La Lombardy region authorized, on the proposal of the Councilor for Agriculture, Food and Green Systems, Fabio Rolfi, control by killing the pigeons, the city pigeon, to prevent severe damage to agricultural crops. “This species - declared Rolfi - in the last fifteen years has caused damage for over 1 million euros to agriculture. In 2020, the damages amounted to 100.000 euros throughout Lombardy. In consideration of theincreased damage and the spread of the pigeon, and seeing that the dissuasive methods do not work, we believe that an intervention that has the authorization of ISPRA is appropriate ”. The crops that have suffered the most significant damage are in fact: oats, rapeseed, alfalfa, wheat, sunflower, corn, vegetables, barley, rice and soy.
The withdrawal can then be made from 19 September 2021 to 31 January 2022 throughout the region. The felling operations must be carried out within 100 meters from the borders of the agricultural plots affected by the presence of the city pigeon. In fact, a maximum number of 20.000 items that can be withdrawn and of 800 hunters authorized to control the species. Interested hunters will be able to apply to the territorial offices between 26 July and 9 August 2021. Depending on the number of applications received, the Region will then issue a further deed to establish the number of animals that can be taken.
"Lombardy - recalled the commissioner - it is the first agricultural region of Italy and agriculture also defends itself through an increasingly close alliance between the agricultural and hunting world". "Our agri-food system - concluded the commissioner Rolfi - will be the main protagonist of the economic restart and we want to implement all the useful actions to protect the work of farmers" (Source: Lombardy region).