The European Union is preparing to finalize a significant rollback in the protection status of gray wolves. As expected, this decision has sparked an intense firestorm of discussion and debate between conservationists and agricultural interests. In response, the European Commission has moved with remarkable speed to amend current laws. These amendments allow for regulated hunting of wolves, which have been more and more menacing livestock throughout the continent.
The final decision comes on the heels of increasing pressure from farmers and agricultural interests over wolf predation on livestock. Esther Herranz Garcia, a leading champion of agricultural interests, drove home some shocking numbers. In the EU alone, over 60,000 farm animals are killed by wolves annually. This statistic highlights the devastating effects wolf populations have on the agricultural community, urging farmers, ranchers and others to ask for action.
Regulatory Changes and Legislative Support
Fast forward to March, when the final regulations went into effect. This was an important and precedent-setting step in the EU’s response to wildlife management. Wolves have recently enjoyed an upgrade in conservation status from “strictly protected” to “protected.” This amendment allows member states to pursue hunting practices, as long as they have very high thresholds for doing so. All three players are part of a European Parliament that is on the verge of giving its approval. Now, an unusual coalition of conservative, centrist and socialist groups are coming together to push it.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, articulated the rationale behind the downgrade, stating that “wolf packs have become a real danger especially for livestock” in several regions of Europe. Farmers are finding their voice and the tide is turning. Finally, they need greater management flexibility to avoid costly and even deadly encounters with wildlife so their livelihoods are protected.
Valerie Deloge, another vocal representative for agricultural communities, emphasized the psychological toll on farmers, stating that “the people who feed our country cannot be expected to work with this fear hanging over them.” That’s because these challenges are immensely emotional. Von der Leyen should know this better than anyone, having lost her treasured pony Dolly to a wolf in late 2022.
Historical Context and Current Population Dynamics
Ecologically, gray wolves were almost wiped out across much of Europe more than a century ago through intense hunting and habitat destruction. Today, their population has rebounded to around 20,300 individuals, mostly found in the Balkans, Nordic countries, Italy, and Spain. This resurgence has sparked conversations again on the balance between important conservation undertakings and the needs of farmers.
In December, delegates from the Bern Convention took an important step to delist the wolf. This decision spotlights the familiar, but no less tragic, tug-of-war between protecting our wildlife and protecting our farmers. Proponents of this downgrade have described it as necessary to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers. Others caution that it will be detrimental to biodiversity, ecosystem health, and other factors.
Concerns Over Fear-Based Policies
Here’s what critics, including the state’s department of natural resources, have to say about the potential impacts of removing protections for wolves. Sebastian Everding, an environmental civil society representative from Iceland, cautioned that this change “panders to fear, not facts.” He contended that the agency’s ruling ignores workable coexistence solutions that address human-wildlife conflicts without introducing hunting as a management tool.
Conservation advocates stress the value of advancing coexistence strategies that help agriculture and wildlife thrive together. We can do the opposite with proven measures such as better fencing practices and livestock loss compensation. Further, improved community education programs can work to create a better understanding of wolf behavior.