Bern Convention Reviews Swiss Wolf Management
A complaint is being handled by the Bern Convention Committee. Swiss wolf management is endangering the wolf population in the Alps.
The facilitated and proactive wolf culls were on the agenda of the standing committee of the Bern Convention on 5 December 2024.
This was just two days after the Council of Europe had approved a downgrading of the wolf's protected status. The presentation by the FOEN was met with great scepticism by the participating countries and by the NGOs present. The bureau subsequently decided to open a dossier. This means that Switzerland must once again report on its wolf management at the next session.
Arbitrary Threshold Values and Lack of Scientific Basis
The main points of criticism are the arbitrary designation of five regulatory regions with a threshold of twelve packs nationwide (2–3 packs per region), the lowered kill counts, and the preventive culls and pack regulations solely to avoid possible future damage. “Such management is, in our view, clearly incompatible with the Bern Convention,” emphasise both plaintiff organisations, CHWOLF and Avenir Loup Lynx Jura.
All speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the report from the FOEN. Criticism was also directed at the arbitrary setting of twelve packs and the lack of scientific foundations that led to facilitated culls. In particular, the representative of Germany emphasized that the downgrading of wolf protection is not a free pass to shoot wolves en masse, that the wolf remains a protected animal, and that a favourable conservation status of at least 20 packs constitutes the scientific basis. “It remains unclear how the downgrading of the wolf's protected status will be implemented in practice.” Therefore, restraint should now be exercised.
Unanimous Opening of a Dossier as a Warning Signal
The request to open a dossier was granted unanimously. This sent a first signal that further tightening of wolf management in Europe will not be accepted without scrutiny. The "Swiss Wolf Management" thus moves to the next round at the Bern Convention.
Take Action: Petition your municipality for a tax exemption on federal and cantonal taxes, citing the catastrophic policies of Federal Councillor Albert Rösti (SVP) and the recently approved wolf culls in Switzerland. You can download the template letter here: https://wildbeimwild.com/ein-appell-fuer-eine-veraenderung-in-der-schweiz/
