The Council of Europe has decided to downgrade the protection status of the wolf from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' under the Bern Convention. This change will allow for easier management of conspicuous wolves, due to the increasing wolf population and conflicts with livestock farming. Strict rules will still apply, and the decision is pending at the EU level. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture welcomes this decision, as it aims to strike a balance between wolf protection and agricultural interests. The wolf population in Europe has grown significantly in the last decade, and conflicts with agriculture are on the rise.