Conference summarizing the implementation of the project „Return of the lynx to northwestern Poland”

The first stage of the lynx reintroduction program in northwestern Poland, titled Project POIS.02.04.00-00-0143/16 “Return of the lynx to northwestern Poland” co-financed by the Cohesion Fund under the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020 is coming to an end, so it is time for summaries.
On October 13-14, a conference was held at which the results achieved during the implementation of the mentioned Project were discussed.

We are pleasantly surprised by the high attendance at the conference – the planned number of participants (60 people) took part in the meeting! Among them were representatives of:

– Ministry of Climate and Environment – Ms. Minister Małgorzata Golińska

– Environmental Project Coordination Center

– General Directorate of State Forests,

– Regional Directorates of State Forests,

– Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection

as well as local forest districts, national parks, local governments, and uniformed services. The conference also included individuals from other non-governmental organizations interested in the topic of the return of the lynx to northwestern Poland.

On the first day of the conference, the following papers were presented:

Maciej Tracz – Progress of the project “Return of the lynx to northwestern Poland.”

Prof. Dr. Hab. Mirosław Ratkiewicz – The role of genetic research in the reintroduction program of Eurasian lynxes in West Pomerania.

Dr. Hab. Tomasz Borowik – Spatial analysis of GPS data of lynxes reintroduced as part of the project.

Prof. Dr. Hab. Rafał Kowalczyk, Prof. Dr. Hab. Krzysztof Schmidt – The lynx in the European landscape.

Dr. Hab. Przemysław Śmietana, Dr. Eng. Jakub Skorupski – The return of the lynx to northwestern Poland, analysis of the current results of work in terms of feedback, aimed at improving further restitution activities.

Magdalena Tracz – Guidelines for the methodology of lynx reintroduction.

Stefan Jakimiuk – The lynx reintroduction program in the Masurian Lake District – actions, effects, and recommendations.

All speakers tried to present the most important aspects of the lynx reintroduction program, including the most effective methods as well as the problems encountered at various stages of the program.

On October 14, a field trip took place, where interested individuals could see the effects of the project in the field. Thanks to data flowing from telemetry collars, participants actively searched for lynxes or traces of their presence (buried prey and tracks). At the end of the trip, everyone managed to see a female with this year’s young, which was a positive culmination of the day’s search efforts.