Recent rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union, together with several scientific statements confirm that Sweden’s current wolf policy is in direct conflict with both EU law and genetics. Still, the Swedish government now moves ahead to reduce the “Favourable Conservation Status” (FCS), to be able to halve the country’s wolf population, down to 170 individuals.
New wolf ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union
A ruling about wolves in Estonia, by the Court of Justice of the EU (C-629/23) (1) recently clarified:
- Wolf hunting is only allowed if the wolf population has reached so-called Favourable Conservation Status (FCS), at both national and local levels.
- Wolves in Russia cannot be counted toward an EU country’s population goals, due to lack of legal protection and binding cooperation.
- Favourable Conservation Status must be based solely on biological criteria, not political or economic considerations.
Only space for 170 wolves in Sweden?
Geneticists such as Professor Laikre and others (see links below) mean that a viable wolf population in Sweden would require many more individuals than the government’s now proposed 170 wolves. Professor Laikre suggests a minimum of 2,000 wolves is needed for long-term genetic health of the wolf populations in Sweden, Norway and Finland taken together. This population is today only around 700.
Magnus Orrebrant, Secretary General of the Swedish Carnivore Association, emphasizes that “without following EU legal standards and scientific guidance, Sweden risks further biodiversity loss and continued infringement cases. Sweden’s presently defined Favourable Conservation Status at a minimum of 300 wolves, depends on the connectivity with Russian wolves, which has now been shown not to be allowed. This means that in reality the number 300 is already today far too low and should be tripled, rather than halved.”
Criticism towards the Swedish government
The Swedish Carnivore Association criticises the government for knowingly misinterpreting expert reports and calls for:
- An immediate stop for the planned lowering of the wolf reference value.
- A ban on any wolf hunting at the present low population level.
- A new mandate for the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, to develop legally and scientifically sound wolf population targets.
- Improving the dialogue with civil society and independent scientists.
Bounty offered against illegal hunting
A new bounty of 250,000 SEK (22,700 euro) for tips regarding wildlife crimes against Sweden’s large predators has been offered by the Swedish Carnivore Association.
Illegal hunting is still a big threat to Sweden’s large predators – especially, but not only, the wolf. Poaching strikes a blow to both biodiversity and public trust in the rule of law. To counter this, the Swedish Carnivore Association has now taken the historic measure to offer a reward of 250,000 SEK to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of poachers for serious wildlife crime or handling of illegally hunted large predators.
“Poaching of our large carnivores is still far too widespread, but very few cases have yet been legally solved. By offering a substantial reward, we want to lower the threshold for people to dare to speak up. This is about standing up for Sweden’s natural heritage, for the law and for our endangered species” says Magnus Orrebrant, Secretary General of the Swedish Carnivore Association. “This is a powerful and responsible way for civil society to help stop the serious crimes affecting our predators” says Björn Israelsson, legal counsel at the Swedish Carnivore Association.
Tips can be submitted anonymously by phone at 072-236 78 48 or by email to tips@rovdjur.se
For more information
Magnus Orrebrant, Secretary General
Swedish Carnivore Association
magnus.orrebrant@rovdjur.se
+46 (0)705 168 931
Links
- Open letter to the Swedish PM (Swedish)
- Scientists warn about reducing Sweden’s wolf population (Swedish)
- Planned cull endangers Swedish wolf population (English)
- Wolves: MEPs agree to change EU protection status (English)
- Wolf facts from Sweden (English)
- Swedes like their large carnivores (English)
- Living side by side (Sweden’s Big Five, 2024, English)
- Distribution maps for Brown bear, Eurasian lynx, Grey wolf, and Wolverine [Dataset]. Kaczensky, Petra et al. (2021)
- Europe’s Environmental Bad Boy (English)
- Wolves betrayed: European Parliament bows to politics over science (English)
- “Take Sweden’s wolf killing to the EU Court” (English)
- Nature and biodiversity, The Habitats Directive - Large carnivores - EU Commission webpage (English)
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