Flemish government sued over wolf protection failures
The Flemish government is facing legal action for allegedly failing to protect wolves in northern Belgium. The case has been brought by Landschap vzw, a nature organisation that is leading the Welkom Wolf campaign. The organisation accuses the authorities of systematically violating European and Flemish wildlife conservation legislation.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the NGO announced that it had issued official summonses to Flemish Mobility minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) and Environment minister Jo Brouns (CD&V). The legal documents, delivered by a court bailiff, call on the ministers to appear before the Brussels Court of First Instance.
This legal action is a response to eight years of political inaction
"This legal action is a response to eight years of political inaction and ineffective policy on wolf protection in Flanders," said Landschap vzw. "After numerous attempts at dialogue with ministers and public agencies, legal proceedings are now the only remaining option."
Urgent measures needed
The NGO states that a series of urgent measures is required to ensure the effective protection of wolves and other large wildlife species in Flanders.
- Firstly, immediate action must be taken to reduce incidents of roadkill, including installing wildlife fencing and implementing speed limits at known crossing points. These measures are essential to prevent further fatalities, particularly in high-risk areas.
- Secondly, the construction of ecoducts should be prioritised without delay. At least two wildlife overpasses are needed across the N74 and one across the N76 to reconnect fragmented habitats and enable safe passage for large mammals.
- Thirdly, a comprehensive species protection plan for wolves must be developed. This plan should include clear conservation targets and management strategies tailored to the characteristics and needs of each wolf territory.
- In order to support the ecological balance within these territories, roe deer hunting should be banned in core wolf areas. Preserving the wolf's natural prey base will reduce incidents of livestock predation and promote coexistence with local communities.
- Additionally, existing barriers to migration, such as fully enclosed fences surrounding designated wolf zones, must be dismantled. Such structures contravene the species' protected status and severely restrict their natural movement and dispersal.
- Finally, Article 22 of the Flemish Species Decree should be revised to require transparent and participatory procedures before any exemptions are granted for the capture or killing of strictly protected species. This is essential to uphold legal safeguards and maintain public trust in conservation policies.
On Wednesday, the offices of ministers De Ridder and Brouns declined to comment until they had had an opportunity to study the summons.
The court case comes amid growing political and public tension over wolf conservation in Belgium, where the species has naturally returned in recent years after being absent for more than a century. Although they are protected under the EU Habitats Directive, wolves have increasingly found themselves at the centre of heated debates concerning livestock attacks, rural safety and ecological management.
#FlandersNewsService | © ARTERRA
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