Background The beneficiary has already taken part in LIFE Nature projects aiming at protecting the population of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Italy. These bears, which almost disappeared from the country in the last decades of the 20th Century, still appear to be under threat as a result of a lack of robust scientific knowledge, habitat degradation, and conflict with human activities (in particular livestock rearing). Therefore the implementation of a series of integrated actions is advisable, in line with those prescribed by the “Action Plan for the Conservation of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe” (Council of Europe Publishing, 2000). Objectives The project aims to achieve the following objectives: Make livestock husbandry practices and regulations more compatible with the needs of bears; Develop, promote and implement best practices for monitoring and controlling livestock diseases that are potentially transmittable to the bear population; Increase the number of farms in the bear's range adopting effective prevention measures and increase by at least 30% the use of compatible husbandry techniques; Facilitate the involvement and participation of the social sector; Encourage administrations to adopt the tools, best practices and guidelines developed; Significantly increase information and awareness in local communities in areas where bears are present; Implement emergency teams in the bear areas in the Alps and Apennines. Expected results: Sustainable and innovative livestock husbandry practices in at least the protected areas encompassing the core bear range; Innovative management of conflict in at least the protected areas encompassing the core bear range; Reduction by 50% of predation on livestock in the core bear range; Increase of stakeholder involvement in the decision-making phases related to conflict (livestock)and management of natural resources (forest, hunting, tourism); Establishment of emergency teams in the core bear areas of both the Alps and Apennines;