The hunting season, which has now ended for more than a month, has left us unresolved problems and further limitations huntable species, in addition to the problem of damage caused by the wild boar that In Umbria as in other Regions it is now out of control, to a wildlife plan that does not find full application for the management of sedentary fauna, sometimes due to the lack of courage of both the hunting associations and the ATCs, and due to the complexity of the procedures envisaged, to a technical table which, in order to solve the problem of wild boar damage, bases its action solely on killing, with the introduction of selection hunting, capture cages, without encouraging prevention measures and radical interventions aimed at those territories that register extensive damage, we await the data of ATC to evaluate the results of the choices.
The new year has not started well for hunting in general, in addition to the specter of African swine fever, they have been approved by the European Community the new Key Concepts for the migratory species, which have revised downward the dates of prenuptial migration of many species of migratory birds including those of hunting interest, such as song thrush, redwing, woodcock, etc., if it is true that they represent an indication to which the Regions must comply in the drafting of hunting calendars, it is equally true that in the event of an appeal they are taken as a reference by all administrative courts to settle disputes over hunting calendars, therefore do not take them into account when drafting the hunting calendars, as someone is saying around, in the face of appeals, the hunting season would be put at risk.
That said, on the occasion of the confrontation with the Region on March 24th Arch Hunting will ask for the reconfirmation of last year's hunting calendar, with the possibility of taking the turtle dove in pre-opening, by virtue of the approval of the national management plan of the species that allows them to be withdrawn in an amount equal to 50% of the total withdrawals of the last hunting seasons. Here we will ask the Umbria Region to arrive at the definitive approval of the hunting calendar by the end of May, hoping that immediately we will be able to proceed swiftly with the process that will lead to approval, without delay.
This date would allow us in the face of any appeals to be able to address the issue from a legal point of view at the right time without incurring suspensions close to the opening of the hunt. With the definitive approval by the MITE of the management plan of the turtle dove, effectively reintroducing the possibility of collection, a process that lasted years ends, on the merits the plan contains conservation measures that can open a new season for the management of wildlife , introducing habitat restoration and conservation measures that the regions are called to implement and that could represent the real management change that the hunting associations will have to support and coordinate with the institutions, not only as an opportunity for the hunting world, but also as a sense of responsibility towards all citizens.
The conservation interest of declining species cannot be a battle of demagogy, but the awareness that biodiversity must be defended from the irrationalities of our days, we know very well and also the Environmental associations, that hunting is not the primary cause of the state of many huntable and protected animal species, the causes are habitat loss, pollution, climate change and much more.
If theirs is not an ideological battle against hunting, Arci Caccia is ready for dialogue and collaboration, as we have always done and we have never hidden it, we are ready to dialogue with everyone if constructive, at the same time we ask the environmental and animal welfare associations that, as the Regions have warned in applying the new Key Concept, are equally quick to support coherently and without exploitation the application in its entirety of the management plan of the turtle dove in the interest of the species as a common heritage. We are ready to open a new season of confrontation with the Region and with all stakeholders looking to the future