EU Member States Approve Lowering Protection for Wolves. European Union member states have endorsed a plan to downgrade the protection status of wolves across the continent. The decision follows increasing reports of wolf attacks on livestock, raising concerns among farmers and rural communities. The move will allow countries more flexibility in managing wolf populations, which have rebounded significantly in recent years under strict conservation measures.

Several EU nations, particularly in central and eastern Europe, have pushed for the downgrade, arguing that growing wolf numbers are threatening agricultural livelihoods and rural economies. The European Commission, which had been reviewing the protection status, cited the need to balance conservation efforts with the interests of farmers and communities affected by the wolves’ resurgence.

Currently, wolves are classified under the EU’s Habitats Directive as a strictly protected species. Downgrading this status would permit more lethal control measures, including hunting, in areas where wolves are considered a threat. Proponents of the plan argue it will help manage conflicts between wildlife conservation and human activity. While critics warn that it could reverse decades of successful efforts to restore Europe’s wolf population.

Environmental groups have expressed strong opposition to the plan, warning that loosening protections could jeopardize wolf conservation. They emphasize that non-lethal methods for managing wolf-livestock conflicts. Such as electric fencing and livestock guardian dogs, have proven effective in many areas.

The European Parliament will need to give final approval before the changes are implemented. If passed, the new rules could see more relaxed management of wolf populations. Particularly in regions where human-wolf interactions have become contentious. However, the debate highlights the ongoing struggle to find a balance between wildlife conservation and the protection of rural livelihoods in Europe.