Europe united to save the wolves: launch of the "European Action Wolves" campaign

This initiative aims to prevent the downgrading of the wolves’ protection status, a decision voted on December 3, 2024 by the member States of the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention.

Urgent action needed for wolves

Although wolf populations in Europe are very fragile, they are subject to numerous culling and “regulation” plans. Some countries, such as Sweden, have not waited for the change in status to be definitively approved before sharply increasing shooting quotas for this species. Five associations, including One Voice, have made a request to the European Court of Justice against the failure to meet the implementation deadline.

From March 6, 2025, if nothing is done, wolves will lose their status as a “strictly protected” species and become merely “protected”, exposing these animals and ecosystems to considerable risks. We therefore have three weeks to act.

A citizens’ revolt to come

The campaign will kick off with a hard-hitting call-to-action video, widely relayed on major digital media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. The video will carry a message from personalities from eighteen countries. Every citizen will be encouraged to get involved by following the instructions on our website EuropeanActionWolves.org. In particular, they will be invited to address the delegates of the member countries of the Bern Convention, as well as the various Ministers of Agriculture and the Environment, and finally the members of the European Parliament.

Throughout the campaign, content will be produced and distributed by committed artists, influencers, NGO partners and celebrities, enabling everyone to express their views and make the voice of science heard.

A serious and irresponsible decision

In an alarming context in which the 27 countries of the European Union, joined by Liechtenstein, Andorra, Switzerland, Norway, Macedonia, Serbia, Armenia, Iceland and Ukraine, have approved the downlisting of gray wolves, only five countries have spoken out against the proposal. These were the United Kingdom, Monaco, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tunisia and Turkey chose to abstain.

However, a survey carried out in November 2023 among ten thousand people living in rural areas of ten European countries (Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Romania) revealed that the population of the Old Continent was largely in favor of protecting wolves and other large carnivores such as lynxes and bears. Indeed, 72% of those polled considered it essential to maintain strict protection for these species, which are vital to the balance of ecosystems.

In November 2024, no fewer than 693 scientists and wildlife experts voiced their concern and alerted the European Union to the danger posed by this decision.

Join the European Action Wolves movement!

Today, NGOs, associations and activists are calling on everyone to join the European Action Wolves movement. Together, let’s join forces to preserve gray wolves and, by extension, the biodiversity and ecosystems whose health is intimately linked to our own. Beyond their ecological role, wolves have an intrinsic right to life. This right is enshrined in the Bern Convention, but legislators have chosen to ignore it. This is why we must act.

To support and guarantee the success of this campaign, which you can follow on our social networks, we and our partners are at your disposal for any media collaboration.