The EU governments have approved this Wednesday in Brussels reduce wolf protection in order to be able to deal with the proliferation of attacks on livestock. Spain and Ireland were the only Member States to vote against, while Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta and Belgium abstained. The other Member States supported the proposal made last December by the Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
In particular, EU countries have supported relax the international status of the wolf from “strictly protected” to just “protected”“. Brussels justifies this decision by the strong increase in population in the last two decades until exceed 20,000 across Europe and by increasing conflicts with human activities, especially damage to livestock, with “strong pressure on specific areas and regions”.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has experienced one of these attacks first-hand: In September 2022, Dolly was killed by a wolfher 30-year-old pony, at her home in the Lower Saxony region of Germany. It was she who was the reason for the proposal to relax wolf protection, which was submitted in December last year.
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“The species management model promoted by Spain is based on scientific and technical knowledge, to achieve a better coexistence between wolves and extensive livestock farming. This model is based on the application of preventive and protective measures for livestock, as well as on adequate and rapid compensation for damage caused by wolves,” explain sources from the Ribera department to justify their vote against reducing the protection of this species.
“As the implementation of these measures increases and their effectiveness increases, a substantial reduction in such damage is expected. This does not exclude the possibility of selectively extracting conflicting specimens.in accordance with current regulations, when such measures have been applied and have not been effective,” the sources consulted claim.
The agreement reached by the governments of the 27 on Wednesday is not yet the end of the road. Now, the EU must negotiate with the rest of the countries that are part of the Berne International Conventionwhich sets the protection status of the wolf. The debate is scheduled for the first week of December and Brussels hopes to obtain the majority necessary to reduce the protection of the wolf there as well. The modification of the Bern Convention is a “precondition” for being able to change the European rules.
The Von der Leyen Commission has welcomed the approval of the Governments’ proposal because “it constitutes an important step towards addressing the problems posed by increasing wolf populations“While ensuring the overall goal of maintaining a favourable conservation status for the species,” said Environment spokesman Adalbert Jahnz.
In the days leading up to the vote, both the PP and the farmers’ organisation Asaja had called on the third vice-president, Teresa Riberawhich supported the relaxation of wolf protection in Brussels. “Ribera has the opportunity to vote in favor of the field for Putting a stop to the overpopulation of wolves that is so damaging to our livestock farmers“The countryside cannot tolerate any more betrayals. It is time to give the primary sector back the dignity it deserves,” wrote PP MEP Adrián Vázquez. in your X account.
“It’s not just a question of wildlife management, it’s a question of justice for the farmers who, day after day, see their animals fall victim to wolves without being able to do anything about it. Overprotection of the wolf has gone too farand it is time to act to protect the future of livestock farming and rural areas in Spain and Europe,” Asaja argues.
Environmental organisations, for their part, maintain that there is “no scientific basis” to support changing the current legislation and are calling for the current level of protection to be maintained. “Wolf recovery is still ongoing”associations such as WWF and Birdlife assure in a joint statement.
“Wolves must remain strictly protected, not only for the sake of the species and science, but for the health of our ecosystems and the credibility of the European Union. If the EU wants to be a reliable ally of nature and a global leader, we must set the right example now,” concludes the statement.
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