More pragmatic wolf management is developing in several European countries following recent changes to the legal framework under the EU Habitats Directive. This marks an important step towards improving coexistence between people and wolves, particularly in regions where wolf populations are causing increasing conflict.

The downlisting of the wolf from Annex IV to Annex V of the Habitats Directive gives Member States greater flexibility in managing wolf populations. In practice, the change makes it easier to address individual problem wolves and facilitates broader population-level management approaches where wolf populations are in favourable conservation status. Importantly, this shift does not weaken conservation obligations: Member States remain legally required to achieve and maintain favourable conservation status for the species.

Early indications suggest that the revised framework will help reduce some of the administrative, bureaucratic and legal challenges that existed under Annex IV, while continuing to ensure strong conservation safeguards. By enabling more proportionate and practical management tools, combined with existing conservation tools, the new approach has strong potential to support coexistence, reduce conflict, and improve acceptance of the wolf’s presence among rural communities and land users.