With a seven-month delay on what was stated in the order of the ministry that protects the wolf across Spain since September, Wolf Protection Strategy. Approved by the Environmental Industry Conference. refusal Three of the four communities in the Northwest, Galicia, Cantabria, and Castilla y León, and support for hitherto the former had gone hand in hand with Asturias.
It replaces the one approved in 2005 and the name is already a change of intent. It is now called “Strategy for wolf conservation and management and coexistence with activities in rural areas”. because one of its aims is precisely the search for ‘coexistence’ between this symbolic species and widespread animal husbandry.. Some sectors involved have already expressed doubts that this is possible.
But Strategy includes more objectives in between. recovering the species, promoting the expansion of the Peninsula towards the east and southwhere he disappeared and reduce livestock damage.
The Strategy, supported by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Struggle, represents the continuity of the ministerial order that last September included it in the Wild Species List under the Special Conservation Regime (Lespre).
The Ministry will contribute money to the autonomous communities to promote both. intrusion prevention measures as the wolf compensation to those affected in case of damage.
document, a new national census of species and allows extractions in very special cases: only when there is “serious damage to animals” and in most circumstances.
“Selective and reasoned” inferences
Already there can be no quota Collecting in advance the number of samples to be drawn during a season, and can only act individually and selectively against samples causing damage and always with reports justifying action shows that the species does not affect the local and national conservation status.
There are more conditions: before killing a wolf, it must be demonstrated that all possible precautions have been taken to prevent its attacks.As required by the European Union (EU) Habitats Directive and Spanish laws and regulations.
Ecological Transition reserves some controls before subtractions: one for each action “non-binding mandatory” report the impact of action on the status of species conservation in the relevant biogeographic context and throughout the Spanish territory”.
Autonomous communities must also “report all actions and communicate their results to the Ministry,” which in turn is responsible for collecting and periodically submitting information about wolves that have been eliminated. European Commissionin order to do To evaluate the implementation of the exception regime of the Habitats Directive in Spain.
The plan also aims to increase knowledge about the wolf and measures to improve the social perception of the species and spreading the ecological values in the places where it coexists with large animal husbandry.
The text indicates the obligation fight against increasing unnatural death wolf specimens mainly due to crushing and hunting (vaccination, poisoning, traps and poison baits).
Livestock denial, environmental divide
The response of those primarily affected and interested in the strategy was uneven. Ranchers in the northwest have already voiced their open opposition to the document.assuming it will cause an increase in damage.
Among the environmentalists there opinion section. WWF and Ecologists in Action applaud the endorsement of the Strategy, while the Society for Conservation and Research of the Iberian Wolf (ASCEL), which supports species conservation across Spain, considers it.”unacceptable“Continuing to let them kill wolves.”We will meet in court and when necessary.“, ASCEL warned.
The WWF considers wolf conservation unquestionable” and applauds the fact that the wolf is no longer a prey species, emphasizing what Strategy assumes. a major paradigm shiftBecause it puts an end to the “old and ineffective system based on killing wolves”, which has been applied in a generalized way. focus on harm preventionHowever, he underlines that there are important shortcomings in the document.
Ecologistas en Acción, for its part, positively values the endorsement of the Strategy, but disagree He is “deeply” at the need to eradicate wolves, although he acknowledges that wolves are no longer based on population control and does not allow approval of text wolves killing quotas. significant progress and a significant change in the management of the species”.
Thus, to the ‘million dollar question’, Is it possible for wolves and cattle to coexist?, Ministry and some autonomous communities, yes to this with the new Strategy; other regional governments and agricultural livestock organizations say no; and environmental groups want it, but some express serious doubts. Time will determine the punishment.
Strategy for wolf conservation and management: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/publicaciones/estrategialobo_cs_28072022_tcm30-543570.pdf
Source: Informacion
