WOLFNESS - Preserving the natural heritage of wolves:

a multidisciplinary approach towards effective and socially

acceptable management of wolf-dog hybridization across Europe
Paolo Ciucci, University of Rome La Sapienza (Coordinator)

• V. Salvatori - Institute of Applied Ecology, Italy • A. Ordiz - University of León, Spain

• C. Vernesi - Fondazione Edmund Mach, Italy
• T. Skrbinsek - University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
• M. Johansson - Lunds Universitet, Sweden
• F. Amici - University of Leipzig, Germany
• R. Godinho - Associacao Biopolis, Portugal
• C. Nowak - Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung,
Germany
• C. Vilà - Estacion Biológica de Doñana, Spain
• R. Caniglia - Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and
Research, Italy
• A. Sjölander-Lindqvist - University of Gothenburg, Sweden
• M. Naderi - Koç University, Turkey
• W. Reggioni - Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park, Italy

www.biodiversa.eu
 • Why wolf-dog hybridization (WDH)?

www.biodiversa.eu
 • Project motivation
Management of WDH in Europe is lagging
behind
• several unanswered research questions
• lack of consensus/awareness on management goals/approaches
• lack of scientific evidence on effectiveness of management options
• issue socially and ethically controversial
• weak legal framework
• …

www.biodiversa.eu
 • Key issues/questions
1. How to acquire reliable knowledge on WDH in wild wolf
populations
2. What does it mean for a wolf to have admixed ancestry
(expected phenotypic effects)?

3. How to practically tackle WDH as a management issue?

4. How to improve the social and legal dimension of WDH?

5. How to impact policy and engage stakeholders?

www.biodiversa.eu
 • Multidisciplinary approach with
strong applied outcomes

Genetics/
genomics

Population
Physiology/
assessment/
behaviour
modelling

WDH Sampling/
Ethics/ monitoring
Social values wolf
populations

Normative Field
and legal evaluation of
framework PHC
www.biodiversa.eu
WOLFNESS - Preserving the natural heritage of wolves

WP3
WP4

© Bruno De Amicis
WP2
WP5

WP1 WP6
 WOLFNESS - Preserving the natural heritage of wolves

Actions Partners What to do: Expected results

6.1.1 Exchange and coordination with
the EU Platform on Coexistence
between People and Large
Carnivores
6.2.2 Development of a European policy
support document, including two
examples of integrated national
policies with the project's findings
(see 6.2.4)
6.2.3 Presentation of the technical and
policy support document to the DG
Environment
involved
All partners - Present the project at the next plenary meeting
(8/6/2023)
- Hold an interactive session or survey among members
of the EU Platf
- Share objectives and ask for any input
All partners - Present the project progress at the LCIE meeting (2-
5/10/23)
- Share project with LCIE WG on Hybrids
- Contribute to the revision of the LCIE PSS with literature
review (decision to take: is LCIE PSS the guidance
document we want? Might not be approved by other
stakeholders)
All partners - Share LCIE PSS and/or Guidance document with EU
Platform
- Organise a webinar with EU Parliament nad for DG ENV
- Summary of annual meetings with the EU
stakeholder platform
- draft guidance document for management of
WDH)
- permanent updates on Wolfness in the EU
Platform on Coexistence between People and
Large Carnivores web page (bulletin?)
- draft of guidance document to share with LCIE
and EU stakeholders' platform
D13: Revised draft of guidance document to be
presented to the EU DG Environment and the
European Parliament (Month 30)
M11: Draft guidelines for WDH management
are sent to EU stakeholders’ platform and LCIE
for review (Month 27)
- Minutes of meeting with EC DG Env and
European Parliament