Dear European Commission,

I write to express my deep concern regarding the future of wolves within the European Union and specifically in Sweden, aligning with the Commission's call for input.

The delicate wolf population in Europe requires proactive protection measures from the Commission, which has historically played a pivotal role in safeguarding the Union's natural habitats and the resurgence of carnivore populations. Any relaxation of legal safeguards for wolves at this juncture could jeopardize years of conservation efforts and set a detrimental precedent.

I strongly implore the Commission to remain committed to upholding strict protections for wolves, bolster oversight, and take decisive action against Member States that fail to comply with the regulations outlined in the Habitats Directive.

The Scandinavian wolf population is at present small, isolated, and exceedingly vulnerable. In the winter of 2022-2023, an official monitoring report estimated the Swedish wolf population to be at 450 wolves (source: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3068933). However, due to decisions regarding hunting quotas by Swedish authorities, illegal hunting, accidents, and natural mortality, the Swedish wolf population was estimated to have substantially decreased to 368 wolves by the autumn of 2023, as reported by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (source: https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/centrb/vsc/vsc-dokument/vsc-publikationer/andren-et-al-2023-berakningar-av-jaktuttag-varg-2024.pdf).

Contrary to the official stance of the Swedish Government, the Swedish wolf population has not achieved a Favorable Conservation Status. Due to inadequate management practices, low population numbers, and isolation, the Swedish wolf population continues to grapple with severe genetic issues. The inbreeding coefficient, which stands at 0.24, signifies that Swedish wolves are as closely related to each other as siblings (source: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3068933). In April 2020, the Swedish wolf was categorized as "Endangered" in the National Red List (source: https://www.artdatabanken.se/det-har-gor-vi/rodlistning/dagens-rodlistade-art/varg/).

Wolves play a crucial role in enhancing Sweden's natural ecosystems. Research reports from Sweden demonstrate that wolf predation on prey species benefits other wildlife (Wikenros 2011). Wolves tend to target weaker elk specimens than hunters, highlighting their importance as apex predators in natural selection (source: 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).

Wolves contribute significantly to a well-functioning ecosystem, and a panel of non-Swedish academic experts has recommended a target population of 600 wolves to meet ecological viability criteria (refer to the 'Joint Statement'). Despite this, the Swedish Environment Protection Agency has adopted a Favourable Reference Population of only 300 wolves, based on this recommendation (source: https://www.naturvardsverket.se/globalassets/amnen/jakt-vilt/bilder/ru-utreda-gynnsam-bevarandestatus-varg.pdf).

It is important to note that wolf predation on domestic animals in Sweden remains relatively low and stable over time. In 2022, wolf predation on sheep, the most common form of damage to domestic animals in Sweden, affected only 250 sheep, accounting for less than a tenth of a percent annually (source: https://www.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/centrb/vsc/vsc-dokument/vsc-publikationer/rapporter/viltskadestatistik