The role and contribution of wildlife reserves
For the first time, Wildlife Hunting Companies (AFV) are candidates as OECM, Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures, as they are effective tools for the protection of biodiversity: this is what emerges from the IUCN World Conservation Congress, currently underway in Abu Dhabi, where Fondazione UNA and Federparchi, in collaboration with AB – Agrivenatoria Biodiversitalia, presented the project "The role and contribution of wildlife reserves in Italy for conservation: how the hunting world actively contributes to achieving the objectives of the European Biodiversity Strategy to 2030." The European Biodiversity Strategy 2030 requires at least 30% of Member States' land and sea areas to be protected over the next five years, with one-third of these areas to be rigorously protected. These objectives are reflected in the National Biodiversity Strategy, which recognizes the importance of protected areas as well as that of OECMs, areas that, while not protected, are managed in ways that ensure positive results for biodiversity conservation, even if nature conservation is not a primary objective.
Protection of biodiversity
The announcement made at the IUCN Congress represents a significant step forward in establishing hunting as a tool for protecting biodiversity: many of Italy's AFVs, through their active and regulated management of the natural environment to ensure the conservation of local biodiversity, are virtuous examples of OECM. The reserves are managed according to annual programs, have clearly identified managers, and within them, hunting is strictly regulated and the exclusive responsibility of concessionaires, targeting only huntable species authorized by regulatory bodies. "Within the AFVs, we operate according to methods that Fondazione UNA embraces and promotes, following scientific criteria and a sense of responsibility towards wildlife and the natural environment," comments Marina Berlinghieri, Head of Institutional Relations at Fondazione UNA. "The recognition of these reserves as OECMs represents a great opportunity for the Italian hunting sector, not only in terms of image, but also as a concrete contribution to the objectives of the European and National Biodiversity Strategy. This is the message we are sending from an important international forum, the IUCN 2025 Congress."
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The value of the areas
The OECMs do not require changes to the status or management methods of candidate areas. Therefore, AFVs that are already fully compliant with current regulations can be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) for official recognition, thus contributing to the calculation of protected areas required to achieve the 30% target set by the strategy. Corrado Teofili, Federparchi, agreed, speaking at the IUCN Congress to highlight the prospects offered by implementing the project: "Italian wildlife reserves represent an important building block for biodiversity conservation, fostering ecological connectivity between protected areas and contributing to the vitality of local ecosystems. The results presented at the congress clearly demonstrate the value of these areas and their potential as a model that can be replicated in other countries."
Ecosystem stewardship
"This is an important recognition for wildlife hunting concessionaires who invest in habitat conservation and biodiversity. The active role of private wildlife institutes in ecosystem stewardship is finally being recognized and highlighted," said Niccolò Sacchetti, President of AB Agrivenatoria Biodiversitalia. This further demonstrates how the hunting world is a key ally in protecting biodiversity, reaffirming its active role in building a sustainable future for Italy and Europe. (Source: UNA Foundation)
