Co-wolf – Co-monitoring in the Mont Avic Natural Park for a new human–wolf coexistence strategy in the Alpine region
Staff
10/12/2025
Project sheet
The Co-Wolf project was created with the aim of strengthening and expanding the monitoring of protected species within the Mont Avic Natural Park, focusing in particular on three large predators: the wolf (Canis lupus), the golden jackal (Canis aureus), and the lynx (Lynx lynx). Through an innovative co-monitoring approach, the project seeks to build a new balance between humans and wildlife by involving citizens, hikers, and local communities in citizen science activities and co-creation processes. In this way, scientific knowledge is combined with local participation, fostering a more informed and sustainable coexistence with the Park’s large predators.
Keywords
Monitoring
Project name
Co-wolf – Co-monitoring in the Mont Avic Natural Park for a new human–wolf coexistence strategy in the Alpine regionDuration
15 months
Location
Parco Naturale Mont Avic, Regione Valle d’Aosta
Responsible organisation
NBFC
Partners
Eliante Onlus
Objectives.
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Co-wolf was designed to achieve four complementary objectives:
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Stakeholders involved
The project involves a diverse network of stakeholders, each playing an essential role in territorial management. Local breeders, who are directly exposed to the presence of large predators, contribute their daily experience and become key partners in developing concrete coexistence solutions. Alongside them are the volunteers of the Pasturs Project, already trained on the subject and ready to actively contribute to field monitoring.
An equally important role is played by the local community of the Mont Avic Natural Park, whose participation strengthens the citizen science dimension and the connection with the territory. Finally, local administrators and territorial associations provide institutional support and the strategic vision needed to turn the project into a shared and long-lasting initiative.
Main expected results
The main expected outcomes of the project include:
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Genetic mapping of the target species present in the Mont Avic Natural Park, to obtain updated and reliable information on their distribution and variability.
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Identification of the ecological and behavioral dynamics of the monitored species, in order to better understand their needs and interactions with the environment.
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Active involvement of local stakeholders in the monitoring and management of protected species, strengthening collaboration between communities, technicians, and institutions.
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Promotion of Open Science and FAIR Data principles, with the integration of wildlife sampling into the Aosta Valley’s regional database of sensitive species, ensuring transparency, accessibility, and data sharing.
Golden jackal (Canis aureus). A secondary target of the Co-Wolf project: its presence in the Park was recorded in 2022, but unfortunately it was never filmed during the project.Immagine da fototrappola, Archivio PNMA – diritti riservati
Dissemination results
The dissemination and replicability of the project’s results are based on the robustness of the methods used and on the active participation of the local territory. The detailed monitoring of protected species and the analysis of their genetic diversity provide scientific foundations that can be easily transferred to other Alpine contexts, allowing procedures and protocols to be replicated. At the same time, the establishment of a constructive dialogue with stakeholders helps reduce conflicts, define shared solutions, and increase awareness of biodiversity conservation and the needs of productive activities. Finally, the co-creation of knowledge—supported by the exchange of expertise on wolf biology and ethology—makes it possible to build a collaborative model that can be replicated in other areas facing similar issues.
