European organizations warn against hasty reduction of wolf protection
Prague – More than 75 European non-governmental organizations, including the Czech Hnutí Duha Šelmy, have called for the rejection of the proposed European reduction of protection for the gray wolf. In an open letter addressed to the governments of all EU member states, members of national parliaments, and the media, the organizations point out that the step advocated by the EU leadership lacks scientific and legal basis and could be annulled in court. Hnutí Duha stated this in a press release today.
The signatories of the letter urge member states to wait with any legislative changes until the judicial review of the proposal to reduce the protection of the wolf is completed at the Court of Justice of the EU. “By adopting premature changes to national legislation, states would risk not only endangering vulnerable wolf populations but also legal liability and lawsuits,” the organizations state.
The open letter further reminds that most European wolf populations remain scientifically vulnerable, endangered, or even critically endangered. The organizations remind that according to EU law, political or socio-economic arguments are not valid reasons for reducing the protection of the species. They also emphasize that member states have the right, and in some cases the obligation, to maintain stricter protection than what is mandated at the EU level, especially if it aligns with current scientific knowledge.
According to current rules, states have 18 months to implement any changes into their legislation, but this transposition is not mandatory. “States can completely reject the decision to reduce protection. Among the countries that have already announced their intention to maintain a strict protection regime are the Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland, and Portugal.
“Our organization joined this open letter because we consider the preservation of strict protection for the wolf to be crucial not only for nature conservation but also for legal certainty and responsibility towards future generations,” stated Hnutí Duha Šelmy. According to the website selmy.cz, the wolf population in the Czech Republic was estimated to be around 70 individuals at the beginning of 2019. They lived in 18 territories, most of which were located in border areas. There were a total of 13 packs, each consisting of four to six individuals. (August 5)
