The application of management measures relating to large predators, bear and wolf, was discussed in the Roman meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry for the environment in which the minister took part Roberto Cingolani and the president of the ISPRA Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Stefano Laporta, the president of Province of Bolzano, Arno Kompatscher, and the provincial councilor, Arnold Schuler. The South Tyrolean senator Julia Unterberger was also present at the interview. “For two years we have been endowed with a provincial law that provides measures management measures related to large predators and that allows the provincial authorities a local management, but its application turns out to be complex ”, said President Kompatscher.
According to the provincial legislation the taking, capturing or killing of individual bears and wolves it can be arranged autonomously in particular exceptional situations. These interventions must take place in compliance with state and European regulations and after obtaining a positive opinion from ISPRA. "Obtaining a positive opinion from ISPRA, at the moment, would be problematic - said Councilor Schuler during the meeting - and there is an urgent need to intervene, if we intend to protect and preserve traditional mountain farming activities and pastures". As reported by the commissioner, he therefore asked Minister Cingolani to guarantee the application of the management plan in accordance with European requirements and according to the model applied by other EU Member States.
"Both the minister and the president of ISPRA have shown themselves to be very open to our requests," said President Kompatscher, at the end of the meeting, during which the Minister for the Environment Cingolani showed great understanding for the problem, making sure you want to find a solution. Together with the president of ISPRA Laporta, the establishment of a working group was agreed to achieve the concrete application of the guidelines for the management of large predators. Province president Kompatscher thanked the minister for open discussions on this hot topic and remembered, in this regard, that the maintenance of biodiversity is a mission of the provincial government, but that the mountain and alpine areas used in agricultural activity have an important role in this regard.
Furthermore, the overriding goal would be to guaranteeing the safety of citizens. Even the South Tyrolean senator Julia Unterberger, who organized the meeting, defined it very positive, since it was possible to illustrate the situation in which the inhabitants of the affected areas find themselves, worried and unhappy about the damage caused repeatedly by wolves ( Source: Province of Bolzano).