Change in wolf protection status is a dangerous decision for other endangered species

Following the Bern Convention, lowering of wolf protection status in EU Habitats Directive announced - WWF fears dramatic consequences for other endangered species and habitats in the EU.

The nature conservation organization WWF Austria criticizes the announced weakening of the protection status for the wolf in the EU Habitats Directive as counterproductive and dangerous.

"This is completely the wrong approach and could ultimately lead to an erosion of nature conservation in the EU - with dramatic consequences for endangered species and habitats," says WWF expert Christian Pichler.

What does mitigation mean for other protected species

It is now to be expected that the strict protection status of other endangered species and valuable natural areas could also be called into question. From a scientific point of view, there is no basis for this.

In Austria alone, over 80 percent of species and habitats protected under European law are already not in a favorable conservation status. Destruction of nature, exploitation of resources, the climate crisis and environmental pollution are adding to the pressure.

"Europe's nature needs more protection, not less. This is also about safeguarding our own livelihoods," says Christian Pichler.

The WWF is therefore calling for a nature conservation offensive and an ambitious implementation of the EU Restoration Act.

An intact natural environment is not only the best ally against the consequences of the climate crisis, but also provides our livelihoods such as clean water and fresh air.

Food security also depends crucially on intact ecosystems. Extreme weather events such as droughts or floods can be mitigated by nature-based solutions.

"In our own interest, we now need swift and decisive action for European nature conservation - not dangerous steps backwards," says Christian Pichler from WWF.