Dear European Commission,  

I’m deeply concerned about the future of the wolves in the European Union and Sweden and want to express my opinion in the matter and pass on important facts in line with the Commission’s invitation to do so. 

Europe’s fragile wolf population needs active protection measures from the Commission’s side. The Commission has hitherto been an important guardian of the Union’s nature and returning carnivore populations. A weakening of the wolves’ legal protection at this point could undo years of conservation work and set a harmful example.  

I therefore urge the Commission to strive for maintaining a strict protection of wolves, strengthen supervision and take active measures against Member States that don’t observe the rules in the Habitats Directive. 

The Scandinavian wolf population is small, isolated and fragile. In the winter of 2022-2023, the Swedish wolf population was estimated to 450 wolves, according to an official monitoring report:https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3068933. Contrary to the Swedish Government’s official standpoint, the Swedish wolf population has not reached Favourable Conservation Status. Due to flawed management, small numbers and isolation, the Swedish wolf population still suffers from severe genetic problems. The inbreeding coefficient (0.24) shows that Swedish wolves in average are as closely related to each other as descendants from siblings (0.25): https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3068933. In April 2020, the Swedish wolf was classed as Endangered in the National Red List: https://www.artdatabanken.se/det-har-gor-vi/rodlistning/dagens-rodlistade-art/varg/ 

Wolves have a considerably positive effect on Swedish nature and ecology. Swedish research reports show for example that remains from prey killed by wolves benefit other species (Wikenros 2011). Wolves prey on weaker specimens of elk in average than hunters (Sand, Wikenros et al. 2012) which shows that the species has an important role as an apex predator in the natural selection: 
https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/inst/ekol/forskning/projekt/skandulv/publikationer/doktorsavhandlingar/wikenros-2011-the-return-of-the-wolf---effects-on-prey-competitors-and-scavengers.pdf 

https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/z2012-007 

Furthermore, wolves are considered a part of Swedish ecology which cannot easily be separated from our culture. While wolves haven't historically been looked upon with awe, today when one thinks of Sweden, wolves are an integral part of that imagination. Thus, their contribution to nature tourism and local growth cannot be overlooked. Today I fear that the wolf will live on only in that imaginary and romanticized Swedish scenery.

The only valid argument against a strengthened wolf population is Sami peoples' concern over wolves attacking reindeers. However, if the European Union lives up to what it has promised regarding Indigenous rights in other aspects (e.g. forestry and mining policies), as well as works for a less fragmented landscape, I firmly believe that wolves and reindeer can coexist. Of course, this has to be discussed with affected Sami villages.

To conclude, I strongly urge the Commission to take action to protect Europe’s valuable wolves, and not weaken the necessary protection. It is the only ethically, ecologically, and socially viable measure to take. As representants of the European people, it is up to you to strive for maintaining a strict protection of wolves, strengthen supervision and take active measures against Member States that don’t observe the rules in the Habitats Directive. 

Best regards,

Renn Henningsson
Linköping