The Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) is a working group of the IUCN Commission on the Conservation of Species.
[2] Its objective is to maintain and restore viable populations of large carnivores in coexistence with humans as an integral part of ecosystems and landscapes throughout Europe.
[3] LCIE was founded in June 1995 by a coalition of scientists, land managers, government officials und conservation groups (leading among them WWF Europe) from 17 European countries.
[4][5] The cause for the founding of LCIE was the critical situation of the Iberian lynx,[5] whose population had dwindled to less than 100 adult individuals and was considered to be close to extinction.
LCIE has the crucial consultative role for the European Commission's Large Carnivores Unit and for the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention.