On 7 March, the Commission unveiled a pivotal amendment to the annexes of the Habitats Directive. This move resonates deeply with the evolving status of one of Europe’s most iconic creatures: the wolf. Once classified as ‘strictly protected,’ the wolf now steps into a new era of ‘protected’ status under the Bern Convention, a change that took effect today, marking a significant milestone for wildlife conservation.
This transformation follows a thorough and insightful analysis of the wolf’s current standing within the European Union, prompting the Commission to advocate for this crucial change in December 2023. The Council embraced this proposal in September 2024, and the subsequent amendment to the Bern Convention’s appendices came to life on 7 March 2025, just three months after its formal adoption.
“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,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Â
With this new proposal, Member States are granted a refreshing wave of flexibility, empowering them to tailor their management strategies for local wolf populations to reflect the nuances of their unique environments. Although the wolf remains under the protective umbrella of conservation laws, Member States are tasked with ensuring that their management and conservation measures foster and sustain a favourable conservation status for the species.
In a landscape where human-wildlife interactions are inevitable, robust damage prevention measures are paramount to mitigate livestock predation. The Commission remains steadfast in assisting Member States and stakeholders, providing vital funding and resources to effectively design and implement these protective strategies.
As this transformative proposal for amending annexes IV and V of the Habitats Directive awaits the approval of the European Parliament and the Council, it stands as a testament to the delicate balance of conservation efforts and the intricate relationship between humanity and nature’s majestic predators.
