We need more science and less fairy tales

The European Commission has just (Friday 7 March) proposed lowering the protection status of the wolf in the Habitats Directive.

Jutta Paulus, Greens/EFA member of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, comments:

“The President of the European Commission is taking a further step in her private vendetta for her pony Dolly. It contradicts fact-based policy for the European Commission to want to downgrade the wolf's protected status without sufficient scientific basis. The decision harms the economic interests of forest owners without solving the problems of livestock farmers.

The forestry industry is already complaining that the high populations of deer, red deer, fallow deer and mouflon are causing extensive damage to vegetation. A reduction in the wolf population would further worsen the economic situation of forest owners.

It is important to consider the interests of all parties involved. To defuse the debate, it would make much more sense to provide more support to keepers of grazing animals in the event of predation, as well as for the installation and maintenance of electric fences.”