Favourable conservation status of wolves

Question for written answer E-001649/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Engin Eroglu (Renew)

According to Article 11 of the Habitats Directive, the surveillance of wolves is the responsibility of the Member States. National authorities regularly carry out and report to the Commission their assessments of the conservation status of the species, based on scientific monitoring data on population (size, trends and structure), range (area and trend), available habitat (quantity, trend and quality) and future prospects (pressures and threats) for the species.

Article 17 of the Habitats Directive reporting guidelines states that the range should be 'extensive' (flächendeckend). This will never be possible in Germany's three biogeographical regions.

For example, half of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) belongs to the Atlantic biogeographical region and the other half to the Continental biogeographical region.

Given the high population density of the region's Ruhr area, wolves will not settle there extensively. As a result, neither biogeographical region will be able to achieve favourable conservation status.

• 1.How is the term 'extensive' (flächendeckend) to be understood?
• 2.If a strict interpretation is applied, is favourable conservation status of the species Canis Lupus at all possible under this assessment scheme?
• 3.Should the Commission and the Member States therefore draw up a new assessment scheme?

Submitted: 6.9.2024