An 800 thousand euro fund
Yesterday morning, in the hall of honor of the Regional Council ofUmbria A press conference was held at Palazzo Donini to present the new regional regulations for compensation for damage caused by wild animals to road traffic. The meeting was attended by Umbria Region President Stefania Proietti, Councilor for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Agricultural and Agri-food Policies, Mountains and Inland Areas, Parks and Lakes, and Tourism Simona Meloni, and Luca Benci, Regional Attorney and Litigation Management. The Regional Council, at Councilor Meloni's recommendation, approved the new regulations and allocated €800 annually to cover the compensation. The fund, established by the Directorate for Economic Development, Agriculture, Education, Training and Employment, Tourism, and Sport, establishes the criteria and procedures for access. The regulations clearly define the eligibility cases, the beneficiaries, and the amount of compensation: 60% of the documented expenses for vehicle repairs or, in the case of scrapping, up to 50% of the estimated value according to the Eurotax price list, with a maximum of €4.999,99. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the accident, exclusively via certified email (PEC) or registered mail with return receipt, accompanied by the required forms and documentation.
120 proceedings per year
President Stefania Proietti emphasized the importance of the new measure: "Until now, citizens who suffered damage caused by wild animals were forced to turn to the courts, facing lengthy, costly, and uncertain legal procedures, which also burdened the public administration. Each year, approximately 120 proceedings are filed with the Umbria Region, in addition to cases covered by private insurance and those in which citizens have renounced their right to take action. Today, with the approval of this measure, we are putting an end to this situation by introducing a simplified administrative procedure that, thanks to regional investment, will allow compensation to be obtained directly and clearly, without going through the courts, providing concrete, rapid, and transparent responses. We cannot ignore the numbers," the president continued, "demonstrating the spread of wild animals, particularly wild boars. In recent decades, this growth has no longer been the result of planned management, but has reached such proportions that it has significantly impacted road safety, agricultural activity, landscape protection, and even human health. It is a problem that concerns not only the citizens involved in accidents, but also our communities, businesses and territories, often marked by the abandonment of land and the difficulties of those who live in inland areas.
Administrative rationalization
This measure, the President concluded, is the result of the work of Councilor Meloni and her offices, and represents the first serious and significant administrative streamlining operation ever implemented in Umbria on this issue. In the past, I have repeatedly called for tools of this kind, particularly for parks and natural areas, but today we are finally providing a structural response to citizens and local governments, with dedicated resources and defined procedures. I also thank the regional legal team, which has helped define a path capable of reducing litigation and restoring efficiency to public action. This is a concrete step forward in protecting citizens and maximizing the value of the Region's resources. Immediately afterward, Councilor Simona Meloni emphasized: "The regulations introduce simple, easily accessible rules for citizens who suffer damage, avoiding recourse to the courts and ensuring direct compensation. After years of unanswered requests, we are filling a regulatory gap and providing citizens with a streamlined and concrete tool. We have allocated significant resources to protect road safety, but this is only one piece of a broader strategy. Every year, wild fauna causes damage estimated at over one million euros in Umbria, including road accidents and agricultural losses. This is why we are also working to contain wild boar numbers and strengthen dialogue with the agricultural and hunting communities through the Hunting Council. The goal is twofold: to reduce damage and simultaneously optimize the use of public resources. This regulation marks a turning point: it protects citizens, supports farmers, and makes regional action more efficient."
Depopulation of the heads
Finally, Councilor Meloni announced that changes are forthcoming regarding Regulation No. 34 of 1999 on the individual and collective hunting of wild boar. Several proposals are currently being examined and will be submitted to the regional hunting committee. The goal is to effectively contribute to the depopulation of wild boars, in compliance with the containment plan developed by the Special Commissioner for African Swine Fever. Among the measures being considered is a rethinking of the current hunting regulations (source: Umbria Region).
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