Region: CON
User: European Federation for Hunting and Conservat
MS: PL
On behalf of the Polish Hunting Association, FACE wants to submit the following comment:
The unfavourable wolf population status in the continental region is first of all a result of the methodology. In the methodology of assessing wolf population status in Poland accepted for the Habitat Directive, it was decided that an important component is also the habitat quality. Major criteria of the habitat quality are density of roads and habitat fragmentation. In western Poland, the density of roads is high, much higher than in the Alpine region, and also the habitat fragmentation is much higher. So, in spite of the fact that wolf numbers are high and the range is large there, the final result of the calculation is unfavourable.
Generally, these official number of wolves declared are completely unreliable. They are based on genetic sampling in some locations and extrapolation from some local scientific studies over the whole country. What we know for sure is that after the World War II in Poland wolf distribution was never so wide and wolf numbers were never so high and they are still growing (see current wolf distribution from the Atlas of Polish Mammals https://www.iop.krakow.pl/Ssaki/gatunek/101).
Wolves currently are recorded over 40% of Poland’s territory and their numbers, according to a genetic sampling exercise in 2019, was estimated about 2000. This number is highly underestimated, it is probably close to 3000.
These parameters are many times higher comparing to date when the Habitats Directive came into effect. Poland should not wait for the stabilization of the population size over a longer period of time to determine the actual value of the FRP which is not in line with the EU guidance. According to the Guidelines for Population Level Management Plans for Large Carnivores (2008) and the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the period 2013–2018 (2017), the favourable reference population be defined as the sum of the following criteria:
(1) The population must be at least as large as when the Habitats Directive came into effect, and,
(2) The population must be at least as large (and preferably much larger) as a MVP, as defined by the IUCN criterion E (extinction risk based on a quantitative PVA with <10% extinction risk in 100 years or criterion D (number of mature individuals).
(3) The population’s status is constantly monitored using robust methodology.
The same principles apply for the determination of the Favourable Reference Range.
If the guidelines would be used correctly for the Polish wolf population (CON), a favourable population status would be reached.
Additionally, there are no biological or social ecological reasons to wait for a stabilization of the population size before considering the population as favorable. Hence, the wolf population in Poland should be considered favorable.
by European Federation for Hunting and Conservat
2020-03-07 17:01
There is not enough evidence to modify the Polish assessment, but the comment is reflected in the datasheet. It is kindly suggested to bring this information to the Polish authorities.
On behalf of the Polish Hunting Association, FACE wants to submit the following comment:
The unfavourable wolf population status in the continental region is first of all a result of the methodology. In the methodology of assessing wolf population status in Poland accepted for the Habitat Directive, it was decided that an important component is also the habitat quality. Major criteria of the habitat quality are density of roads and habitat fragmentation. In western Poland, the density of roads is high, much higher than in the Alpine region, and also the habitat fragmentation is much higher. So, in spite of the fact that wolf numbers are high and the range is large there, the final result of the calculation is unfavourable.
Generally, these official number of wolves declared are completely unreliable. They are based on genetic sampling in some locations and extrapolation from some local scientific studies over the whole country. What we know for sure is that after the World War II in Poland wolf distribution was never so wide and wolf numbers were never so high and they are still growing (see current wolf distribution from the Atlas of Polish Mammals https://www.iop.krakow.pl/Ssaki/gatunek/101).
Wolves currently are recorded over 40% of Poland’s territory and their numbers, according to a genetic sampling exercise in 2019, was estimated about 2000. This number is highly underestimated, it is probably close to 3000.
These parameters are many times higher comparing to date when the Habitats Directive came into effect. Poland should not wait for the stabilization of the population size over a longer period of time to determine the actual value of the FRP which is not in line with the EU guidance. According to the Guidelines for Population Level Management Plans for Large Carnivores (2008) and the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the period 2013–2018 (2017), the favourable reference population be defined as the sum of the following criteria:
(1) The population must be at least as large as when the Habitats Directive came into effect, and,
(2) The population must be at least as large (and preferably much larger) as a MVP, as defined by the IUCN criterion E (extinction risk based on a quantitative PVA with <10% extinction risk in 100 years or criterion D (number of mature individuals).
(3) The population’s status is constantly monitored using robust methodology.
The same principles apply for the determination of the Favourable Reference Range.
If the guidelines would be used correctly for the Polish wolf population (CON), a favourable population status would be reached.
Additionally, there are no biological or social ecological reasons to wait for a stabilization of the population size before considering the population as favorable. Hence, the wolf population in Poland should be considered favorable.
There is not enough evidence to modify the Polish assessment, but the comment is reflected in the datasheet. It is kindly suggested to bring this information to the Polish authorities.
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