Italians and hunting: According to the opinion poll by Astra Ricerche, the number of Italians in favor of hunting is increasing, reaching 56%, an increase of 3% compared to 2010.
Contrary to what the anti-huntsmen would have us believe more and more Italians are "close" to the hunting activity while the negative feelings towards the hunters diminish. Confirmed the importance of information on hunting limits and regulations and its role in environmental management.
Environmentalism and animalism also analyzed: Italians interested and active in the environment while only apparently agree with animalism, often considered extremist and radical.
Rome - Chamber of Deputies - The results of the new sociological survey "Italians and hunting" were presented today in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies, the second dedicated to this topic in three years, which highlighted the clear improvement of the image and the consideration that hunting activity has in our country.
The research, with over 2000 interviews conducted by Astra Ricerche by the sociologist Enrico Finzi, confirms, as in 2010, the most extensive and in-depth carried out in Italy on hunting and the relationship that the citizens of our country have with it. Once again, the CNCN (National Hunting and Nature Committee) and the hunting associations gathered in FACE Italy (Federcaccia, LiberaCaccia, Enalcaccia, Anuu Migratoristi) commissioned the study, to which Arcicaccia joined.
THE DATA ? The data highlight a clear general growth in indicators favorable to hunting, starting with the ad hoc typology for groups which sees Italians in favor of hunting in our country rise to 56% (in 2010 this analysis stopped at 53,2%) . The growth of the “neighbors” to the hunting activity is more moderate but still significant: the friends of hunters or in any case the citizens in some way interested in this passion, rose from 48% to 49,2%. On the other hand, the data on the favorable index on hunting is very important, which sees a favorable gain of about 5 million Italians, thanks to the information and awareness-raising activities carried out by the hunting associations and hunters themselves and to a greater understanding of citizens. of the real role of hunting, of the figure of those who practice it and of its strong roots and value in the Italian social and economic fabric. It is no coincidence that hunters are more favored than the generic idea of hunting, with almost 62% of Italians appreciating them, although there are some critical - minority - evaluations on some aspects of their work. The data on the fact that Italian hunters in reality are not all advanced in age is also confirmed, indeed above the average there is the range between 25 and 34 years, residing in particular in the medium-small municipalities. As in 2010, the very strong statistical correlation between the notoriety of the rules governing hunting, the consensus for them (almost unanimous in the Italians who know them) and the good evaluation of the hunting activity is evident: those who declare themselves hostile to hunting are , in fact, much less informed than the average and often completely unaware of how it is actually practiced.
ANIMALISM ? On the occasion of this study, issues not addressed in 2010 were also analyzed, starting from the animalist culture compared with the environmentalist one. As far as animalism is concerned, the attitudes of Italians are not only conflicting but also often ambivalent. The truth is that many subjects who declare themselves animal rights are not at all hostile to killing animals under certain conditions: 56% are in favor if it comes to obtaining food for humans; 49% if animals are dangerous because they attack humans or carry diseases; 49% if they are needed by scientists to discover the origin of certain diseases and find suitable therapies; 48% if the animals belong to wild species not at risk of extinction but rather overabundant. Favor for animal welfare organizations was also explored, approved unreservedly by 49% and criticized by 51% (in two cases out of three with particular virulence), while ecological organizations enjoy a much broader consensus and in many cases are considered independent and better. To the test of the facts while many behaviors linked to a better care and attention for the sustainable use of natural resources have passed into the common use of Italians, animalism appears instead weakened by many incongruous behaviors and that is by the fact that 81% of Italians eat meat, 80% fish, 27% show appreciation for game meat in different forms, so concrete and consistent animalism does not exceed 20% while concrete ecology is full and consistent for 34 % and in any case significant for another 48%.
The data from the Astra Ricerche survey once again confirm that hunting in Italy is anything but in decline and, indeed, is a valid and sustained option in particular in small to medium-sized municipalities, that is, from the reality extraneous to large urban centers. , closer every day to that nature to which residents of metropolises and large cities often would like to return. A solid, strong and lively fabric, made up of small towns and countryside, the heart of the landscape, agri-food, food and wine and tourism excellence of our country. A heart that needs hunters to continue beating, esteems and appreciates them for their role in defense of nature and rural culture. This is why the hunting world has decided to take a cue from this second research to spread the knowledge of hunting and the true relationship it has with our society. "Italians and hunting" will therefore become the reference for those who really want to know this world and its importance for the defense of biodiversity and environmental protection.
“The question of hunting information is always crucial. - commented the sociologist Enrico Finzi of Astra Ricerche ? This analysis has in fact confirmed the forecasts, seeing an increase in consensus for hunting precisely in correspondence with an increase in knowledge on how it is practiced in Italy. Beyond a part of the population that hates hunting and will never accept it, the game is played on the undecided, still largely unaware of the strict limits and numerous regulations imposed on hunting. When the hunting world - Finzi concludes - succeeds in explaining the meaning and the reason for hunting then the Italians, in large part, are ready to support it ”.
“Italians and hunting” - Opinion poll
THE DECLARATIONS:
Giovanni Ghini - President of CNCN (National Hunting and Nature Committee)
"Hunting is an essential element in the anthropomorphized environment in which we live today - commented the president of the CNCN lawyer Giovanni Ghini - and the Italians show that they understand it. The results of the 2013 Astra Ricerche survey highlight the awareness of how important hunting is by those who live most in contact with nature. Our task is therefore to continue on the path of information, study and increase of widespread knowledge on the rites and rules, both those of safety and those of scientific derivation, which regulate hunting ”.
Gian Luca Dall'Olio - President of the FIdC, on behalf of the participating Hunting Associations
"After a few years we wanted to repeat a survey on hunting and the relationship that Italians have with it because despite the 2010 results, the hunting activity is still too often and gives a distorted image that does not correspond to the truth - said the president of the Italian Federation of Hunting Gian Luca Dall'Olio speaking on behalf of the Hunting Associations gathered in Face Italia (Federcaccia, Liberacaccia, Enalcaccia, Anuu Migratoristi) and Arci Caccia - The results have instead not only confirmed that the data that the majority and in some cases almost all Italians opposed to hunting are not real, but rather that in these three years, raising the level of knowledge of hunting and hunters among citizens, the acceptance and appreciation for sustainable and regulated hunting has grown. Spurred on by this result, the hunting world has decided to restart with renewed commitment and vigor with its joint efforts to further increase the spread of this knowledge and the real relationship that hunting has with our society. 'Italians and hunting' will therefore become the reference for those who really want to know this world and its role. A role recognized and entrusted to them by Europe, which finds full fulfillment in the management commitment, in the collection and processing of data, in the concrete and active conservation and defense of the environment, all fauna, huntable and otherwise, biodiversity.
Today's intervention represents a testimony of the united will of the hunting world to protect the culture, values and interests of hunting and hunters and all those who work around them ".
Enrico Finzi - Sociologist, director of Astra Ricerche
“The question of hunting information is always crucial. - commented the sociologist Enrico Finzi of Astra Ricerche ? This analysis has in fact confirmed the forecasts, seeing an increase in consensus for hunting precisely in correspondence with an increase in knowledge on how it is practiced in Italy. Beyond a part of the population that hates hunting and will never accept it, the game is played on the undecided, still largely unaware of the strict limits and numerous regulations imposed on hunting. When the hunting world - Finzi concludes - succeeds in explaining the meaning and the reason for hunting then the Italians, in large part, are ready to support it ”.
ATTACHED SUMMARY OF THE DEMOSCOPIC SURVEY CARRIED OUT IN 2013 BY ASTRA RICERCHE.
Rome, Chamber of Deputies - 12.09.2013
CNC Press OfficeN