The Brown Bear Foundation (FOP) has received the distinction from the European Commission for ‘Best Life Nature’ for its LIFE project “Communication corridors for the conservation of the Cantabrian brown bear”, an initiative co-financed by the Biodiversity Foundation and the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation.

It is a project developed between 2009 and 2011 in the interpopulation corridor and the Leitariegos corridor, in the autonomous communities of Asturias and Castilla y León. For the implementation of the project, the Brown Bear Foundation had the collaboration of the Junta de Castilla y León, the Principality of Asturias and the municipalities of Los Barrios de Luna, Cármenes, La Pola de Gordón, Sena de Luna, Valdelugueros, Vegacervera, Villablino and Villamanín (Castilla y León), and Aller, Cangas del Narcea, Degaña and Lena (Asturias).

In this sense, the objectives of the project have been to promote the connection between the two subpopulations of the Cantabrian brown bear through actions that allow a favourable social scenario for the presence of the brown bear and habitat management measures, as well as to facilitate the flow of specimens and genetic exchange between the two subpopulations.

The ‘Best Life Nature’ distinction is a recognition of the work carried out in favour of the conservation of the brown bear and its habitat in the Cantabrian Mountains, which joins the other five projects for the restoration of habitats in wetlands and steppes in Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and Lithuania, awarded by the European Commission. as well as the project to introduce the Iberian lynx in Andalusia and the restoration of the Upper Draba river in Austria, selected as the best of the best (‘Best of the best’). A recognition of the most innovative initiatives, which meets criteria of environmental, social and economic contribution, as well as transparency and value for money.

On 5 June, as part of the Green Week Conference in Brussels, the awards ceremony will be held.