#BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 87Law Amending the Federal Hunting Act and the Federal Nature Conservation Act of 29 March 2026

This federal law, published in the Federal Law Gazette (BGBl. 2026 I No. 87) on 1 April 2026 and signed on 29 March 2026, amends both the Federal Hunting Act (Bundesjagdgesetz) and the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz). It was led by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Homeland, and addresses the legal framework governing wildlife management and the intersection of hunting rights with species protection obligations. A central focus of the amendment is the regulatory treatment of large predators — particularly the wolf (Canis lupus) — whose expanding population has created mounting conflict with livestock farming and existing hunting law classifications. The law adjusts the conditions under which problem animals causing repeated livestock damage may be culled, and clarifies procedural and competency rules between federal and state authorities. The Federal Nature Conservation Act amendments revise protected species provisions to allow greater flexibility for member states to authorize lethal removal of wolves under defined conditions, bringing German law into closer alignment with the flexibility permitted under the EU Habitats Directive's derogation framework (Article 16). Compensation mechanisms and prevention obligations for farmers are also addressed. The Federal Hunting Act amendments update game species classifications and related administrative procedures, ensuring consistency with the revised nature conservation rules and reflecting updated ecological assessments of wildlife population status in Germany.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.