Events and News

44. Representatives of Albania e North Macedonia visited the Greek project area
28/12/23
Representatives of Universities, National Parks and NGOs of Albania and North Macedonia, visited the Greek project area of LIFE Safe Crossing on the 11th and 12th of December. The scope and the results of the project were presented by the Greek partners and discussed both during a field visit and an indoor presentation. This field visit was part of the Tripoint Brown Bear, a project who aims at the transfer of good practices that improve human-bear coexistence conditions.

The field visit focused on the function of the AVC PS (Animal-Vehicle Collision Prevention System) and to the interventions that were made on 55 underpasses of Egnatia Highway in order to favour their use by wildlife.


43. Recording of the Final Conference 
11/10/23
The recordings of the two days of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING final conference are now online.
You can watch all the presentations at the following links:

• 17 May 2023: https://youtu.be/9CaHgtMzCww
• 18 May 2023: https://youtu.be/RZpxVsOGClc

 

42. Technical Conference on Ecological Restoration and Transport Routes (31 May -2 June, Seville, Spain)
05/07/23
From 31 May to y 2 June in Seville was held the Technical Conference on Ecological Restoration and Transport Routes.

The conference  was jointly organised by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the European projects LIFE LYNXCONNECT and LIFE SAFE-CROSSING.  

This international forum, which consisted of different technical workshops, aimed at sharing strategies and actions to reduce the difficulties between the conservation of species and existing infrastructures. 

Through different presentations, representatives from Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Canada, Panama, France, Austria and Romania addressed the environmental challenges we face and how roads and other transport routes hinder the free mobility of wildlife.

In the field of green infrastructure deployment, it is essential to promote planning mechanisms to integrate biodiversity into the development of transport infrastructure and to identify the sections of roads that present the best opportunities to restore ecological connectivity.

To conclude the conference, on 2 June the participants moved to the A-481, between Villamanrique de la Condesa (Seville) and Hinojos (Huelva), where, in the frame of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project two AVC PS were installed. During the field visit the participants had the possibility to see the functioning of these electronic systems, and this is also fundamental also to favor the replicability of this action outside the project area.

The conclusions of the conference (in english and spanish) can be downloaded at the following link: https://lifelynxconnect.eu/jornadas_desfragmentacion/
 

41. THE VIDEO OF THE LIFE SAFE-CROSSING PROJECT IS FINALLY ONLINE!
23/05/23
The video of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project is finally online! Produced by Massimiliano Sbrolla, director of important scientific documentaries, it presents the main activities implemented in the past 5 years. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/bNCDigp4TaY


40. THE FINAL CONFERENZE OF THE LIFE SAFE-CROSSING PROJECT HAS TAKEN PLACE ON 17-18 MAY 
23/05/23
Two days with very interesting presentations from experts from 9 European Countries and North America, regarding all different aspects concerning the impact of linear infrastructures on biodiversity. We enjoyed over 120 participants from all over Europe and concluded the event with a field trip to one of the sites of the project interventions.
An important aspect of the conference has been a final round table that saw the participation of some key authorities such as ANAS, the Abruzzo Region and Prefecture, the Greek partner Egnatia Odos, the Terni Province as well as the Maiella National Park and Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park.
Continue following us for seeing the presentations, which will be made public soon!


39. THE LIFE SAFE CROSSING PROJECT IN THE 40TH EDITION OF THE RALLYE SIERRA MORENA (CÓRDOBA)
03/03/23
Between 17th and 19th February, the 40th edition of the Sierra Morena Rallye took place in the mountains of Cordoba. The LIFE SAFE CROSSING project has been present in this edition with the itinerant exhibition and with the contribution of divulgation material that was distributed among the assistants.


38. REPLICATION SEMINAR WITH GRAN SASSO AND MONTI DELLA LAGA NATIONAL PARK AND WWF ITALIA
03/03/23
A meeting was held on March 3 with a delegation from WWF ITALY and the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. For the LIFE SAFE-crossing project were present the technicians of the Maiella National Park (PNM) of the Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park (PNALM) of Agristudio srl and of the Greek NGO Callisto who had been in Italy for an experience exchange. In the first part of the morning, at the Maiella National Park headquarters, after an introduction by project manager Annette Mertens, the technicians of the Park presented the monitoring activities carried out and the interventions implemented for the prevention of road accidents with wildlife. Immediately afterwards, there was a transfer in to the filed to show the operation of one of the 5 AVC PS installed by Maiella National Park in the road SS17. The technical details of the installation were explained, as well as the functioning of the PIR sensors and thermal camera used to detect animals approaching the road. It was possible to observe the switching on of the signs to warn drivers and the activation of the acoustic deterrent. In the afternoon the field survey was in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park for an inspection of the virtual fence installed in SP17. Seminar participants also observed road signs developed with the neuro marketing technique placed on roads in the PNM and PNALM intervention areas.
These meetings are crucial to ensure replicability and transferability of the good practices developed under the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project.


37. THE LIFE SAFE-CROSSING PROJECT AT THE SKATING RINK “CLARA CAMPOAMOR” (ALMONTE, SPAIN)
05/02/2023
Sunday 5th February 2023, in the skating rink "Clara Campoamor" (Almonte), took place the 1st Day of the Andalusian Speed Skating League, "Doñana Patina”,in collaboration with the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project  There were more than 130 participants, between the categories of Federated and Promotion-Popular.
The participants and the general public were informed on the issue of wildlife-vehicles collisions, and it was explained that it is our responsibility, as drivers, to respect the signs and speed limits. They were also informed about the different actions that LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project is carrying out on the nearby roads to avoid this type of accident.
A sporting day where runners of different categories competed and enjoyed themselves, from mini to senior-master from all over Andalusia, and beautiful opportunity to make everyone aware of the importance of biodiversity conservation.


36. In the evening of the 23rd January 3 year old male bear, named Juan Carrito, was hit and killed by a car along the state road SS17 between Roccaraso and Castel di Sangro in Abruzzo.
In the evening of the 23^rd January 3 year old male bear, named Juan Carrito, was hit and killed by a car along the state road SS17 between Roccaraso and Castel di Sangro in Abruzzo. The persons in the vehicle were fortunately unaffected. The SS17, which crosses a connecting corridor between two very important portions of the bear range, has heavy vehicular traffic, resulting in a road at high risk of bear-vehicle collisions. This risk, in the case of Juan Carrito, was increased by its confident behavior toward humans and anthropized areas in general. To mitigate the risk of bear-vehicle collisions and to reduce the barrier effect of roads, Maiella National Park and Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park, in collaboration with the State Road Agency ANAS, are working together as part of the EU-funded LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project, which started in 2018. The segment of the SS17 between Castel di Sangro and Corfinio is one of the roads involved in this project and, because it is potentially very risky for bears, it is the road where the most interventions have been planned. Five innovative devices have been installed to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions, 16 panels to promote a more responsible driving behaviour, existing underpasses and overpasses have been (or will soon be) readapted to favor their use by wildlife through cleaning and managing vegetation and installation  of fencing, and, finally, about 15 km of virtual fencing (a system to alert animals to the presence of vehicles on the road) are planned for the Roccaraso-Corfinio section and have already been partially installed. The numerous interventions carried out along the SS17 as part of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project were based on a careful analysis of the risk of wildlife-vehicle collision and have been possible only due to the close collaboration between the managing bodies of the territory. The actions carried out represent a concrete measure for the protection of the Marsican brown bear composed not only by interventions on the roads but also by a large awareness campaign among citizens and drivers,  because  bear conservation is only possible through the involvement and collaboration of everyone. The death of Juan Carrito reminds us that unfortunately it is not possible to eliminate the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions, but it also stimulates us to move forward in our work and to continue our efforts to minimize this risk so that events like this become increasingly rare.

35. Spanish students support the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project
25/10/2022
The 14 of October 2022 an educational activity has been carried with 50 students of the Centro de Educación Infantil y Primaria Manuel Siurot de Chucena. The activity consisted of organizing a small parade in which they told the people they met about the project and asked them to please slow down on the roads: "Más Despacito" (Slow Down).


34. The efficiency of the virtual fence installed on the National Road 1 in Romania
13/10/2022
The efficiency of the virtual fence installed on National Road 1 (DN1) was already proven by the lack of wildlife-vehicle collisions. This is supported even more now by the Romanian team who succeeded to capture some videos using the thermal camera. It can be observed that the roe deer hesitated to cross the crowded road, while the fox crossed when it was safe. The monitoring of the virtual fence continues to gather more results.


33. The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project at the IENE 2022 International Conference (19-23 September 2022 Cluj-Napoca, Romania).
26/09/2022
In the frame of the Conference the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project organized the workshop “Identifying best solutions to mitigate impacts of roads on large carnivores: a multi-stakeholder approach”.
The main objective of this workshop was to present the approach followed by LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project to design, implement, and monitor measures to reduce large carnivore road mortality risk. This represented a great opportunity for replication activities outside the project area.
The workshop was attended by around 40 people (researchers, ecologists, nature and road authorities and private businesses) coming from different European countries.


32. Spain: Installation of a new "virtual fence"
22/09/2022
The 9th of September 4,5 Km of virtual fence was installed in Spain on the road segment A 312. The installation was coordinated by the technical staff of Junta de Andalucia involved in the project implementation. This intervention is very important because the A 312 is one of the most risky road in the project area for the Iberian lynx. The effectiveness of the virtual fence will be monitored by the staff of the project. In the next months the concrete conservation actions will be completed with the installation of 5 AVC PS.


31. The Green Fund supports the LIFE SAFE CROSSING project
02/08/2022
Τhe Board of Directors of the Green Fund approved the covering a part of Callisto’s financial  obligations for the LIFE SAFE CROSSING project (LIFE17NAT/IT/464), in the context of the call for the co-financing of approved LIFE projects 2022.
The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project aims at implementing actions to reduce the impact of roads on some priority species in four European countries: Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) and wolf (Canis lupus) in Italy, Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain, and brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Greece and Romania. On the Greek side, partners in the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project are CALLISTO, COSMOTE, Egnatia Odos SA and the Region of Western Macedonia.
The support of the Green Fund in the effort to secure the necessary co-financing of CALLISTO for the implementation needs of the project, proves once again that the Green Fund is a valuable financial tool in the efforts of the environmental protection in the country.


30. Life Safe-Crossing Project at the Giro d'Italia
14/06/2022
During the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia, Isernia - Blockhaus, the writer Fabio Genovesi, who follows the pink race for RAI, spoke about the LIFESAFE-CROSSING project during the live broadcast of the stage.
The stage initially crossed the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park to develop and end in the territory of the Maiella National Park.
The famous writer therefore took the opportunity to present the beauties of the Maiella Park and tell viewers about the LIFE SAFE CROSSING project and the importance of this initiative to mitigate the impact of vehicular traffic on wildlife.
In his speech, Fabio Genevosi underlined the international character of the project and illustrated the concrete actions that are being developed, focusing in particular on the installation of road signs to raise awareness among motorists and on the operation of the innovative road accident prevention system with wildlife. Finally Fabio Genovesi recalled one of the main messages of the project, that is to drive with caution for the protection of wild animals and the drivers themselves.
In this way, the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project reached at least 1.3 million viewers considering the average of those who followed the 21 stages of the tour of Italy.
Fabio Genovesi's speech can be seen starting from minute 56 of the live broadcast of the Isernia-Blockaus stage, at the following link: https://www.raiplay.it/video/2022/05/Ciclismo-Giro-dItalia-2022


29. Egnatia Odos (EO SA) carries out interventions to improve the use of crossing structures
25/05/2022
The interventions carried out by the Greek Partner Egnatia Odos (EO SA) to improve the use of crossing structures by wildlife along the highway A29 in Greece are going on.
The main interventions already made are: fence improvements (on 11 structures), construction of escape ramps (on 8 structures), vegetation management (in 4 structures), planting (total number of plants ordered and construction of irrigation system completed in 9 structures), removal of debris (on 13 structures) and construction of dry ledges (1 structure).
The photos illustrate examples of the developed activities. 
Once all the foreseen works will be concluded their effectiveness will be monitored through the installation of the prototype by the Greek partner COSMOTE, in order to compare the numbers of animal passages before and after the interventions.
This action is fundamental to improve the ecological connectivity and to reduce the risk of Animal-Vehicle Collisions.


28. Presentation of the actions of the Life-Safe Crossing project to the students of the University of Bristol
19/04/2022
The scientific coordinator of Callisto on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th April guided a group of undergraduate students from the University of Bristol (Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences) in the project area and presented all relevant topics, methods and tools on bear habitat connectivity, road permeability, road mortality and all the actions implemented in the LIFE SAFE CROSSING project.


27. Romania: Another 2 km of virtual fencing have been installed
14/04/2022
Another 2 km of virtual fence have been installed in Romania, on National Road 1 (DN1), Persani area. The first 2 km from Timis area (Brasov county) have proven to be successful, consequently the action has been replicated in another project area as well. This was only possible due to the effective collaboration with the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (Regional Directorate of Roads and Bridges Brasov-DRDP Brasov). This action will mitigate the negative impact that roads have on wildlife.


26. La Junta de Andalucia (CAGPyDS) ha presentato il progetto LIFE SAFE-CROSSING al V Congresso della Strada Andalusa
13/04/2022
The Junta de Andalucia (CAGPyDS) presented the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project at the Fifth Andalusian Road Congress, which was held in Ganada on April 6-8. This congress is one of the biggest ones in Spain involving road management authorithies.
The use of new technologies to prevent accidents and reinforce road safety raised a lot of interest among the people responsible for the administration in matters of planning and management of roads and road infrastructures, as well as road and asphalt road construction and maintenance companies.
Making roads safer, more sustainable and friendlier for everyone is among the main objectives of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Project. The participation in this congress was therefore an important step to try to replicate, in other regions of Spain, what is foreseen in the frame of the project.


25. The first device to prevent road accidents involving wildlife has been installed in the Province of Terni
01/04/2022
In February 2022, the Province of Terni started the installation of the first device to prevent animal-vehicle collisions (AVC PS). This device was installed on the road sp. 38 in the territory of the municipality of Amelia. The system is equipped with 2 thermal cameras that are used to detect animals approaching the road. The staff of the province, involved in the project, is monitoring the operation of the device which has already begun to transmit very interesting photos and videos.

In the next few days a second device will be installed on the road sp 205. In this way the province of Terni continues the work begun in 2012 in the frame of the LIFE STRADE project.


24. Workshop between administrations in Seville
START OF DEFRAGMENTATION WORK ON THE DEHESA DE ABAJO ROAD (SE-MA-01) 
15/10/2021
At the end of 2019, a working group was set up to face the problem of the Iberian lynx road mortality in the Dehesa de Abajo asphalted road (SE-MA-01).
The organisations and institutions involved in this working group are the following: the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation, the Town Council of La Puebla del Rio, the Andalusian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Territorial Delegation of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Seville, WWF-Spain and the Environment and Water Agency. The first meeting occurred in February 2020, and the whole process ended on Thursday 23 September 2021.
The mitigation measures foreseen in the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project, like the installation of AVC PS, virtual fence, and the road panels, developed through neuromarketing technique, have been considered an important tool to reduce the impact of vehicular traffic on the Iberian lynx conservation.

This workshop is part of action E7 of the LIFE SAFE CROSSING project.

For more details you can read the press release by clicking here.


23. In Romania: Tragic accident with a bear cub lured by food for stray dogs
20/09/2021
On the 19 of September a bear cub, whose sex could not be identified, of about 8 months old was hit by a car on the national road 1 (DN1) in Romania. As it can be seen in the pictures, the bear has been attracted by dog food left in the parking area. In this area we are implementing mitigation measures to avoid animal vehicle collisions but they are ineffective if animals come near the road to look for food.
Feeding dog and cat can be very dangerous for domestic and wild animals and it causes a lot of problems because it mantains the stray dog population. Stray dogs can be' dangerous for humans livestock and wildlife. The implemented actions of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project to mitigate animal-vehicle collisions are only efficient if people respect the recommendations and collaborate with us. An act intended to be good usually ends up with a tragedy. Therefore, PLEASE STOP FEEDING STRAY ANIMALS!


22. Informative panels have been installed in Romania
30/08/2021
8 informative panels have been installed in 4 different road segments near Brasov (Romania). These are important national roads, usually very crowded which pose a real danger in terms of collisions between animals and vehicles. We hope that the drivers will be more aware of this risk and they will respect the speed limits required by the authorities for the specific road conditions.


21. First virtual fence installed in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park
25/05/2021
A "virtual fence" has been installed on two road segments (SS 83 and SP 17) in Abruzzo Lazio Molise National Park in Italy.
The virtual fence is made of a series of electronic devices that are placed on poles on the roadsides. They are activated by the headlights of upcoming vehicles. When they are triggered, they emit flashing lights and sounds to prevent the animal’s road crossing.
The selection of the locations for the installation of the devices have been made after an accurate monitoring and analysis phase, and in a complementary manner with the other concrete interventions already implemented on the roads.
The devices have been installed with the cooperation of the Austrian company iPTE, which has developed them, and the installation has been accompanied also by the colleagues of the Majella National Park, which soon will install the same devices as well.

Another important step to prevent animals getting killed on roads!


20. First interventions for the improvement of structures (passages) of the section “Siatista – Koromilia” of the Egnatia Motorway, Greece
07/04/2021
EGNATIA ODOS S.A. has started implementing the interventions on the motorway section “Siatista – Koromilia”, after the completion of evaluation of the structures, as for their use by wild fauna for crossing the motorway.

The interventions are mainly:

• Planting around the entrances of structures, to create an attractive environment for animals
• Pruning and debris removal, to facilitate animal crossings
• Construction of “dry corridors” or ramps inside the structures
• Light-screens for light protection of structure entrances
• Existing fencing corrections, to prevent animals from entering the motorway, or facilitate their escape from it

The first interventions concern existing fencing corrections. 


19. First Animal Vehicle Collision Prevention Systems installed in Italy
17/02/2021
The first 3 Animal Vehicle Collision Prevention Systems (AVC PS) have been installed in the frame of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Project in the Majella National Park in Italy. These are the first three of the 27 devices that are foreseen to be installed during the project in the coming months, in all four project countries (Italy, Romania, Greece, Spain).

The AVC PS alerts drivers in case of presence of animals on the roadsides and chase the animals away if the car proceeds at too high speed. Like this, the system does not represent a barrier for animal movements but prevents collisions in high-risk situations.
The installation is the result of an intense preliminary study phase and has been possible also due to the close collaboration with the road authority ANAS, which has provided the permits to install the devices and has supported the two involved National Parks (Majella National Park and Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Parks) during the development of the action.
Presently the AVC PS are in test phase, but they will be fully operational soon.
In the meantime we invite you to DRIVE CAREFULLY EVERYWHERE!

18. Video game “Avoid it!!” ready for download on App stores!
19/01/2021
We have published the video game “Avoid it!!” on the App stores (for Android and iOS). It has been produced in order to reach young people, the future drivers. We want to draw their attention onto the problem of the impact of roads on wildlife, and how important it is to drive carefully. In the game it is foreseen to avoid the animals crossing the roads of the 4 countries of the project.

The video game will be circulated through social media and at local events. Please help us sharing it!
Enjoy!
 

17. Watch videos of bears using underpasses under Egnatia Highway in Greece
01/01/2021
Watch these two interesting videos registered in the frame of the monitoring program regarding the use of the crossing structures ongoing in Greece. These videos filmed in the same crossing structure along the Egnatia Highway showed the different behaviours of the bears under different visibility conditions.
Video 1: you can see a bear hesitating and not using the underpass probably because it does not see any light at its end.
Video 2: you can see a bear mother encouraging its cubs to use the underpass, most likely because it can see the light at its end. This is surely a behaviour to be encouraged.

These images are very important because they help us to understand the possible key factors influencing the behaviour of the animals, and then implement in the best possible way the concrete conservation actions foreseen in the project.
All the results already obtained will be present in the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING workshop that will be held on 12 January in the frame of the IENE2020 conference! https://www.iene2020.info/se.html.

16. Majella National Park and the National Road Agency join forces to raise awareness on the importance of driving carefully!
27/11/2020
The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project is entering its core phase in Majella National Park! After an initial study phase the park together with the Road Management Agency ANAS have started the installation of information panels to raise the awareness of drivers on the importance to decrease speed and drive carefully. The panels which have been developed by a team of experts of the project and with the neuromarketing technique, will be installed in the Provinces of L’Aquila, Chieti and Pescara on the National Roads SS5, SS17, SS84 and SS487. Totally 42 panels will be installed on the roads, as a result of the close collaboration of PNM with ANAS, which has formally supported the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project and has authorized the installation of the devices on the roads under its authority.


15. The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING workshop during the IENE 2020 conference postponed to 12 January 2021 and will be held online!
15/10/2020
The IENE 2020 International Conference “LIFE LINES - Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions” will be held fully online. The Conference will take place between 12 and 14 January 2021.

In accordance the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Workshop “Innovative techniques to mitigate transportation infrastructure impact on large carnivores” will also be held online. The new rescheduled date will be January 12th, 2021 from 14:45 to 19:00 h (CET). The participation at the event is free but registration is obligatory.
You can now register here.
You will find more information here https://www.iene2020.info/se.html.

14. First 2 km of virtual fence installed in Romania!
22/07/2020
On 20 July the first 2 km of virtual fence were installed in the Romanian project area, on the national Road DN1, between Brașov and Timișul de Sus. Representatives of the company that developed the virtual fence devices, iPTE, have travelled to Romania to assist the local team with the installation and putting in function of the devices. This is a first experimental installation on a sample track of 2 km, after which the functioning of the devices will be monitored and, in case of need, technical adaptations of the functioning of the virtual fence will be made.


13. The field activities of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project started again after the lock-down!!
08/06/2020
In Italy (Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park and Majella National Park) field surveys were made in order to define the locations for the installation of the Animal-Vehicle Collision Prevention Systems, in order to require the final permits and to decide on the components to be purchased.

During the survey in Abruzzo National Park we were rewarded with the spotting of a bear cub right in one of the site where the concrete conservation actions will take place.
In Italy these surveys were also dedicated to the planning of the interventions foreseen in action C2 (readaptation of underpasses) and C3 (installation of specific road information panels).
In Romania the cleaning of underpasses has started, the interventions have taken place on 10 sites.
Enjoy the pictures of the field activities after the lockdown period!!!!!


12. Italy: Majella National Park and ANAS together to reduce animal-vehicle collision risks
25/01/2020
On January 22 2020, the staff of the Majella National Park (PNM) and the National Body for the Management of the Roads (ANAS) organized a joined field-survey on the National Road n. 5 to evaluate the possibility to review the ongoing project of road modification, implementing additional measures to reduce animal-vehicle collision (AVC) risks.

The survey has been developed in the frame of a broader collaboration between PNM and ANAS established during the LIFE Project Safe-Crossing, where the PNM participates as associated beneficiary and ANAS supports the development of concrete conservation actions.
Reducing AVC risks is not easy and it can be particularly difficult when mitigation measures have to be implemented on existing roads. The collaboration between the PNM staff involved in the Life Safe-Crossing and ANAS in this phase when the work for the modification of National Road n. 5 is getting started, witnesses the actual willingness to deal with the AVC problem and to do the best possible to improve drivers safety and animals survival.

Road mortality is actually one of the most relevant threats to the survival of some animals that, crossing roads just to meet the basic requirement of freely moving in their territory, are often hit to death by vehicles. This threat is even more serious for the species at high risk of extinction like the Apennine brown bear, one of the target species of the Life Safe-Crossing. “The 2019” states the President of the PNM Lucio Zazzara “has been a black year for the Apennine brown bear as two reproductive females, one being a female with a cub, died hit by vehicles. This is a huge loss for this threatened population whose future mostly rely on reproductive females survival”.


11. Technical workshop of LIFE SAFE-CROSSING during IENE 2020 conference. SIGN UP!
30/11/2019
The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING technical workshop 'Innovative techniques to mitigate transportation infrastructure impact on large carnivores' will be held at the University of Évora, Portugal, on April 7th 2020, in the framework of the IENE 2020 International Conference.

Registration for the technical workshop is free!!
Early Bird registration to the IENE2020 conference is until 15 January 2020: https://www.iene2020.info/index.html.


10. 11-12 November: Field visit to the Spanish project site in Andalucia
15/11/2019
On 11-12 November 2019 a delegation of the project team visited the project sites in Aldalusia, Spain. The road segments selected for intervention are in the areas of Donana and Sierra Morena. The project sites were visited in order to discuss with the local team the details of the interventions to be carried out: installation of the AVC prevention systems and of the virtual fence.
The visit was followed by a plenary staff meeting, on the 13-14 November, in the headquarters of the Junta de Andalucia. The meeting allowed to assess the progress of the project until now and to discuss future activities.


9. 24 September 2019 - Presentation of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project at a specific symposium at the ICOET international conference in California, USA
25/09/2019
The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Project will be presented on 24 September 2019 during a specific session “The Road to Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict Mitigation is Paved with Good Data, Part 1” that will be held I the frame of the ICOET international conference, which will take place in California, USA, on 22-26 September. This will be an excellent opportunity to make the project known at a very wide scale beyond Europe.


8. Presentation of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project at the Romanian Palace of Parliament
10/06/2019
The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Project has been presented at the Ministerial Environmental Conference "Large Carnivore Management - Challenges and Solutions", which has taken place at the Romanian Palace of Parliament on 06-07 June 2019 and at which over 50 representatives of the EU member states of the European Commission have participated. The event's main objective was to bring together different stakeholders involved in large carnivore management to identify ways to improve coexistence of the local communities with these species and the project has gained great attention.


7. Networking visit between LIFE AmyBear and LIFE SAFE-CROSSING in Italy
20/04/2019
Five members of the LIFE AmyBear Project Team, visited the National Parks of Majella and of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise between 15 and 18 April 2019, for exchanging information and experience. Mr. Spyros PSAROUDAS (CALLISTO), Mr. Nikos PAPAEFTHYMIOU, Ms. Sofia GLOUFTSI and Mr. Kostas Papageorgiou (Forestry Service) and Ms. Marina PROIKAKI (LEVER SA) participated in the Greek delegation. LEVER SA is the Coordinating Beneficiary, and Forestry Service (Region of Epirus and Western Macedonia, Greece) is one of the Associated Beneficiaries of the LIFE AmyBear project, while CALLISTO NGO is Associated Beneficiary in both projects: LIFE AmyBear and LIFE SafeCrossing.

Antonio Antonucci and Giovanna di Domenico from Majella N. Park’s (MNP) staff members guided the Greek Team in sites of the Park (like S.S. 17 that runs from Castel Di Sangro to Sulmona, being the most important road object of the Life Safe-Crossing concrete actions), while Andrea Gennai and Roberta Latini provided guidance in the Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise Park (PNALM). The Greek Team visited also the premises of PNALM at Pescasseroli and had a meeting with the President and other staff members of the Park, exchanging information and views on questions of common interest.


6. Presentation of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project at the LIFE Info day in Warsaw
19/04/2019
On 17^th April 2019 the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project was presented at the Polish national LIFE info day in Warsaw. The event was attended by around 350 people and at least 300 joined the conference on-line. There has been the presence of the polish Ministry of the Environment, the polish Board of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and representatives of the European Commission, DG Environment. The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project has been selected as an example of a transnational LIFE project, and also because the topic of wildlife-vehicle collisions is extremely important in Poland. There has been a great interest toward the project, and we set the basis for future collaborations.

5. First monitoring equipment installed at one of the Egnatia Highway underpasses in Greece
28/03/2019
The first monitoring equipment was installed at one of the 45 underpasses to be monitored along highway A29 (Egnatia Highway) in Greece. This is part of an innovative end-to-end solution/prototype, developed by the Greek partner COSMOTE, that allows the automated capturing of the movements of wildlife that uses the underpasses to cross the bear-proof fenced highway and the depiction in a graphical environment for further analysis. The information will be used to identify the crossing structures to be re-adapted in order to render it more attractive to bears.
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4. 13 March, presentation of LIFE SAFE-CROSSING on the 3rd Italian national TV
14/03/2019
Yesterday (13.03) the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project was presented during the nature dissemination programme GEO on the third Italian national TV Rai 3.
Watch from minute 1.11.00 at the following link: https://www.raiplay.it/video/2019/03/Geo-8de08bef-77c5-4ead-95a5-389d2ae9a1fe.html
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3. First opening event of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Project
27/01/2019
The first national opening event has taken place in the Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park in Italy. A general presentation of the project has been made, followed by a detailed description of the Animal-Vehicle Collision Prevention System, which will be installed in the project sites, and of the actions planned in the Italian project areas. Over sixty persons have participated and the talks have been followed by a very active discussion round.


2. First visit on the Geek project area
10/12/2018
The first field visit has been made to the Greek project area. The most critical sites on the national roads and the Egnatia Highway have been visited where the project actions will take place. It has been a good opportunity to share ideas among experts about the details of the interventions.
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1. Kick-off meeting of the LIFE SAFE-CROSSING Project
22/11/2018
The LIFE SAFE-CROSSING project has started on 1 September 2018,  and on 19-20 November the staff of the project has met for the kick-off meeting in Orvieto, Italy. Twenty-seven representatives of the project partners have been present. It has been the first opportunity the staff members to get to know each other and to plan the first activities of the project.
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