Slovenia unveils new 10-year strategy for wolf conservation and management (2025-2034)
Slovenia has released a revised 10-year Strategy and Action Plan for Wolf Conservation and Management (2025-2034), setting the framework for the country’s next decade approach to preserving and managing its wolf population. Developed by the Ministry for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, these documents outline policies aimed at ensuring the continued presence of wolves in Slovenia while addressing conservation challenges and interactions with human activities.
Key elements of the strategy
The strategy builds upon existing conservation efforts and introduces measures designed to enhance monitoring, mitigate conflicts, and strengthen legal frameworks. Some of the core components include:
Habitat conservation – Maintaining and improving habitat connectivity for wolf populations, particularly between the Dinaric and Alpine regions.
Population monitoring – Continued genetic and ecological studies to track population trends and ensure sustainable management.
Human-wolf interactions – Measures to address potential conflicts with livestock farming and rural communities through preventive strategies.
Hybridization prevention – Addressing concerns related to wolf-dog hybridization and its impact on genetic integrity.
International cooperation – Strengthening cross-border collaboration with neighbouring countries to support regional wolf conservation efforts.
The Action Plan: Implementing conservation goals
Complementing the overarching strategy, the Action Plan (2025-2034) details specific initiatives for achieving conservation objectives. These include:
Funding and implementing preventive measures to reduce human-wolf conflicts.
Enhancing compensation mechanisms for livestock damage where applicable.
Ensuring compliance with EU and international wildlife conservation frameworks.
Promoting further research into wolf behaviour, dispersal, and ecological impact.
Slovenia’s role in European wolf conservation
Slovenia’s wolf population is part of the broader Dinaric-Balkan and Alpine wolf populations, which extend across several European countries. The country plays a critical role in maintaining habitat connectivity and contributing to regional conservation strategies. Over the years, Slovenia has strengthened its monitoring programs and adapted its policies in response to shifting population dynamics and conservation needs.
The revised strategy reflects Slovenia’s commitment to balancing biodiversity conservation with the realities of human-wildlife coexistence, aligning its approach with EU directives. For those following European large carnivore conservation efforts, Slovenia’s latest policy developments offer insight into how a small but ecologically significant country is navigating the complexities of wolf management in the 21st century.
Drafted documents (in Slovenian) are available here: Osnutka Strategije ohranjanja in upravljanja volka (Canis lupus) v Sloveniji in Akcijskega načrta za upravljanje volka (Canis lupus) v Sloveniji za obdobje 2025–2034
