Relevant appearances
A month after the meeting held on September 16th in Massa by the Italian National Hunting Federation, together with the Regional Federations of Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna, the first concrete results have arrived, demonstrating the effectiveness of the dialogue and collaboration initiated with the Special Commissioner for PSA, Dr. John FilippiniThe meeting, held in the Sala della Resistenza (Resistance Hall) of the Massa Provincial Palace, brought together a large and distinguished audience composed of Association leaders, representatives of the Territorial Hunting Areas, and managers and representatives of the wild boar hunting teams, in an open discussion with the Government and institutions. In addition to Commissioner Filippini, those present included MASAF Undersecretary Senator Patrizio Giacomo La Pietra, National President Massimo Buconi, and regional representatives Marco Salvadori (Tuscany), Stefano Merighi (Emilia-Romagna), and Andrea Campanile (Liguria), as well as several representatives of the institutes operating in the three regions, such as Emiliano Centofanti, Tiziano Pizzasegola, and Luigi Tiscornia.
The commitment of hunters
At that meeting, Federcaccia reiterated its full willingness to collaborate on the national strategy to combat African Swine Fever, but also the need to make certain measures more effective and consistent, so that the efforts of hunters and volunteers are not undermined by incomprehensible operational restrictions. A few weeks later, the new Ordinance No. 5/2025 of the Extraordinary Commissioner, signed on October 13 and addressed to the Tuscany Region, concretely implements some of those proposals. Specifically, in areas subject to restrictions, the maximum number of participants in wild boar containment drives has been increased from fifteen to twenty people: a significant step that allows control operations to be more effective and safe, improving the teams' response capacity and coordination with the ATCs.
Previous penalties
The same Ordinance also decisively overturned several previous restrictions that penalized hunters working in restricted areas, restoring their ability to operate or participate in activities outside of these areas. Another significant element is the provision that allows wild boar control and containment measures to be implemented throughout the region, including protected areas, which will be required to periodically report on their actions. In the event of non-compliance, the ordinance provides for the Special Commissioner to step in as a substitute, up to and including appointing commissioners to the non-compliant facilities, thus ensuring the effective implementation of ASF prevention and control measures. These amendments restore consistency and continuity to hunting and surveillance efforts, recognizing the value of the voluntary commitment made by the entire hunting community.
A positive signal
"We have always said and demonstrated with facts that Federcaccia doesn't just criticize, but proposes and collaborates," said National President Massimo Buconi, commenting on the commissioner's decision. "Commissioner Filippini's Ordinance addresses reasonable and well-founded requests, demonstrating that dialogue between institutions and the hunting community can lead to concrete and beneficial solutions not only for hunters but, in this case, for the entire strategy to combat ASF. This is the right path, and we will continue along this line of constructive dialogue." These results are a positive sign for all those who, starting with the regional bodies, the ATCs, and the hunting teams, are working daily in the field with a spirit of service and dedication to contain the spread of the virus and overcome the state of emergency. Federcaccia thus confirms its commitment to maintaining dialogue with institutions, offering expertise, collaboration, and a network of specialized volunteers who, once again, prove themselves an indispensable resource for the community (source: Federcaccia Toscana-UCT).
You May Also Like ..
