Parliament Approves Removal of Wolf Protections, Opening Doors for Hunting
In a significant shift in wildlife management policy, the full Congress has approved the removal of special protections for wolf populations north of the Duero River. This decision will allow for the hunting of wolves in this region and lays the groundwork for similar reductions in protections for populations south of the Duero.
On Thursday, the Lower House passed the amendment with backing from the Popular Party (PP), Vox, and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), supporting a Senate amendment that was integrated into the Food Waste Law project. Notably, the political group Junts abstained from the vote. The amendments not only affect the protection status of wolves but also modify the Royal Decree that outlines the List of Wild Species in Special Protection Regime (LESPRES) and the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species, focusing on restricting hunting protections to wolf populations located south of the Duero.
This development signals a retreat from the ecological protection measures that were previously implemented by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) three years ago, which had categorized wolf populations north of the Duero as protected, thereby effectively banning hunting across the national territory. The recent decision suggests a prioritization of agricultural interests over wildlife conservation efforts.
Additionally, the Congress approved another amendment related to the control of natural predatory species within productive systems. This change allows for exceptional authorizations to hunt wolves and other predatory species that significantly impact agricultural productivity under the criteria of efficiency.
Furthermore, a third amendment has been passed which serves as a transitional provision aligning with European regulations. It stipulates that wolf populations south of the Duero could be immediately removed from the LESPRES if modifications to their protection status occur at the European Community level. This transition could potentially reclassify them under management measures dictated by the European Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora.
The implications of these legislative changes are profound, not only for conservationists but also for the agricultural sector, which has voiced concerns regarding the impact of wildlife on farming practices. The recent vote has evoked mixed reactions from the public and various political factions, as wildlife conservation advocates raise alarms over the potential consequences of these amendments for the future of wolf populations in Spain.
In a related development, all parties except Vox dismissed the State Agency for Public Health in Congress, marking another significant legislative decision within the parliamentary session.
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