Hunting: Veneto, with the new law approved by the Regional Council it will be possible to hunt wild boars in parks; however, there is no lack of controversy.
The legislative project, presented by the UDC, was approved by the Regional Council almost unanimously. But a real knot remains: the law does not distinguish between wild animals that do damage, Lonardoni: “People want answers and a containment plan is already being studied”. New regional law for the containment of wild boars: compensation and the possibility of shooting even in parks. But will the law approved almost unanimously last Thursday by the Regional Council on wildlife be a real solution, or will it open up a series of issues that will further entangle the possibilities of compensation for damages and the culling of wild boars in protected areas?
The bill presented by UDC councilor Stefano Peraro, with party colleagues Raffaele Grazia and Stefano Valdegamberi, also signed by the representatives of the Northern League Gianpiero Possamai and Paolo Tosato, initially launched as a solution to compensate the damage of wild boars in protected areas, in steps in the commission lost the specificity of reference to wild boars and in the classroom it was voted with the title "Initiatives for the management of wildlife in the regional territory precluded from hunting".
But wildlife is not only the non-native one, for which the Region has decided to eradicate. Wild are also roe deer, chamois, deer, "The expression has been left generic because if the problem of wild boars exists in Lessinia and in the Euganean Hills Park, in the Cansiglio wood there is that of deer", explains Peraro, confirming that "The law defines the mechanisms for compensation for damage caused by the presence of wildlife in two funds: one reserved for agricultural and livestock production in areas not allowed for hunting and the other for people and vehicles due to impact with animals in crossing of roadways throughout the Region ".
The financial availability for compensation is fixed with a ceiling of 200 thousand euros per year, which can be increased from time to time when drawing up the budget. The first article of the new regional law gives ample discretion to the management of parks and protected areas to identify and define "selective ecological methods for the control of wildlife in areas prohibited from hunting and, where their ineffectiveness is ascertained, the relative plans abatement, having heard the opinion of the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra) ".
Therefore, one should start with bloodless systems and only once the ineffectiveness has been ascertained, proceed to the abatements, but only after hearing the opinion of Ispra, which is not binding, as reported in the law. The law also provides for the possibility of intervention to contain the population of wild species, the possibility of making use of hunters residing in the relative territorial areas, adequately trained also on the basis of the guidelines defined by Ispra.
“The problem is pressing”, admits Diego Lonardoni, director of the Lessinia Park, “and people expect answers quickly. There is no doubt that the massive presence of wild boars in Lessinia has led to a biological imbalance with damage to the landscape and biodiversity. As a Park, we have entrusted Alessandro Brugnoli, faunist of the Trentino Hunters Association, for his expertise in a territory such as the Lessinia one, straddling the two regions, the preparation of a containment plan, but it will be my commitment and that of the President Paolo Garra submit its study to the consultation of the Park, which includes all stakeholders: from administrators, to productive categories, to hunting and environmental associations. Then it will be sent to Ispra and on the basis of its opinion, with any prescriptions, it will be applied, in principle, throughout the year, as a fulfillment by the managing body, with acknowledgment of the Region ", concludes Lonardoni.
16 April 2013
Source: The Arena