10.04.2025
EU amended the Wolf Protection Status Under the Habitats Directive from 'strictly protected' to 'protected'.
The European Commission has taken a significant step in amending the protection status of wolves in the European Union (EU). The Commission amended Annexes IV and V of the Habitats Directive, aligning it with the revised status of the wolf under the Bern Convention. With this change, the wolf’s classification shifts to ‘protected,’ offering Member States increased flexibility in managing their local wolf populations. This came into effect in March 7, 2025.
The EU here seems to take a balanced approach of conservation and rural livelihoods. Through this amendment the member states have the option to implement stricter protections for the wolf populations, if deemed necessary under their national laws.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of this shift, stating:
“In some European regions, wolf packs have become a real danger, especially for livestock. Today, we are proposing a change of EU law that will help local authorities to actively manage wolf populations while protecting both biodiversity and our rural livelihoods.”
Humane World for Animals Europe warns that the European Commission's proposal to downgrade the wolf’s protection status under the EU Habitats Directive undermine broader nature laws and that the decision is influenced by political pressure rather than science, aiming to appease the agricultural sector but may not address key farming challenges.
Background:
The amendment of the wolf’s protection status follows an in-depth analysis conducted by the European Commission. In December 2023, the Commission proposed this change, which was later adopted by the Council in September 2024. Subsequently, the Commission submitted an amendment proposal to the Secretariat of the Bern Convention. The Standing Committee of the Convention endorsed this amendment on 6 December 2024, and it officially entered into force on 7 March 2025, three months after adoption.
Over the past two decades, the wolf population has grown significantly, a remarkable achievement considering they were once on the brink of extinction due to deliberate persecution. Legal protections, ecological and social changes, and shifting public attitudes have played a crucial role in their survival. However, this population expansion has also sometimes led to increased human-wildlife conflict, resulting in livestock losses. It is against this backdrop that the EU has decided to take this step.
This decision has the potential to significantly reduce the wolf population once again, effectively normalizing the practice of culling wildlife when their numbers increase. The ethical implications of such an approach are deeply concerning, can it be justified to kill wild animals simply because their population has grown? It draws a troubling parallel to the culling of street dogs as a population control measure.
This amendment raises critical questions about whether it could lead to indiscriminate killing of wolves by Member States. While it grants greater flexibility in managing wolf populations to address human-wildlife conflicts and mitigate livestock losses, it also risks increased culling, which could disrupt biodiversity and ecological balance. Moreover, there are fears that this move sets a dangerous precedent for further weakening EU nature laws, influenced more by political pressures than by scientific reasoning. Striking a balance between conservation efforts and the needs of rural communities remains a significant challenge.
References:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_711
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_25_712
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/8ec6689c-a7d8-422e-829d-c4231fc32872_en?filename=Competent_Authorities_EN_7_MAR_2025.pdf
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/news/eu-proposal-downgrade-wolf-protection-wider-attacks-nature-laws