Policy recommendations for effective and socially acceptable management of wolf-dog hybridisation in Europe

Résumé fourni par la source

Document prepared as part of the Biodiversa+ project Wolfness “Preserving the natural heritage of wolves: a multidisciplinary approach towards effective and socially acceptable management of wolf-dog hybridization across Europe” The European legislative framework concerning WDH remains unsettled. EU Member States are required to ensure a Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) for wolves, which is also compulsory for other species within the Habitats Directive. Wolves are currently listed as a protected species and, following their recent downlisting from Annex IV to Annex V of the Directive, they can be hunted in some areas and/or culled for management purposes. Nevertheless, uncertainty persists concerning the definition of hybrids and their level of protection, as well as the effectiveness of the legal framework in addressing the relevant technical, social, and ethical challenges of WDH management.Altogether, there is considerable heterogeneity in regulation and management among and within European countries. Indeed, none of the European wolf populations is managed through coordinated and synergic efforts and, to date, European countries have shown limited compliance with international recommendations. Furthermore, the presence of vagrant dogs remains a largely unaddressed or under-addressed issue in several European countries, where few national plans include targeted management actions or effectively enforce them.

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