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Project to update the Management Plan for the Wolf Population The project on updating the Management Plan for the Wolf Population in Finland was launched in September 2018. The Management Plan for the Wolf Population in Finland was adopted on 5 No...

3.11.2019 | The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has approved the new Management Plan for the Wolf Population in Finland. The management plan is a tool for managing the Finnish wolf population and wolf-related conflicts and an important means for implementing wolf policy. A wolf forum will be set up to monitor the implementation of the updated plan.

Large carnivores The large carnivore policy led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is guided by three key factors: Habitats Directive management plans the use of scientifically reliable information as a basis for decisions and measures. T...

Wildlife and game Game and reindeer management in Finland is practised within the limits permitted by the sustainable use of natural resources. Strategies and management plans » Management plans are an essential part of the Finnish Wildlife Consor...

Large carnivore damage In the Game Animal Damages Act, a large carnivore means a bear, wolf, wolverine and lynx. Damages caused by a large carnivore include damage caused to arable land, animals, movable property and reindeer. Damages caused to ag...

2.11.2018 | In its meeting, the working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed damage to domestic animals caused by wolves and how to prevent it. The majority of damage caused by wolves to domestic animals affects sheep and dogs.

Illegal killing The Criminal Code of Finland lays down provisions on game offence, which means hunting without authorisation in someone else’s hunting area and exceeding the hunting rights based on law, permit, agreement or decision. Game offence ...

Finnish game resources Section 5 of the Hunting Act lists 34 mammal game species and 26 bird game species. Game animals include: rabbit, mountain hare, brown hare, red squirrel, European beaver, Canadian beaver, muskrat, nutria, wolf, farmed arcti...

EU species protection and strategies The European Union’s legislation is influenced by several Union-level strategies. For game husbandry, key strategies include the Biodiversity Strategy and the Sustainable Development Strategy. The aim of the EU...

25.1.2019 | In its meeting, the working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed the connection of the Finnish wolf population to the populations in Scandinavia. They also talked about wolf damage to reindeer and how to prevent it. The reindeer husbandry area is an important migration route for the Finnish and Scandinavian wolf populations.

21.12.2018 | The steering group in charge of the project to update the Management Plan for the Wolf Population met on Friday 14 December to review the progress of the project. The steering group discussed the guidelines for the work currently being done to update the Management Plan. The group highlighted various important aspects, including communication, taking into account regional and national-level perspectives and preventing damage caused by wolves.

28.6.2019 | A draft of the updated Management Plan for the Wolf Population has been sent out for comments. The management plan is intended as a tool for managing the Finnish wolf population and wolf-related conflicts and an important means for implementing wolf policy. The plan also fulfils Finland’s international obligations concerning the protection of species. Comments on the draft will be accepted until 30 August 2019.

International agreements and organisations The most important international agreements and organisations concerning game husbandry and hunting include the following: Convention on Biological Diversity CITES Convention Bern Convention Bonn Conventi...

27.2.2019 | In its meeting on 15 February 2019, the working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed illegal hunting of wolves and measures to improve the social acceptance of the wolf. According to a police estimate, illegal hunting of wolves has been commonplace in Finland. However, only a small number of incidents of illegal hunting of wolves come to the attention of the supervisory authorities.

14.2.2019 | The working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed multi-species management of large carnivore and cervid populations that takes into account the interdependencies and relationships between the species. They also explored the theme from the perspective of social and economic impacts.

12.10.2018 | In its first meeting, the working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed the damage caused to dogs by wolves and how to prevent it. The issue is topical as moose-hunting season is approaching.

27.3.2019 | In its meeting, the steering group in charge of the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed multi-species population management, the question of acceptance of wolves in society and the importance of taking into account regional and local perspectives when updating the management plan. The next step in the project to update the Management Plan for the Wolf Population is to establish concrete measures and targets.

19.11.2018 | The working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population felt that the definition of “wolves that pose a threat” should be made more precise, particularly when it comes to the available data on sightings. Further research data is needed on the behaviour of wolves in more densely populated areas.

13.3.2019 | In its meeting on 26 February 2019, the working group preparing the Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed GPS collaring of wolves and communications related to wolves. The working group stressed the importance of collaring in gathering important data for population estimates and research. Collaring also provides citizens with necessary information, particularly in areas with new wolf populations, and helps to prevent attacks on hunting dogs, for instance.

17.12.2018 | In its meeting on 10 December 2018, the working group established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to prepare the updated Management Plan for the Wolf Population discussed derogations granted for hunting wolves, population management-based hunting and changes to the guidelines proposed by the European Commission for interpreting the Habitats Directive. The discussions emphasised the fact that the decision to grant derogations concerning wolves are always made on a case-by-case basis.