Bad news: Member States propose to downgrade the protection status of the wolf, against science and public opinion

25 September 2024

Press Release

Wolves are likely to no longer be strictly protected as the Council of the European Union has adopted the proposal by the European Commission (EC) to request a downgrade of their protection status under the Bern Convention. This move seriously jeopardises the conservation efforts of the past decade and prioritises politics over science and data, while sending a dramatic message on the future of co-existence.

In December 2023, the EC published a proposal to downgrade the strict protection of wolves at international level, in a move that has been considered widely political. Now that Member States have voted in favour of a downgrade, the proposal must be endorsed formally at ministerial level, in time for the request to be presented and voted upon at the next Standing Committee meeting of the Bern Convention in December. If adopted, this could be translated in the EU under the Habitats Directive, giving flexibility to Member States to authorise the unnecessary culling of these majestic animals.

In the past decade, the EU has invested significant resources towards the recovery of wolves, resulting in an increase of 25% in population. Yet, populations have not yet reached a favourable conservation status and the proposal to downgrade their protection seriously jeopardises conservation efforts. 

Hundreds of civil society organisations have urged the EU to strengthen the protection of wolves, not reduce it, as wolves are apex predators vital in ecosystem stability, and in the current global biodiversity crisis, their role cannot be compromised. The protection of wolves is also supported by the general public as 68% of inhabitants of rural areas state that the wolf should remain strictly protected. Over 300,000 citizens have also called for wolves to remain strictly protected.

The EU has funded innovative projects across Europe that have proven co-existence is possible and attacks on livestocks can be significantly reduced with preventive measures. The EC admitted, in its in-depth analysis, that culling is not a solution to protect farmed animals from depredation contrary to coexistence measures. It is therefore alarming to see that the EU, instead of further promoting and supporting such efforts, has opted to downgrade the protection status, giving way to unnecessary suffering.

Wolves are our allies, not our enemies and it is crucial to protect them. Member States are dangerously failing their mission to protect wild animals and our shared ecosystem. This is a very outrageous move and shows that Member States are ignoring their citizens’ calls and science. Facilitating culling sends a dramatic message on the future of conservation and coexistence. We urge the other parties to the Bern Convention to reject this proposal and protect wild animals in the EU and beyond and continue to champion biodiversity protection at the global level.

Léa Badoz, Wildlife Programme Officer, Eurogroup for Animals.

Regards Mark