An ally for keystone species
The wolf is a critical part of Europe’s ecosystems. We believe that complete, naturally-functioning ecosystems are essential; that herbivores, carnivores, scavengers, and all the agents in between, must be afforded the space and resources they need to thrive. When natural processes are free to shape the landscape, Europe can become a wilder, more climate-resilient continent. As part of our work to support healthier, functional ecosystems across Europe, TENT believes that apex predators can viably coexist with humans across the continent. In Iberia, we are proud to support the Spanish foundation Association for the Conservation and Study of the Iberian Wolf (ASCEL), through a partnership approach aiming to protect and restore populations of wolves as critical keystone species for biodiversity.
A complex issue of coexistence
Until the 19th century, wolves were present across the Iberian Peninsula, with their historic range estimated at 440,000 km2. However, like many parts of Europe, across the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, wolves were intensely persecuted. They reached their historic nadir in the 1950s–70s in Italy and Spain. Recently, wolves have made a recovery in Italy and have expanded into neighbouring countries, but the Iberian wolf population shows a different trend, facing continual range contractions. Wolves now only occur in 21% of Spain: Currently, the majority of the Iberian wolf population, estimated at around 2,800 individuals, can be found in the northern regions of Castilla y Léon, Galicia and Asturias, with approximately 400 packs remaining. In southern Spain, the Iberian wolf has been declared extinct, with no confirmed presence since 2020; moreover the remaining northwestern population is isolated from other European populations. Ecologically, there is significant scope for wolves to recover more of their historic range, with studies indicating that over 300,000 km2 of the Iberian Peninsula still provides viable habitat. There is scope for the Iberian population of wolves to form functional, connected meta-populations with other European wolf populations, which would help to create climate-resilient landscapes, restoring biodiversity and safeguarding forest and grassland ecosystems.
But in our changing world, the issue is not an ecological one; it is social and political. Practically, wolf management in the Iberian Peninsula is fragmented and complex; Spain is divided into 17 regions, and while there are national laws on education, public health and environmental management, regional governments have independence and the responsibility to make their own regulations. Moreover, the wolf has become deeply politicised, symbolised and scapegoated as the enemy of agricultural interests, which are experiencing significant changes to fiscal and social policy in the context of a rapidly changing and oftentimes, deteriorating, economic climate.
In March 2025, parliament voted to remove the national protection that had prohibited hunting wolves north of the River Douro. This followed the European Commission’s decision to downgrade the wolf at the EU-level under the Bern Convention – the international treaty that protects them. At The European Nature Trust, we believe this amendment is short-sighted; that hunting of wolves will have little material impact to livestock predation; and that coexistence, rather than scientifically unjustified lethal population control, is an essential step in supporting livestock interests into the long-term.
We support the Spanish foundation ASCEL
The European Nature Trust is proud to support the Spanish NGO, ASCEL, Association for the Conservation and Study of the Iberian Wolf.
ASCEL’s purpose is to ensure the effective and sustained viability of the existing wolf populations, and facilitate their expansion to historical ranges (East and South of Spain), as a key element and vehicle for resilient and fully functional ecosystems. ASCEL pays a particular focus on the legal environment to achieve the effective long-term protections for the species across Spain. ASCEL’s parallel aim is to educate people about the Iberian wolf, highlighting its ecological role in trophic cascades as one of the most important apex predators in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as its iconic position in the cultural heritage of the region.
Driving Key Actions
Pursuing legal actions to achieve long-term protections for wolves
Promote protection of biodiverse habitats at risk of degradation by campaigning and legal action
Engage children in environmental restoration and biodiversity protection through national curriculum design
“A mountain with a wolf on it stands a little taller.”
Edward Hoagland
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Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions regarding Iberian wolves in Spain.
The Iberian wolf population is estimated at around 2,800 individuals, living in approximately 400 packs. Most are found in the northern regions of Castilla y León, Galicia and Asturias. Wolves now occur in only 21% of Spain. The species has been declared extinct in southern Spain, with no confirmed presence since 2020.
Wolves were intensely persecuted across Europe during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, reaching their lowest numbers in Spain and Italy between the 1950s and 1970s. Italy’s wolves have since recovered and spread into neighbouring countries. The Iberian population has followed a different path, facing continual range contractions. The remaining northwestern population is also isolated from other European wolf populations.
Yes. Until the 19th century, wolves ranged across an estimated 440,000 km² of the Iberian Peninsula. Studies indicate that more than 300,000 km² still provides viable habitat. The main barriers to recovery are social and political. Wolf management is split across Spain’s 17 regions, each of which sets its own regulations, and the wolf has become a politicised symbol in debates over agriculture.
In March 2025, parliament voted to remove the national protection that had prohibited hunting wolves north of the River Douro. This followed the European Commission’s decision to downgrade the wolf at the EU-level under the Bern Convention – the international treaty that protects them. At The European Nature Trust, we believe this amendment is short-sighted; that hunting of wolves will have little material impact to livestock predation.
The European Nature Trust supports ASCEL, the Association for the Conservation and Study of the Iberian Wolf, a Spanish NGO. ASCEL works to secure the long-term viability of existing wolf populations and help them expand back into their historical ranges in eastern and southern Spain. It places particular focus on the legal environment, seeking lasting protections for the species across the country.
ASCEL pursues legal action to achieve long-term protections for wolves. It also campaigns and takes legal action to protect biodiverse habitats at risk of degradation. Through national curriculum design, it engages children in environmental restoration and biodiversity protection. ASCEL also educates the public about the wolf’s role in trophic cascades and its place in the region’s cultural heritage.
The wolf is a keystone species and one of the most important apex predators on the Iberian Peninsula, shaping ecosystems through trophic cascades. Connected wolf populations across Europe would help create climate-resilient landscapes. They would also help restore biodiversity and safeguard forest and grassland ecosystems.
