Wolves as a climate element: a return for forest and CO2 protection!

Wolves as a climate element: a return for forest and CO2 protection!

Riddarhyttan, Schweden - The return of the wolves in Europe could benefit both nature and the climate. The latest studies give rise to hope: A team under the direction of Cecilia di Bernardi at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has put together estimates that show that a total of around 21,500 wolves lived in 34 European countries in 2022, of which in the EU. Austria with fewer than 100 copies is one of the countries with the lowest wolf numbers in Europe. In states such as Germany or Italy, however, the stocks are far higher, although the return of the wolves in many regions also causes concerns among farmers who are afraid of possible damage to farmers. According to the data, around 17 million euros are applied annually to compensate for these losses, while positive effects such as reducing game accidents can be observed by natural regulation of wild stocks, such as Kleinezeitung.at reported.

wolves as a climate aid

But the potential of the wolves does not end when regulating wild stocks. A study by the University of Leeds shows that the return of the wolves to Scottish Highlands could even contribute to achieving the climate goals in the long term. The researchers simulated a wolf population of 167 animals and came to the remarkable result that an additional one million tons of CO2 could be bound annually. This could make up to five percent of the desired CO2 reduction destination for Great Britain by 2050. Theoretically, each individual wolf could contribute to the storage of around 6,080 tons of CO2 annually, which estimates it at a value of around 180,000 euros, so FOCUS.de .

Although the study shows in a shocking way how important wolves can be for climate protection, there are still challenges for resettlement. Farmers and hunters are skeptical and are calling for a discussion about the risks that a return of the predators could bring with them. Scientists confirm that the topics of species protection and climate protection are closely linked and a dialogue between the interest groups is essential so that the resettlement of wolves can be designed both ecologically and economically.