Considerations on COM(2023)799 - EU position on submitting proposals for amendment of Appendices II and III of the Convention on the Conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats with a view to the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2023)799 - EU position on submitting proposals for amendment of Appendices II and III of the Convention on the Conservation of European ... |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2023)799  |
| date | December 20, 2023 |
(2) Pursuant to Article 17 of the Convention, the Standing Committee may adopt a decision to amend the Appendices of the Convention.
(3) In line with Article 17 of the Convention, the deadline for submitting amendment proposals is at least two months prior to the Standing Committee meeting. The Union may, as a Party to the Convention, propose amendments to those Appendices.
(4) In view of Recommendation No. 56 (1997) of the Standing Committee concerning guidelines to be taken into account while making proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II of the Convention and while adopting amendments30, relevant considerations for listing species in the Appendices of the Convention include ecological and scientific factors, such as conservation status, populations trends and threats.
(5) Article 2 sets out the objective of the Convention of achieving a population level “which corresponds in particular to ecological, scientific and cultural requirements, while taking account of economic and recreational requirements (…)” and sets the broader context for measures taken by the Parties to the Convention. This objective can be taken into account when proposing an amendment to the Appendices of the Bern Convention.
(6) The conservation status of the wolf has shown a positive trend since the last decades. The wolf has successfully recovered across the Continent with a significant expansion of the species’ range and its population having reached important levels, with estimated population levels for the EU having nearly doubled in 10 years (from 11 193 in 2012, in the range of 11 000-17 000 in 2019 to 20 300 in 2023). The populations are equally reported as continuously increasing across the Continent31. In spite of remaining threats to the wolf species, the successful recovery of its populations and increased range across the European continent in the past decades testify of the strong adaptability and resilience of the species.
(7) At the same time, the continued expansion of the wolf’s range in Europe and its recolonisation of new territories have led to increasing socio-economic challenges with regard to coexistence with human activities, notably due to livestock damages that have reached important levels, affecting more and more regions and EU Member States and beyond.
(8) The most recent data on the population size from the 2022 assessment of the status of the wolf developed by the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) for the Bern Convention and from the in-depth analysis of the status of the wolf in the European Union from 2023 provide adequate evidence in support of adapting the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) under the Convention.
(9) Therefore, it is appropriate to adapt the protection level of the wolf species. The wolf species should be subject to the species protection resulting from a listing in Appendix III in connection with Article 7 of the Convention.
(10) This adaptation of the protection level would add flexibility to address the increasing socio-economic challenges relating to the wolf linked to the continued expansion of the wolf’s range in Europe and its recolonisation of new territories.
(11) As provided for in the Bern Convention Recommendation No. 163 (2012) of the Standing Committee, adopted on 30 November 2012, on the management of expanding populations of large carnivores in Europe, Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention are encouraged to collaborate as appropriate with other states sharing the same populations, with the objective to maintain them healthy and at favourable conservation status. Such cooperation, involving coexistence and protection measures, remains necessary and relevant if the wolf species is listed in Appendix III of the Convention.
(12) Therefore, in view of the 44th meeting of the Standing Committee to the Convention in 2024, or of any earlier exceptional meeting that the Union may request, the Union should submit a proposal for amending Appendix II and Appendix III to the Convention by removing the wolf (Canis lupus) from Appendix II and listing it under its Appendix III.
(13) It is appropriate to also establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf at the meeting of the Standing Committee, as the decisions amending the Appendices to the Convention will be binding on the Union.
(14) The proposal should be communicated to the Secretariat for consideration at the next meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention or of any earlier exceptional meeting that the Union may request.