Federal Administrative Court Associations cannot challenge federal ruling on wolf culls
The right of appeal of environmental organizations against the federal government's approval of wolf culls is not effective. According to the Federal Administrative Court, the organizations can only appeal against the shooting orders of the respective cantons.
28.06.2024, 12:00
SDA
For this reason, the Federal Administrative Court did not uphold two appeals lodged by Pro Natura, WWF Switzerland and the Swiss Society for the Protection of Birds against the orders of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). With the contested rulings from November, the FOEN authorized the shooting of certain wolves and packs in the cantons of Graubünden and Valais.
This approval was merely a preliminary part of an administrative procedure. Only with the cantonal order to shoot wolves is it considered a so-called population regulation, as provided for by law. The federal government's approval is absorbed by the cantonal shooting order because the enforcement of the Hunting Act is the responsibility of the cantons.
