Carolyn Mahan, professor of biology and environmental studies at Penn State Altoona, speaks at "Coexistence Between Humans and Large Carnivores," an international forum she created in collaboration with the Italian Forestry Carabinieri, Re-Wildling Apennines and the U.S. Embassy Department of State.
ALTOONA, Pa. — Carolyn Mahan, professor of biology and environmental studies at Penn State Altoona, worked collaboratively with the Italian Forestry Carabinieri, Re-Wildling Apennines and the U.S. Embassy to Italy to create the international forum "Coexistence Between Humans and Large Carnivores." The invitation-only event took place at the Centro Studi Americani, Nov. 9-10, in Rome.
Stemming from research Mahan began in 2018, the conference examined how humans and large carnivores can exist together in modern landscapes with a focus on brown bears and gray wolves, which persist in central Italy.
Representatives from national parks, universities, federal forestry and wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Department of State were in attendance. Jack Markell, the U.S. ambassador to Italy, provided opening remarks for the event. There were keynote speakers, panel discussions, roundtables and a field trip to the Apennines Mountain range.
“It was really a great opportunity,” Mahan said. “The question is, what do we do next? So, we're going to do some follow-up research and outreach to keep this momentum going. I’m excited about it.”
Mahan said there are three main tasks to focus on moving forward: the re-submission of a research grant, developing policy that can permit coexistence to occur and educational work with the public through non-governmental organizations.
Carolyn Mahan and Jack Markell, U.S. ambassador to Italy.
