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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com
Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

SE: the year’s wolf hunting may be threatened

Roughly translated by TWIN Observer

STOCKHOLM / TT

The Environmental Protection Agency’s go-ahead to licensed wolf hunting of 30 wolves last winter was wrong, according to a new court decision. It can affect this year’s planned hunting starting in January. “I think they should think about turning around at the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Tom Arnbom, predator expert at WWF.

The plan for 2015 is that 40 wolves to be shot in the wolf dense counties of Dalarna, Örebro and Värmland. But the court decision, which shows that EPA did wrong last year, can change plans.

“I’m glad we won, but I think it’s sad that we ended up in this situation. That we need to point out that the authorities are doing wrong and that courts interpret in the same way as we do, I think this is serious,” says Tom Arnbom.

It was the WWF, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and the Swedish Society for Predators who appealed the decision.

Guiding decision

The Administrative Court rejected the Environmental Protection Agency’s interpretation of what it takes to make exceptions from the EU Habitat Directive. They believe that the decision to allow hunting in 2013 lacked scientific basis.

“We are waiting to see how the EPA will implement this decision. For it is indicative.”

So if there will be any wolf hunting this year remains to be seen. In Dalarna it is leaning towards that hunting is stopped, while decisions about Värmland and Örebro are pending until January 12.

Maybe appeal

Now the EPA is looking at how to handle the administrative court decision.

“We must look at the decision and think about what that means. It is possible to appeal against this and today we do not know if we will do it,” says Gunilla Skotnicka, section chief at the Environmental Protection Agency.

If they appeal, it may mean that there will be no hunting stop.

” The EPA may not stop the hunt, but it will definitely give more fuel to the EU if the Swedish authorities go ahead with the hunt despite court orders,” says Arnbom.

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