Grensevilt 2: slutrapport till Interreg Sverige-Norge

Inner Scandinavia is characterized by a contiguous coniferous forest area with large wildlife populations (natural heritage), which are crucial for the forestry and hunting of the region (cultural heritage). Despite the cross-border nature of forest and wildlife resources, they are managed and utilized differently on different sides of administrative borders. This leads to conflicts of interest and unfavorable models and units for management, which do not take the animals' ecology into account. Wind power development has accelerated in the coniferous forest areas of Inner Scandinavia, while there is a lack of knowledge of the consequences for wildlife populations in general and across management regions in particular. There is a great need for knowledge to facilitate and improve cross-border cooperation and management. GRENSEVILT 2 (2020-2022) is a follow-up from the project GRENSEVILT 1 (2017-2021). Newly acquired knowledge and the work of the resource group led to an expressed desire from the management, landowners and advocacy groups in both countries for a concretization of the collaboration as well as increased knowledge acquisition as a basis for this collaboration. GRENSEVILT 2 had the primary objective of increasing the coordination of wildlife management across the border and in areas that are under pressure from human intervention. The project has had two secondary objectives; understanding the biological and management prerequisites to improving management cooperation, and to understand the effects of wind power development on wildlfe and hunting. The project's work towards the two secondary objectives has had two main components: 1) developing a research-based knowledge base relevant to management, and 2) networking and communication work at various levels. GRENSEVILT 2 follows Interreg's process for creating regional added value by getting to know each other, sharing knowledge, and finding joint, cross-border solutions. The project group consisted of researchers and managers from Norway and Sweden, as well as a process manager. In the GRENSEVILT 2 project, we have established a structure for regional collaboration across the border. We have increased the understanding of methodological, ecological, and management prerequisites for cooperation in moose management. Through discussions of scenarios, development of a common GIS solution, and new knowledge, the project has explored new adaptive management models that take into account the seasonal cross-border moose migration as well as various interests associated with forests, moose, wolves and wolverines. GRENSEVILT 2 has increased the understanding of the effects of the continuously increasing wind power development in Inner Scandinavia's shared forests. Movement data from moose, wolves and wolverines equipped with GPS collars, as well as moose pellet counts, were analyzed to increase the understanding of how such technical interventions in the forest landscape can affect the behavior and area use of wild animals. We have also studied the local moose harvest and the hunters' experience of the wind power development. During the entire project period, we have had close collaboration with the resource group, which included Norwegian and Swedish representatives from the management, landowners, business, research, and advocacy organizations. This group had a vital role in the project with a tight meeting schedule and continuous process management. Communication was essential to achieving our main goal of increased coordination of wildlife management, and we have followed a communication plan during the course of the project. In GRENSEVILT 2 we utilized the structures established in GRENSEVILT 1 (website, Facebook page, contact network for newsletters, media contacts, local, regional and national professional forums for lectures) but have also worked with other communication channels (story maps and film). In addition, we have prepared the content of the planned international research and management conference "Wolves Across Borders", which will be held in May 2023.