Regional Stakeholder Platform in Paredes de Coura: an innovative participatory process for a territory with wolves
The regional stakeholder platform in Paredes de Coura (PAL-PCoura) aims to identify and implement concrete actions that allow the coexistence between human activities and Iberian wolf conservation, through the active involvement of various interest groups. This pioneering initiative in Portugal is carried out within the scope of the LIFE WILD WOLF project in conjunction with the “Regional platforms for coexistence with large carnivores” promoted by the EU and already successfully implemented in several European countries.
Moderated by a team from MARE-NOVA University of Lisbon, with experience in participatory processes for conflict management, two sessions have been held so far in Paredes de Coura, in July 2024 and February 2025, each of which mobilized around twenty local stakeholders linked to various sectors such as agriculture, forestry production, hunting, common land associations, tourism companies, and environmental associations. The sessions were also attended by representatives from Paredes de Coura Municipality, local parishes, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA-GNR), Viana do Castelo Polytechnic Institute, and several media channels. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity for the different local stakeholders to share their ideas, experiences and proposals regarding the different topics addressed, thus allowing the identification of concrete and consensual actions to be implemented.
In the most recent session of PAL-PCoura, held at a LEGO® toy library in Paredes de Coura, participants were divided into working groups and invited to explore the challenges and opportunities of three dimensions associated with wolves: Economic Valuation (positive or negative economic aspects associated with the species); Sociocultural Valuation (impacts and benefits on tourism, human well-being and cultural heritage); and Ecological Valuation (importance in the preservation and balance of ecosystems). At the end, LEGO® constructions representing wolves, livestock species, guarding dogs, wild ungulates, forest trees and human settlements were used to illustrate the various elements they perceive for a landscape of coexistence and sustainability between humans and wolves.
Over the next sessions, scheduled to occur until 2027, practical and feasible coexistence solutions will be worked on together to address the various key points identified so far by participants, which include the prevention and compensation of wolf attacks on livestock, the improvement of habitat for wolves and their natural prey, the monitoring and prevention of threats, the promotion of wolf tourism and the awareness and appreciation of wolves and their habitat.
Therefore, this stakeholder platform is a innovative space for debate and collaboration, which aims to contribute to the understanding of the main concerns and daily challenges in the relationship between humans and wolves, with the scope of developing positive and sustainable solutions to achieve coexistence.
For more information: lifewildwolfportugal@gmail.com
