern tools, training of shepherds, provision of Livestock guarding dogs, farmer-to-farmer consultations, training and regional cooperation to further minimize the impact of predators.
