Habitat mapping of wolves in the Central European population
(INBO & Natuur en Bos)
Details
In order to evaluate the favourable conservation status of wolves, a favourable reference population must be determined (Favourable Reference Value or FRV). This FRV can best be determined on the basis of a region's carrying capacity, which in turn is defined using a habitat suitability model. Such a habitat model has already been developed for Germany using a well-thought-out methodology (Planillo et al. 2024). The Netherlands subsequently used this German model to determine habitat suitability in the Netherlands (Biersteker et al. 2024). Based on the resulting habitat suitability map and known territories, the maximum number of possible occupied territories was then determined for both countries. This can then be used to determine the FRV and evaluate population growth.Because the central European wolf population is spread across several countries and regions, namely Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, northern France, Luxembourg, Denmark and western Poland, a meaningful FRV is calculated for these countries combined. It is important to use a similar methodology for the underlying habitat modelling. We therefore want to use the existing German model to create a habitat suitability map for the entire central European population. In consultation with the relevant authorities in the other countries, it was agreed to apply this model to the entire region.
| Status | Running |
|---|---|
| Actual start/end date | 01/10/2025 - 31/12/2026 |
Teams
INBO Research theme(s)
- Protected nature
- Wildlife management
Tags
- fauna
- habitat_directive
- fauna