Joint Statement by 300+ Civil Society Organisations

A coalition of over 300 civil society and animal welfare organisations opposes the European Commission's proposal to downgrade the protection status of wolves in the EU. The signatories argue that there is no scientific basis for such a change, as wolf populations remain vulnerable in many regions and culling is not proven to reduce livestock depredation. They call for the maintenance of strict protections under the Bern Convention and the Habitats Directive, while advocating for increased investment in non-lethal prevention measures, improved compensation schemes, and science-based public awareness campaigns.

• The signatories argue that lowering wolf protection is scientifically unjustified because the species has not yet reached a viable conservation status, with six out of nine transboundary wolf populations in the EU classified as vulnerable or near-threatened by the IUCN.
• The document asserts that there is no scientific evidence that culling wolves effectively reduces attacks on farmed animals and suggests that such actions could be counterproductive by disrupting social structures.
• The coalition claims that the European Commission's proposal to reduce protection undermines a decade of EU and Member State investments in coexistence, including LIFE-funded projects.
• The statement recommends that the EU prioritize non-lethal prevention tools—such as fencing, guarding dogs, and human presence—and improve compensation schemes for farmers.
• The signatories demand that any future decisions regarding wolf protection status be based on the 2025 conservation status assessments required by Article 17 of the Habitats Directive rather than political pressure.
• The document warns that downgrading wolf protections could set a dangerous precedent for other species and undermine the EU's overall nature laws and international reputation.

APA

ClientEarth (2024). Joint Statement by 300+ Civil Society Organisations. https://www.clientearth.org/media/nqzn5gzg/joint-statement-19-09-final-version.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Joint Statement by 300+ Civil Society Organisations. 2024. https://www.clientearth.org/media/nqzn5gzg/joint-statement-19-09-final-version.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Joint Statement by 300+ Civil Society Organisations |date=19 September 2024 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/nqzn5gzg/joint-statement-19-09-final-version.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2024joint, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Joint Statement by 300+ Civil Society Organisations}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/nqzn5gzg/joint-statement-19-09-final-version.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }