TO: EU Environment Ministers CC: EU Agriculture Ministers and EU Nature Directors
17th December 2025
213 organisations call on Member States not to lower the protection status of the wolf Dear Minister, In December 2024, about a year ago, the protection status of wolves under the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) was lowered based on a proposal by the EU. This move has damaged the EU’s reputation as a global champion for conservation. Indeed, this politically motivated and unscientific U-turn on wolf protection was widely criticised by scientists, conservation experts and environmental organisations alike. The science, however, is clear: while wolf populations have been recovering in some EU countries largely due to their strict protection, the species still has an unfavourable conservation status in six out of seven EU biogeographical regions (data from the HD Art. 17 reporting period 2013-2018). The Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe had raised serious concerns about the proposal to downlist the wolf under the Bern Convention as it “does not appear warranted” and as decisions on the conservation and management of wildlife should be “based on sound science, not (just) on political reasons”. Despite this situation, the EU has amended its flagship Habitats Directive by moving the wolf from Annex IV (strictly protected) to Annex V (protected). EU Member States have until 15 th January 2027 to transpose this targeted amendment into national law, but can also decide not to lower the protection status of the species on their territory. We would also like to draw your attention to two ongoing court cases regarding the decision on the wolf’s protection status1, and emphasise that an informed decision could only be made based on their outcomes. With this letter, the undersigned civil society organisations call on you and your government to not lower the protection status of the wolf in your national territory and to intensify efforts to achieve coexistence between wolves and rural communities. Despite the recent change in EU legislation, the Commission confirmed the possibility for Member States to maintain a higher protection status of the wolf, provided that this is signalled at the time of the notification of their transposition measures. In addition, the amendment to the Habitats Directive does not affect Member States’ obligation to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status of the species. Indeed, it is essential that each country takes the necessary steps to fulfil this requirement. On 12th June 2025, the European Court of Justice reaffirmed that the conservation status of a protected species must be assessed and achieved in each individual country rather than across larger, crossborder regions. In addition, economic, social and cultural requirements as well as regional and local
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Member States should take notice of two ongoing court cases that have been brought before the European Court of Justice and are currently awaiting a decision: Case T-634/24 (Green Impact and Others v Council and Commission) from 6 December 2024 seeks to annul the 2024 EU Council Decision on the EU’s submission of a proposal for the downgrade of the wolf protection status under the Bern Convention. Case T-563/25 (Green Impact and Others v Parliament and Others) from 15 August 2025 seeks to annul Directive (EU) 2025/1237 amending the Habitats Directive by downgrading the protection status of the wolf.
characteristics may be taken into account, but cannot by themselves justify classifying a species’ conservation status as favourable. It is therefore crucial that the reporting on the conservation status of habitats and species under the Habitats Directive is based solely on proper robust scientific data, gathered through sound and harmonised methodologies. Most importantly, the data has not yet been analysed by the European Environment Agency to establish the status of populations at regional level. No decision to transpose the downgrade of the protection status and/or actively manage wolf populations should be taken before transparent, updated and science-based population data confirms that such decisions would not threaten the long-term survival of populations. We are committed to contributing to the upcoming public consultation on the data for the new reporting cycle and remain available to provide Member States with adequate support for the proper monitoring of wolf populations. Further to the above, we have observed that downgrading the protection status of the wolf also undermines existing efforts to support co-existence between wolves and local communities, as it fosters the false perception that hunting wolves is a solution to livestock depredation. Decades of acquired knowledge should not be overshadowed by political debates surrounding hunting. Scientific evidence shows that a comprehensive strategy for coexistence between humans and large carnivores is essential to effectively mitigate conflicts and promote long-term conservation. The proper management of (extensively) farmed animals, and the adoption of preventive measures are the most rational, effective, and socially acceptable method to prevent depredation. Compensation schemes can enhance tolerance as long as they are conditional on responsible livestock practices, to remain fair and sustainable. Central to this coexistence strategy is the active engagement of stakeholders - particularly farmers - who must have access to reliable information and technical support, provided by public institutions and experienced professionals. Decision-making processes should be transparent and grounded in scientific evidence, ethical principles, and legal obligations. Ultimately, the protection of large carnivores must evolve toward an innovative model that integrates prevention, conditional compensation, stakeholder involvement, and science-based governance, supported by public awareness and educational initiatives. Protecting wolves in Europe is not only a matter of ecological significance, but also a reflection of our commitment to biodiversity conservation and the values of coexistence and tolerance. Wolves are an integral part of Europe's natural heritage, playing a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity, and the return of the wolf to parts of Europe where the species had previously been extirpated is a considerable conservation success that must not be jeopardised. For the reasons outlined above, the undersigned organisations strongly urge you not to lower the protection status of the wolf on your territory and to ensure that measures are put in place to foster coexistence. Yours sincerely, Patrick ten Brink, Secretary General, European Environmental Bureau, on behalf of the undersigned organisations (see full list below)
1. AAP Animal Advocacy and Protection 2. Acción Océanos 3. Aegean Wildlife Hospital 4. Agent Green 5. ANIMA 6. Animal Protection Denmark 7. ARCHELON The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece 8. ARION-CETACEAN RESCUE AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH CENTER 9. Asociación Animalista LIBERA! 10. ASPAS - Association pour la protection des animaux sauvages 11. Association Carduelis 12. Association Milvus Group 13. Association Ulvetid 14. Associazione "Vivere in Valdisieve" 15. Associazione CERM Centro Rapaci Minacciati ODV 16. Atto Primo Salute Ambiente Cultura ODV 17. Averti Ecologie BV 18. AVES FRANCE 19. Biofuelwatch 20. Biologiforbundet 21. BirdLife Cyprus 22. BirdLife Finland 23. Born Free Foundation 24. BUND 25. CALLISTO, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society 26. Canopea 27. CATCA Environmental and Willdife Society 28. CEEWeb for Biodiversity 29. Center for Environment 30. Centre4NI 31. CHWOLF Association 32. Clean Air Action Group 33. ClientEarth 34. Coalizione TESS Transizione Energetica Senza Speculazione 35. Code animal 36. Comitato Crinali Liberi Londa 37. Comite Schone Lucht 38. Conservation Collective 39. Cosmofauna aps 40. CPN BRABANT 41. Danish Society for Nature Conservation 42. Dansk Botanisk Forening 43. David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation 44. DEPANA 45. Děti Země (Children of the Earth) 46. Deutsche Juristische Gesellschaft für Tierschutzrecht e.V. (DJGT) 47. Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. 48. Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.
49. DIer&Recht 50. Djurskyddet Sverige 51. DOF BirdLife 52. Društvo Dinaricum 53. Earth Ethics, Inc. 54. Ecoflix Foundation 55. Ecological Alliance 56. ECOLOGICAL RECYCLING SOCIETY 57. Ecologistes en Acció de Catalunya 58. ECO-TIRAS 59. Education Ethique Animale 60. ENPA Odv 61. Environment East Gippsland inc 62. Environmental Pillar 63. Eurogroup for Animals 64. EuroNatur 65. European Environmental Bureau 66. FAADA 67. Faia Brava - Associação de Conservação da Natureza 68. Fauna4Life 69. Federazione Nazionale Pro Natura 70. FERUS 71. Focale pour le sauvage 72. Focus Association for Sustainable Development 73. Fondation Brigitte Bardot 74. Fondation Franz Weber 75. Fondation Miaou & Co. 76. Fondation pour la recherche sur la biodiversité 77. Fondazione Capellino 78. Fondo Para la Protección del Lobo Ibérico 79. Forest of the World 80. Forests Now 81. France Nature Environnement 82. French chapter of the global youth biodiversity network, le réseau mondial des jeunes pour la biodiversité 83. French Mammalogy Society (SFEPM) 84. Freundeskreis freilebender Wölfe e.V. 85. Friends of the Earth Europe 86. Fundacja Psubraty 87. Fundația Eco-Civica 88. Gaia Animali & Ambiente OdV 89. Gallifrey Foundation 90. Geological Society of Denmark 91. Gordon Wildlife Alliance 92. Green Impact 93. Gruppo d'Intervento Giuridico (GrIG) 94. GYBN Europe 95. Hellenic Animal Welfare Federation
96. Hellenic Ornithological Society 97. Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) 98. Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF) 99. Himalayan Wolves Project 100. Hnutí DUHA Šelmy 101. Humane World for Animals 102. IG WILD BEIM WILD 103. In Defense of Animals 104. Initiative für die Natur e.V. 105. Institute of Circular Economy (INCIEN) 106. INTERCIDS Operadores juridicos por los animales 107. International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) 108. Intimate With Nature Society 109. iSea 110. Kemeri National Park Fund 111. Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e.V. (CABS) 112. LAV - Lega Anti Vivisezione 113. Law of the Wild 114. Leal Lega Antivivisezionista 115. Legambiente 116. Lesoochranárske zoskupenie VLK/ WOLF Forest Protection Movement 117. Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux / BirdLife France 118. Lipensko pro zivot, z.s. 119. Luchs- und Wolfsschutz Bayerischer Wald 120. Luontoliiton susiryhmä / The Wolf Action Group 121. Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences 122. MEDASSET 123. MedINA (Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos) 124. Menorca Preservation 125. Merman Conservation Expeditions Ltd 126. MOm 127. Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society 128. Mouvement Ecologique - Friends of the Earth Luxembourg 129. NABU 130. NABU Berlin 131. NABU Germany 132. NABU Heidekreis e.V. 133. NABU Landesverband Hessen 134. Nadace na ochranu zvířat 135. Nagy Tavak és Vizes Élőhelyek Szövetsége 136. Natagora 137. natur&ëmwelt a.s.b.l. 138. Natura 2000 Coalition 139. Naturefriends Greece 140. Natuurmonumenten 141. Naturschutzinitiative 142. 143.
Naturschutzbund Österreich/Austrian league for nature conservation Natuurpunt
144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159.
Naxos Wildlife Protection NESEHNUTÍ OBRAZ - Obránci zvířat OIPA ONDA Organismo Nazionale Difesa Alberi One Voice OneKind Palombar - Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environment Federation Parents for Future - gruppo locale Melegnano Parents for Future Milano Peter Jeffs Holistic PIC - Legal Center for the Protection oh Human Rights and the Environment Pôle Grands Prédateurs Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (OTOP) Pro Natura Firenze ETS
160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173.
Pro Natura Friends of the Earth Switzerland Pro Wildlife Protect ▪ Natur-, Arten- und Landschaftsschutz e.V. Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania Puse Latvijas reLife Earth Rewilding Academy Rewilding Europe Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation (Fundatia pentru Parteneriat)) RSPCA Salviamo gli Orsi della Luna APS Salviamo le Apuane SAVE WILD SEPANSO Aquitaine
174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. 190. 191.
Slovene dragonfly society Slovenian Alliance of non-government organisations for the protection of animals Società Cooperativa Sociale Eliante Onlus Société nationale de protection de la nature (France) Society for Ecological Restoration Europe Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace Society for the Protection of Prespa SOSNA SPEA - Portugal Společnost pro zvířata/Society for Animals, CZ Spolek Ametyst Stowarzyszenie Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot Suomen Luonnonsuojeluliitto Svoboda zvířat Terra Cypria- The Cyprus Conservation Foundation The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy The European Nature Trust The Lifescape Project
192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201.
The Swedish Association for the Protection of Animals The Wolf Conservation Association Tierschutz Austria (Wiener Tierschutzverein) Tutela Fauna Toscana Umanotera Un euro per salvare i nostri boschi Ursia o.z. Ústecké šrouby, z. s. Varkens in Nood Vilda Djurens Skydd
202. 203. 204. 205. 206. 207. 208. 209. 210. 211. 212. 213.
Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen vzw VšĮ "Žiedinė ekonomika" WeHowl Werkgroep Wolf Nederland WildChoices Wildlife for All Wildtierschutz Deutschland e.V. Wolfs-Hirten WWF European Policy Office, on behalf of the European WWF network Yoga i det grønne Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) ΝΕΟΙ ΠΡΑΣΙΝΟΙ - NEOI PRASINOI