The Ministry of the Environment's decree amending the annexes of Presidential Decree 357/1997, the regulation implementing the Habitats Directive in Italy, has been published in the Official Journal. This measure moves the wolf from Annex D, which provides for strict protection, to Annex E, which includes species for which less stringent management and harvesting measures may be required.
This is the formal step by which Italy implements the downgrading of the wolf within the framework of European regulations. This does not mean the green light for indiscriminate culling, nor that the wolf becomes a huntable species. European legislation, in fact, provides that any intervention is compatible with maintaining the species in a satisfactory state of conservation and that it is therefore based on solid and up-to-date knowledge of the wolf population.
Meanwhile, a decree has also been published setting the "maximum annual harvest rate," divided by Regions and Autonomous Provinces. In 2026, a total of 160 wolves will be allowed to be killed in Italy, out of an estimated population of approximately 3500. This quota represents a theoretical maximum limit, a safety ceiling within which any authorizations could be placed, but It is not a goal to be achieved and does not in itself authorize any intervention.
“It is essential to clarify this immediately: the wolf does not become a huntable species and culling does not automatically begin,” he explains. I'm not afraid of the wolf, an association that has been working for 10 years to promote coexistence with the large predator. "The real issue," according to the association, "is not so much the downgrading itself, but the lack of a clear national framework. Without an amendment to Law 157/92, which still classifies the wolf as a particularly protected species, without shared monitoring criteria and a national wolf management and conservation plan, any decision risks being legally fragile and fueling disputes and conflicts instead of resolving them".
A second key issue is monitoring. "Today, many regions still have very little data on their wolf populations," the association emphasizes. "This is demonstrated by also the recent study on wolf mortality in Italy, which we conducted and recently published Based on available institutional data, in many areas monitoring is fragmented or absent, inconsistent, or has remained unchanged for several years. Without solid data on population size, distribution, and actual mortality, it is impossible to speak seriously about the management of a species.”
In this context, the association reiterates that the real priority is and must remain prevention. "The wolf is back to stay: thinking of managing this presence solely with repressive or emergency measures is illusory. Today, more than ever, we need structural investments in conflict prevention: electric fences, guard dogs, technical assistance for farmers, new technologies, and local awareness of best practices for coexistence."
“The modification of the annexes is a step that gives a clear direction, but it does not automatically change the reality on the territory”, he concludes. I'm not afraid of the wolf"The real game is played on three elements: regulatory clarity, quality monitoring, and the ability to intervene promptly in the rare cases that are truly critical to safety. Without these foundations, the real risk is that legal battles and confusion will only increase, while the real problems of coexistence remain unresolved."
For too long, the wolf issue has been used as a political battleground and a propaganda tool, when responsible, data-based decisions are needed. The challenge shouldn't be ideological, but practical: building effective tools to reduce conflict, support those who live and work in rural areas, and make the presence of wolves compatible with human activities. It is on this ground that the protection of the species and the sustainability of the breeders' work truly come to the fore.”