10 Mar 2025 European Commission Proposes Downlisting of Wolf at EU level
Brussels, 10 March 2025 – The European Commission has proposed an amendment to the Habitats Directive, changing the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) from strictly protected to protected. This follows a series of legislative steps, including a decision by the Council in September 2024 and the adoption of the change in the Bern Convention in December 2024.
This proposal marks a significant shift in European wildlife conservation policy, responding to long-standing demands from Member States and multiple European Parliament resolutions. The amendment will move the wolf from Annex IV (strict protection) to Annex V (protected but with management flexibility) of the Habitats Directive.
A more flexible approach to wolf conservation and management:
This change ensures that the wolf will be classified as a species, which can be subject to management measures for the entire European Union. At the same time, Member States are allowed to keep the wolf as a strictly protected species at the national level if they wish to do so.
Importantly, the Commission emphasises that the conservation obligations remain unchanged. However, the new classification will allow Member States to develop tailored conservation and management plans to balance wolf conservation with coexistence challenges.
Laurens Hoedemaker, President of FACE, welcomed this move:
“This new approach will ensure a more flexible and pragmatic approach to wolf management in Europe, enabling Member States to better address local challenges. Importantly, some heavy bureaucratic and legal conflicts in some Member States will be reduced with this move”.
With this proposal, the European Commission has initiated the legislative process to formally amend the Habitats Directive. Member States will be responsible for implementing management plans in line with EU conservation objectives. Under Annex V, Member States must continue to monitor wolf populations and implement a range of relevant management measures.
In December 2023, the European Commission analysis highlighted that the wolf population in Europe has nearly doubled in the past decade. This population growth has increased interactions between wolves and human activities, particularly in rural areas.
For further information, please contact: communication@face.eu