The European Commission has proposed a significant shift in wildlife conservation policy, advocating for a change in the legal status of wolves in Europe. The proposal, announced on Friday, seeks to make it easier for European countries to hunt wolves by downgrading their protection status from “strictly protected” to “protected,” citing concerns over their rising population and the threat they pose to livestock.
According to Reuters, the change, which takes effect on Friday under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, will allow for more flexible management of wolf populations across the continent. The Convention, which governs wildlife protection in Europe and certain African nations, previously restricted hunting or capturing wolves unless they were deemed a serious threat to livestock or public health.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported the proposal, arguing that in certain regions, growing wolf packs have become a significant danger, particularly to farmers’ livestock. “In some European regions, wolf packs have become a real danger, especially for livestock,” von der Leyen stated. She added that the change would help local authorities better manage wolf populations while balancing the needs of farming and biodiversity preservation.
However, the proposal has sparked controversy. Environmental campaigners and some EU lawmakers have criticized von der Leyen, with some accusing her of personal bias after her own pony was killed by a wolf in 2022. “EU conservation policies are now being shaped by Ursula von der Leyen’s personal pony drama. But lowering wolf protection is mere symbolic politics. Farmers need real solutions,” said German Green lawmaker Jutta Paulus. She warned that reducing wolf numbers could have unintended consequences, potentially leading to an increase in wild game populations, which can cause significant damage to forests and agriculture.
While von der Leyen’s personal experience has been questioned, the European Commission maintains that the decision to ease wolf protection is based on objective data. The EU’s analysis indicates that wolf populations are growing, with an estimated 20,300 wolves across Europe in 2023. The proposal aims to provide more localized control over the species’ management while ensuring that wolves do not face endangerment.
The proposed change has yet to be approved by EU member states and the European Parliament. If enacted, it will allow for the regulated hunting of wolves, although countries will be required to take precautions to ensure that wolf populations do not fall to dangerous levels. This includes limiting hunting seasons and enforcing other measures to prevent wolves from becoming endangered again.
Since the Bern Convention was established in 1979, wolves have been granted “strictly protected” status, meaning they could only be hunted or captured under specific conditions. The new “protected” status would allow for more lenient management, but with safeguards to prevent overhunting and population decline.
The issue of wolf predation on livestock is a significant concern for farmers. Wolves are responsible for killing at least 65,500 livestock annually across the EU, according to the European Commission’s analysis. However, wolves also play an important ecological role by helping to regulate populations of large mammals like deer, which can cause damage to crops, forests, and farmland.
Currently, three of Europe’s nine wolf populations are classified as “vulnerable” under conservation status, adding further complexity to the debate over how to balance protection and population control.
As the proposal moves through the legislative process, it is expected to spark further debate over the role of humans in managing the continent’s wildlife populations, particularly when economic interests clash with ecological preservation. The outcome of the discussions could shape the future of wolf conservation across Europe, with far-reaching consequences for both farmers and environmentalists.
