The document is a parliamentary question regarding protection of the Iberian wolf in Spain. It notes that in the 1970s the species was nearly extinct but protections were established in southern Spain in 1995, though it remains hunted in northern Spain. This division causes different treatment of damages to landowners. It also notes problems with delayed aid payments, false claims of damages, lack of scientific population censuses, and disparate management between regions. The question asks if (1) wolf protections could be harmonized across Spain to access conservation funds, (2) the commission is aware there is no overall census methodology, and (3) if aid could be provided to ranchers in wolf areas and sustainable development like ecotourism be

1. PARLAMENTO EUROPEO
ES
FICHA DE PRESENTACIÓN DE UNA PREGUNTA PARLAMENTARIA
PREGUNTAS ORALES
PREGUNTAS ESCRITAS
Destinatario:
CONSEJO
COMISIÓN
Destinatario:
PRESIDENTE DEL CONSEJO EUROPEO
CONSEJO
COMISIÓN
VICEPRESIDENTA / ALTA REPRESENTANTE
Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta oral
seguida de debate (art. 115)
Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta
escrita (art. 117)
Pregunta prioritaria (art. 117, apart. 4)
AUTOR(ES):
Francisco Sosa Wagner, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Carl Schlyter, Andrea Zanoni, Sandrine
Bélier, Kriton Arsenis
ASUNTO:
Iberian wolf protection
(especifíquese)
TEXTO:
In Spain, in the mid- 70s of XX century, the Iberian wolf, European fauna jewel, was considered a vermin
and was on the verge of extinction. In 1995, Spain adopted the Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC and
established the Iberian wolf as a species of concern and a European priority in the south of the Duero
River. However, in the north zone, where the majority of the population lives, the wolf remains a hunting
species. As a result of this territorial, administrative and legal division, which is not scientific, damages in
the north of the Duero are borne by the owners of the enclosed land whereas in the south, these are paid
by the Administration. Furthermore, there are other problems as the delay in payment of aids; the trickery
of charging for "wolf damages" in cases that are not; the absence of global, independent and scientific
population censuses; and the management criteria disparity in the Autonomous Communities (CCAA).
Given the above, we would like to ask the Commission:
(1) - Do you consider appropriate to harmonize the Iberian wolf protection in the whole territory so that
it can benefit from the LIFE project funds as already happens in Portugal?
(2) - Is the Commission aware that there are no global census of the species? The absence of a scientific
homologated and equal census methodology for all the regions is causing duplicities in the final counts.
(3) - To solve the conflict and encourage the Iberian wolf conservation, a great ecological importance and
special conservation interest specie for the EU, could the ranchers within "the land of wolves" be
recipients of reserved aids for Areas with Natural Limitations of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)?
Could sustainable development initiatives within depressed areas habited by wolves be encouraged and
supported (eg Eco-Tourism)?
Firma(s):
Fecha: 27.01.2014