Coexistence of Livestock Farming and Large Carnivores in Europe: Finding Solutions for Sustainable Development: 5th of July 2023  

A significant workshop focusing on the Coexistence of Livestock Farming and Large Carnivores in Europe was jointly organized by the NAT and ENVE Commissions together with the Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside of the European Parliament. This event aimed to address the growing challenges faced by shepherds and rural communities due to the increasing number of carnivores in EU Regions. By exploring potential solutions and best practices, the event sought to strike a balance between the protection of EU animal species and the resolution of conflicts at various levels.

As mentioned by Isilda Maria Prazeres Dos Santos Varges Gomes, the Chair of the NAT commission, the problem of the coexistence of livestock farming and large carnivores in Europe is not new, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage as the number of carnivores increases. She recalls that the European Committee of the Regions had previously highlighted the challenges faced by shepherds in certain regions as early as 2019. The sustainability of pastoralism, crucial for rural areas, is under threat due to conflicts arising from the presence of large carnivores. Extensive grazing not only supports biodiversity but also helps combat erosion and forest fires. In response to the challenges raised by pastoralism, the Committee of the Regions proposed several measures. They called upon the European Commission to assess the need for revising the Habitat Directive, allowing for quicker reactions to population changes of protected species. This proposal received significant support from the Ministers of Agriculture during their recent meeting in Luxembourg. Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius acknowledged that Member States have the option to approve individual derogations under Article 16 of Habitat Directive, permitting the killing or capture of specific wolf or bear specimens under certain conditions. A study from the EPRS commissioned by the Committee of the Regions explored the measures implemented by Member States in this regard. ​​​

As recalled by Simone Schmiedtbauer, MEP & Vice-President of the European Parliament Intergroup on ” Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside”,  the European Parliament’s resolution on the protection of livestock farming and large carnivores adopted in 2022 emphasized the importance of assisting regions facing conflicts in making responsible use of the flexibility provided by Article 16(1) of the Habitat Directive. But Mr Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones, regional  minister of the environment, housing and land planning of Castilla y Leon as well as Paula Fernandez from Cantabria  highlighted the incomplete application of the subsidiarity principle in some member states, where the regional level competences have been overruled at national level. Jurgen Tack, Co-chair of the EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores, insisted on the key role played by the EU Platform in facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange between the stakeholders involved. The goal of the platform is therefore to minimise conflicts and find solutions between human interests and the presence of large carnivore species, while promoting mutual respect and constructive engagement.

Use of derogation under Article 16

The collaboration between the NAT Commission, ENVE Commission, and the Intergroup on Biodiversity, Hunting, Countryside of the European Parliament highlights the collective effort to address these challenges. During the event, participants discussed various coexistence measures that have proven effective in different regions of the European Union. These measures include the use of electric fences, active shepherding, and livestock guarding dogs. Encouraging Member States to support farmers in preventing damage by large carnivores through their Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans was also emphasized. As the President of the NAT Commission, Isilda Maria Prazeres Dos Santos Varges Gomes expressed her commitment to taking the proposals discussed during the event to the European institutions. The objective is to strike a balance between protecting EU animal species and finding practical solutions to conflicts at national, regional, and local levels. ​​