19 Environmental Organizations ask the Greek Government not to consent to a change in the wolf protection regime in Europe
December 20, 2023
The co-signatory 19 Environmental Organizations express our complete opposition to the proposal announced today by the European Commission to reduce the wolf's protective status in the Bern Convention and we call on the Greek government to reject this proposal in the Council of Environment Ministers.
A few days ago, we joined our voice with almost 300 European organisations, who addressed a new open letter to the President of the EU, Mrs von der Leyen, pointing out, among other things, that it is of great concern to us that a political decision on such a critical issue is prepared in an opaque manner, as it is based on misleading information and not on reliable scientific data.
The protection of wolves in Europe is not only a matter of ecological importance, but also a reflection of our commitment at national, European and international level to the preservation of biodiversity 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 was previously extinct is a major conservation success that should not be underestimated. danger.
Today's announcement by the European Commission also stands in stark contrast to a recently published survey of rural communities' perceptions of co-existence with Large Carnivores. Its results show that 68% of rural residents believe that wolves should be strictly protected and more than two-thirds (72%) agree that coexistence between humans and wolves should be achieved
We call on the Greek Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Skylakakis, not to succumb to the pressures exerted for the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the Environment of the Commission's proposal to amend the Bern Convention, as regards the protection status of the wolf. The Bern Convention is one of the oldest and most important international conventions on nature protection that led to the introduction of the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC), the cornerstone of nature protection in the EU.
It is unprecedented for the EU to request the reduction of the protection status of a protected species at international level. The Commission's proposal jeopardizes not only the protection of the wolf, but also biodiversity conservation efforts in the EU, setting a dangerous precedent for the protection of species and habitats, both inside and outside the EU.
At the same time, we call on the Greek government to rely on data based on science and not on the attempted demonization of an emblematic species of European fauna, such as the wolf. We call on it to pay the necessary attention to the proper implementation and utilization of effective prevention measures, proven good practices and financial tools to support livestock farmers suffering losses from wolves, as well as to improve and modernize the insurance and compensation system for affected producers by the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA).