The European Commission has proposed lowering the protection status of wolves in Europe, citing their growing population and increasing conflict with livestock owners.
Currently classified as "strictly protected," wolves would be reclassified as "protected" under the Bern Convention, allowing for more flexibility in managing their numbers.
''Today, we are proposing a change to EU law that will help local authorities actively manage wolf populations while protecting both biodiversity and rural livelihoods,'' said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
More flexibility for member states
The proposal would give EU member states greater control over local wolf populations, allowing them to implement management measures suited to regional needs.
However, as wolves remain a protected species, conservation efforts must still ensure their populations remain stable.
The change follows an in-depth assessment of wolf populations in the EU. In December 2023, the Commission proposed the downgrade, which the Council adopted in September 2024. The amendment was then formally submitted to the Secretariat of the Bern Convention.
Wolves were once exterminated in Western Europe, but according to data cited by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the number is currently around 20,300.
The German Farmers Association (DBV) says the wolf population now ranges between 1,800 and 3,300.
"The adjustment is more than overdue and the conservation status of the wolf population is more than favourable," said DBV Secretary General Bernhard Krüsken.
German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir said in a report that the adjustment was good news for farmers and not bad for conservation.
"Because sheep, goats and cattle on pasture strengthen biodiversity and the preservation of valuable cultural landscapes," he said.
Criticism and allegations of personal bias
The proposal has faced criticism from conservationists and some EU lawmakers, who accuse von der Leyen of personal bias after a wolf killed her pony 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 Germany's Green party lawmaker Jutta Paulus, warning that reducing wolf numbers could lead to an overpopulation of wild game, causing further ecological damage.
