Brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758), an umbrella spices Get involved conflict crisis in Kermanshah provinces

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a species with high distribution range in Kermanshah province and this has created precondition of conflict. The aim of this study is to identify key bear habitats, ecological Niche fluctuations, and their desirable habitat cover in protected areas and counties of the province. In this regard, after field surveys, the presence of species was identified for 3 years (from 2016 to 2018). Nine habitat variables including ecological, topographic and anthropogenic were used to investigate distribution status. Distribution modeling was performed using Maximum Entropy algorithm. The significance of variables in modeling was calculated by jack knife method and model validity was calculated by ROC function. Width quantification of ecological nests was also calculated using related metrics in ENMTOOLS software. TSS threshold was used to quantify habitat area. Based on the results, appropriate habitat coverage of the species by the protected areas is not suitable and this weakness is evident in the southern parts of the province so that area of 265842.84 hectares of species habitat is outside the protected areas boundary and is prone to conflict with other Land use/land cover. Among the protected areas of the province, Ghaleje and Buzin and Marakhil had the most cover of this an umbrella spices. About half of Paveh county (% 46.68) is suitable for species and the least suitable was located in Qasrshirin county. The results of this study necessitate more attention to the continuity and habitat coverage of this species in the southern parts of the province.