- Dispute between the federal government and the state over the rapid shooting of wolves
After Years of Debate Over the Threat Wolves Pose to Alpine and Pastoral Economies, a Game of Hot Potato is Brewing Between the Federal Government and Bavaria: Federal Minister for the Environment Steffi Lemke (Greens) Wants to Facilitate Quick Wolf Culls, But the Munich State Government is Demanding More Concessions from the Federal Government.
Bavaria to the Federal Government: "Establish a Favorable Conservation Status"
Currently, the official government statement that the wolf is in a "favorable conservation status" in Germany - a prerequisite that could potentially streamline the bureaucratic process for wolf culls - is pending. Lemke, for the federal government, and Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) and Economic Affairs Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) for the state government, called for mutual concessions at this year's main alpine inspection in Oberammergau.
Federal Government to Bavaria: It's Up to You
Lemke stressed that she wants to help alpine farmers who fear for their livelihoods due to the return of the wolves. The Federal Ministry for the Environment has therefore initiated a so-called quick cull regulation. "I urge the federal states to use this quick cull regulation," said the Federal Minister for the Environment. "You can do it, you just have to do it." She could report the "good conservation status" of the wolf to Brussels tomorrow. "I need Bavaria's consent for that. That's the consent that has been missing for several months."
Mutual Concessions Demanded
Economic Affairs Minister Aiwanger countered at the event that, to his knowledge, no wolf has been shot in Germany based on this regulation yet. "Every judge stops every cull." The reason for Bavaria's previous non-consent to the "good conservation status" is that it is supposed to apply only to some federal states and not to Bavaria.
"Make a concession," Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) demanded of Lemke. "We finally need a way to manage the population, because the number of wolves in Germany and Europe is increasing rapidly." Kaniber cited figures from the German Hunting Association, which show that the number of wolves in Germany is growing by 40 percent annually. "We are losing the face of the Alps, we are losing the face of Bavaria, and thus also the basis of our homeland," Kaniber warned.
"He Doesn't Belong Here"
The mood among farmers is heated. A return of the wolves would mean the end of alpine farming, warned farmer Klement Fend. Protecting animals with fences is not possible. A solution must be found: "If not with nature conservation, then against nature conservation" - he was referring to the cooperation of farmers with the German Nature Conservation Association.
Most local politicians in the Bavarian Alps are also overwhelmingly against a return of the wolves. "We don't want to exterminate the wolf," said Oberammergau Mayor Andreas Rödl (CSU). "He doesn't belong here."
- Despite the Federal Minister for the Environment's push for swift wolf culls due to the threat to alpine and pastoral economies, the situation remains uncertain as Bavaria continued to demand more concessions from the federal government, leading to the statement, "Wolf shot" being on hold.
- The alleged "Wolf shot" became a contentious issue in the dispute between the federal and state governments, with Bavaria arguing for a more nuanced approach to managing the wolf population, rather than resorting to culls without proper concessions.
