As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Bern Convention, a landmark agreement to protect Europe’s wildlife and natural habitats, its core mission is facing an unprecedented threat. In the coming days, EU Member States will decide whether to support the European Commission’s proposal to weaken wolf protection. If a majority votes to amend the Bern Convention, it will be a major setback for Europe’s nature and conservation efforts.
Adopted in 1979, the Bern Convention — Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats — has been instrumental in protecting Europe’s wildlife and habitats, serving as the basis for the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. However, on its 45th anniversary, the European Commission’s proposal to reduce the level of wolf protection is a betrayal of the Convention’s core values, which emphasise the role of wild flora and fauna in maintaining biological balance and recognise them as part of a natural heritage to be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Danger to livestock
Although Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledges that “the comeback of wolves is good news for biodiversity in Europe”, she also states that the concentration of wolf packs in certain European regions has become a real danger, particularly for livestock.
The proposed change to the Convention would make it easier to cull wolves considered problematic for farmers. Even nesting sites would no longer be protected, and deliberate disturbances against wolves would be permitted. This marks a significant departure from the strong conservation commitments previously upheld. The fact that Member States are now seriously considering downgrading the wolf’s status from “strictly protected” to “protected” highlights a concerning shift.
Easy way out
The decision at hand now pits two opposing approaches to environmental policy: adhering to a science-based approach and honouring international environmental commitments (including the Kunming-Montreal Agreement), or yielding to political opportunism, pressures, and populist rhetoric – the path favoured by the EPP as the easy way out.
Luigi Boitani, a leading zoologist and chairman of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe, captures the situation by stating: “The wolf is no longer an animal with two ears, four legs, and one tail; it is a political subject.”
The debate has become deeply polarised, with the future of these apex predators caught in national and EU political struggles, driven more by far-right influence than by science or consideration of the value of our heritage for future generations.
Conflicts
Historically, wolves were exterminated across much of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, they began to make a comeback in the 1970s, thanks to changes in human settlement patterns and robust conservation efforts. Today, more than 20,000 wolves live in Europe, a testament to the success of these conservation efforts.
Yet, as human activities have expanded in the absence of wolves to include extensive use of nature, the return and rapid expansion of wolf populations has led to conflicts with human interests, such as livestock predation.
Leading by example: guard dogs protect sheep in the Dutch heathlands
Wolf populations across the continent are still far from achieving favourable conservation status. According to the latest IUCN assessment, six of the nine transboundary wolf populations in the EU are classified as vulnerable or near threatened. In addition, the wolf remains at an unfavourable-inadequate conservation status in 6 out of 7 biogeographical regions.
Strict protection
Under the Bern Convention, the grey wolf is listed in Appendix II, which requires strict protection to ensure the species’ survival. This includes the prohibition of direct harm, the preservation of habitats and the implementation of effective conservation measures.
The proposed lowering would undermine these protections, threatening not only wolf populations but also the wider conservation ethos that the Bern Convention represents. It could also set a dangerous precedent for other species, such as bears, lynxes, and beavers, which are also under threat. The move compromises the EU’s credibility as a leader in international conservation efforts and casts doubt on its commitment to global biodiversity goals
International obligations
In her December 2023 press release, the Commission President announced that the proposed change to the Bern Convention is the first step towards amending the EU’s key conservation policy, the Habitats Directive. This Directive, which is deemed effective, needs proper implementation and enforcement, including improved efforts to coexist with large carnivores.
Just a year earlier, von der Leyen supported the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark agreement for global nature action through 2030. Therefore, the current proposal casts serious doubt on the EU’s commitment to its international obligations.
Act now
We must act now to challenge this proposal and reaffirm our commitment to protecting Europe’s wildlife and natural heritage. This is a critical moment for all who care about our environment, which is essential for healthy ecosystems, our health, and future generations. More than 300 NGOs and nearly 300,000 supporters, including those from earlier petitions, are calling for strict wolf protection to be maintained.
