The case in summary: Innlandet Bondelag invites you to a spontaneous celebration at Åsta in Åmot municipality after changing the protection status for wolves. The wolf’s conservation status is changed from “strictly protected” to “protected” after a meeting in Strasbourg where the Bern Convention was discussed. Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum took part in the celebration, which aroused strong reactions. The animal protection organization Noah and Verdas naturfond, WWF, react strongly to the downgrading of the wolf’s conservation status. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. It is Innlandet Bondelag that invites you to the commemoration at Fossheim Grendehus in Åsta in Åmot municipality. The protection status of wolves as an animal species has now changed from “strictly protected” to “protected”. It happened at a meeting in Strasbourg this week where they discussed the Bern Convention. Norway voted in favor. – This means that the wolf gets weaker protection. Now lawyers in the Farmers’ Association are working to look at what this means in practice, but it means that the species is not as vulnerable to extinction as previously thought, says Elisabeth Gjems, leader of the Inland Farmers’ Association. Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum believes that more wolves will be felled with the decision. She thinks it is gratifying that the protection of the wolf has been relaxed. – That is why we invited to a spontaneous celebration. There are many people who have experienced a lot of pain and difficulty around the loss of predators over the years. This decision makes it easier to run open field grazing and live life in the village, says Gjems. Vedum’s visit arouses reactions Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum came to the commemoration at Åsta. – He is warmly welcomed and this is a breakthrough for the government. I think that deserves a celebration and extra pride that it was the Norwegian votes that decided, says Gjems. The wolf marking and the visit to the finance minister arouse strong reactions. – This only shows the unprofessional and unprofessional attitude that this government has towards endangered species. The wolf is critically endangered and now it receives less protection in Europe, says the leader of the animal protection organization Noah, Siri Martinsen. Siri Martinsen from Noah thinks it is shameful that Norway voted to downgrade the protection status of the wolf. Reacts strongly The leader reacts strongly to the fact that Norway voted to give the wolf less protection. – Downgrading the wolf’s conservation status is completely contrary to professional advice. On the other hand, the new conservation status will not be in line with Norwegian policy to keep the wolf critically endangered, says Martinsen. She states that at the same meeting this week, it will be assessed whether a case will be opened against Noregs following Noah’s complaint. – Norwegian wolf policy has already been criticized twice by the agency for the Bern Convention, says Martinsen. She believes this decision comes as a result of political pressure from agricultural and hunting interests. She will travel herself this week to talk to the doctors responsible for the Bern Convention. Vedum: – A big day The Minister of Finance, and the leader of the Center Party, is himself happy to be visiting Åmot. – This is a great victory for Norwegian local communities. The wolf now has the same conservation status as the shrew. Of course we have to celebrate that with a small party and eat cake, says Vedum. He thinks more wolves will already be killed next year. – Now we get even greater freedom of action to shoot wolves that cause major problems. It is so important that we listen to people who are so close to them. The wolf has caused so many problems for those who live in the wolf zone, says the SP leader. A real sheep cake was served at the celebration on Tuesday evening. Photo: Mats Sparby / news He says that with this decision it is easier to run active management. – We get greater national freedom of action and now we can take out wolves faster. This is a bit touching, because we have heard many times that it is impossible to change the Bern Convention. Now we have made it happen, says Vedum. Martinsen from Noah speaks opposite Vedum and thinks it will not get easier to kill wolves in Norway. – It will not be free to kill wolves in Norway, says Martinsen. – It’s a big paradox. It’s not just Noah who reacts to Norway’s role in the decision. Verdas naturfond, WWF, also believes that the decision is scandalous. – It is unfortunately not surprising that the government supports a downgrading of the wolf’s protection status in the Bern Convention, says Secretary General Karoline Andaur. Secretary General of Verdas naturfond, Karoline Andaur, reacts strongly to the decision. Photo: Simon Elias Bogen / news Ho points out that the wolf was almost extinct before it is now on its way back due to the protection through the convention. – It is still only one of seven wolf populations in Europe that has a favorable conservation status. Downgrading the conservation status will make it difficult for these populations to rebuild, says Andaur. She fears that the wolf will decline. – It is a big paradox since Europe is now going to start preserving and restoring much more nature through the nature agreement. The government should think carefully about the consequences of such a reversal. The change will come into force in three months if one third of the members do not oppose it. Published 03.12.2024, at 20.18 Updated 03.12.2024, at 20.51
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