Poland has no intention of lowering the conservation status of wolves, stated Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Mikołaj Dorożała. His remarks followed the December 3 decision by the Council of Europe to downgrade wolves from “strictly protected” to “protected.” Despite this change, Poland plans to uphold its current robust protection measures.
Effective Wolf Protection System in Poland
According to Dorożała, Poland’s wolf conservation system has been effective for years, including compensation for damages caused by wolves and derogations allowing selective culling of aggressive individuals—about 50 such cases have been approved recently. He emphasized there is no need for changes to this system.
The deputy minister highlighted the importance of comprehensive monitoring of European wolf populations, cautioning against decisions made without solid data. He pointed out that Poland actively contributes to research initiatives led by the European Commission, ensuring that decisions are based on knowledge, not emotions.
While wolves remain a priority, Dorożała identified bear-related damage in certain regions as a more pressing concern. Legislative changes for effective deterrence of bears from residential areas are under discussion. “As for wolves, no changes are necessary,” he concluded.