2022 marks 30 years since the implementation of the Habitats Directive, the primary objective of which is to preserve the diverse habitats and species of the European Union.

Together with the Bern Convention issued in 1979, the Habitats Directive ensures the protection of large carnivores – the brown bear, Eurasian lynx, grey wolf, and wolverine. Today, practically every European country is home to at least one of these large carnivore species, and increasing population trends have been observed in all four. This signifies that the measures of the Habitats Directive have been successful.

However, coexistence with large carnivores across Europe remains a major challenge. As the number of large carnivores increases, so does the number of conflicts between wildlife and humans. These conflicts vary, ranging from wildlife attacks on pets to livestock. This is a fact that was not taken into account many years ago when decisions were made regarding the protection of large carnivores. All of this has a very significant impact on the density of large carnivores. The latter directly affects hunters, as hunting dogs are often killed. Conflicts of this nature, which involve other species, do not create positive trends.
https://www.face.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/30_Years_Habitats_Directive.pdf