A healthy population, few conflicts: the management of the Latvian lynx population has been successful for decades, based on clear conservation measures and well-regulated hunting quotas. Recent moves from Brussels in this direction will undoubtedly harm this successful system, exacerbating existing problems.

The European Commission (EC) has launched a formal infringement procedure against Latvia in connection with the country's successful management of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), surprising many stakeholders. The EC believes that a strictly protected species cannot be in the same category as a huntable species, calling on Latvia to change its national legislation.

Thanks to the approved national action plan, the Latvian lynx population has remained healthy and in a "favourable conservation status". This is important not only for Latvia but also for the conservation of the Baltic lynx population as a whole. The Latvian plan includes important recommendations for a certain limited regulation through hunting, which can be immediately reduced if necessary. This plan has been highly successful, and the EC even recommended it as an example of "best practice" in its previous guidance document on strict protection.

Latvia forced to change national policy

Due to pressure from the EC, the Latvian government did not issue hunting permits in December 2021 in order to resolve the formal issue raised by the EC. More recently, the Latvian government removed the lynx from the list of huntable animals, including it in the list of strictly protected species. Experts on the species are very concerned about the conservation of the lynx population in Latvia. Previously, the large cat was highly valued by hunters, who were actively involved in its monitoring and in mitigating potential conflicts.

Deadlock

"We have reached a deadlock, and unfortunately the only loser will be the Latvian lynx," said FACE President Torbjörn Larsson, expressing disappointment with the European Commission: "It is incomprehensible that and how the European Commission is calling on Latvia to change a successful species management plan that is actively supported by stakeholders and delivers good results at a time when other parts of Europe are failing to conserve biodiversity."