At a time when international negotiations have resumed within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15, Kunming, Part 1), the European Commission published, on Tuesday 12 October, a guide for EU Member States on the strict protection of animal species under Directive 92/43/EEC, the so-called ‘Habitats’ Directive.
These guidelines clarify Article 12 (strict protection regime applicable throughout the territory of the Member States) and Article 16 (derogations), reflecting the latest legal interpretations of the Court of Justice of the EU. They also draw on the experience and examples of species protection systems in EU Member States.
The guide is “a practical tool for Member State authorities and all relevant stakeholders who play a crucial role in ensuring the protection of Europe’s valuable species. The document provides a wealth of practical advice on how to reconcile wildlife protection and human activities”, commented EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius in a statement.
Annex III of the guide concerns wolves and provides examples of how to apply the rules, highlighting initiatives and funding opportunities at EU level to support the co-existence of this protected species with human activities.
See the policy paper: https://bit.ly/3BBXGWH (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)