Animal protection - Wolf-safe grazing: New protection area in NRW
In order to protect cattle from wolf attacks in the "Upper Arnsberger Wald" region, the German state of NRW has designated a new protected area with a core zone and a buffer zone, totaling approximately 900 square kilometers. With this expansion, more than half of the state's area can now apply for funding to make cattle farming "wolf-safe." The NRW Environmental Protection Ministry made this announcement. Wolves are a strictly protected species.
In the Soest and Hochsauerlandkreis districts, a she-wolf has been identified multiple times. Over a period of more than six months, there have been three cases of wildlife and one livestock killings attributed to this wolf. Therefore, it is assumed that the she-wolf is now residing in this area - "loyal" to it. Consequently, the Environmental Ministry has designated a "support framework" for the Upper Arnsberger Wald - that is, the core area plus a surrounding buffer zone.
Such so-called support frameworks for livestock protection have already been established for several regions, such as the Eifel/High Fens area or the Oberbergische Land. They are designated where wolves have established a territory. In these support frameworks, up to 100% of the costs for investment-intensive livestock protection measures can be funded. This can include fences or, under certain conditions, the purchase and training of guard dogs. "Additionally, there are extensive buffer zones where livestock protection fences are also funded."
The newly designated 902-square-kilometer area includes parts of the Hochsauerlandkreis district and a region of the Soest district, and it borders two existing buffer zones to the southwest and northeast.
- The High Sauerland District, specifically the Soest and Hochsauerlandkreis areas, has witnessed repeated sightings of a she-wolf.
- Due to the ongoing wolf attacks in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, particularly in the Arnsberg area, the Animal Protection authorities have taken measures.
- The newly established protected area in the High Sauerland District, covering nearly 900 square kilometers, falls under the North Rhine-Westphalia state, aiming to safeguard livestock.
- The Arnsberg region, which now lies within the new supported framework, can qualify for funding to adopt wolf-safe farming practices, following the established model in the Oberbergische Land.
