Wildlife Protection in Germany: Sound Legislation and Deficient Implementation

Abstract

National, European, and international legislation regulates wildlife protection in Germany. Germany has comprehensively codified into national legislation numerous international and regional treaties. Furthermore, European Union regulations are directly binding in its Member States. Yet Germany's implementation of wildlife protection laws remains wanting. The gap between the country's comprehensive legal framework and related enforcement is glaring. Germany's decentralized administrative structure embedded in its federal system is the main impediment to better implementation of wildlife protection laws. While the country's federal structure might stand in the way of more centralized enforcement, a more coordinated approach still offers a realistic remedy to narrow the gap between Germany's legislation and enforcement. This article discusses Germany's wildlife protection laws, analyzes its enforcement approach, and recommends ways to improve.