The change in the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention came into force on Friday 7 March, announced the Council of Europe.
Requested by the European Union and adopted on 6 December 2024, this amendment changes the status of wolves from a “strictly protected species” to a “protected species”, making it easier to cull wolves when they are considered too numerous and dangerous for livestock.
Following this announcement, the European Commission proposed to align the protection status of the wolf in European legislation (Annexes IV and V of the Habitats Directive) with the amended Bern Convention.
“This change in the legal status of the wolf under the Habitats Directive will give Member States the flexibility they need to manage wolf populations. This does not change their legal obligation to protect the species and preserve its populations”, explained Jessika Rosswall, Commissioner for the Environment.
Please note: the amendment to the Bern Convention does not concern Czech Republic, Monaco and the United Kingdom, which have formally notified objections to the change in the protection status of the wolf. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)