Human-wildlife conflict monitoring in the Ukrainian Carpathians — the basis for sustainable nature management and the economic development of local communities

Human–wildlife conflicts involving large carnivores, such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), are becoming increasingly relevant to science and conservation practice. This study investigates the frequency, structure, and mitigation of such conflicts in the highland regions of the Ukrainian Carpathians based on monitoring data from 91 farms and 24 apiaries collected between 2018 and 2023. Results show that 73% of farms and apiaries experienced carnivore attacks at least once during the 6-year analysis period, with wolves being the most common threat to farmers and bears posing the greatest risk to apiaries. The adoption of electric fences rose significantly among stakeholders (up to 34% by 2023) and proved to be an effective tool for conflict prevention, complemented by guarding dogs. Conflict-related damage from all three carnivore species decreased notably over the study period. These findings highlight the need for systematic conflict monitoring and the wider adoption of preventive measures in conservation and land-use policies in Ukraine.