European Union member states today gave the green light to reduce the level of wolf protection, diplomatic sources said, as they moved in the direction requested by livestock breeders, despite a backlash from environmental groups.
This proposal must now be approved under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Wildlife, before possible changes to European legislation.
Representatives of the bloc’s 27 countries backed a proposal to push for changes to an international wildlife convention that would downgrade the species from “strictly protected” to “protected”.
Full room for the wolf discussion in the @Europarl_EN!
“The decision if to lower the wolf’s protection largely depends on the position of countries like Germany. We are, therefore, at a critical moment for the future of wolves in Europe. I would like to express my total… pic.twitter.com/nongq770Ae
— WWF EU (@WWFEU) September 24, 2024
The European Commission, which originally submitted the plan, welcomed its approval by a qualified majority of member states during a meeting in Brussels.
Gray wolves were almost wiped out in Europe a century ago but, thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers have rebounded, prompting cries of protest from farmers outraged by livestock losses.
“Adjusting the protection status will be an important step in addressing the challenges posed by the growing wolf population, while maintaining the overall goal of achieving and maintaining a favorable conservation status for the species,” Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz told reporters.
In 2023, there were gray wolf packs breeding in 23 countries of the European Union, with a total population estimated at around 20,300 animals, bringing the elusive creatures into more frequent contact with humans.
Announcing plans to review the species’ status last year, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said “the concentration of wolf packs in some European areas has become a real danger, especially for livestock.”
Last year, von der Leyen herself lost her beloved pony Dolly to a wolf that burrowed into his enclosure on her family’s farm property in northern Germany – leading some to speculate that the matter had become personal.
The wolf became a “strictly protected” species under the 1979 Bern Convention, to which the EU is a party.
The text allows the killing or capture of the animal only when it poses a threat to livestock, health or safety.
The Commission’s proposal would relax these rules by downgrading wolves to a “protected” species.
Despite protests from animal rights activists, this would allow hunting to resume under strict regulations.
Politically motivated
🚨 BREAKING: EU countries agreed to adopt the Commission’s proposal to lower the wolf’s protection status.
Instead of looking for solutions, such as investing more in preventive measures to achieve coexistence, the EU chooses to allow wolf hunting…
A shameful day for the EU. pic.twitter.com/37BALeMsJI
— WWF EU (@WWFEU) September 25, 2024
More than 300 environmental and animal welfare groups opposed the move, arguing it was premature, as while population numbers have increased, their recovery is still ongoing.
“We think this is a politically motivated proposal and not at all scientifically substantiated,” Sabien Leemans, senior policy officer at environmental group WWF, told AFP.
This year there have been rolling protests by farmers in Brussels and across Europe against the bloc’s tightening of environmental requirements.
Wednesday’s vote, once formally approved by the bloc’s environment ministers, will give the EU the mandate to push ahead with changing the Bern Convention at the next standing committee meeting scheduled for December.
A two-thirds majority is needed to amend the text, which has been signed by 50 countries, including the 27 EU members.
If the contract changes, the Commission will then be able to amend the relevant EU rules.
Source: www.france24.com
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