The Florence conference
Last Friday 12 January in Florence, a qualified meeting was held between numerous enthusiasts, managers and technicians, to give life to an inter-association coordination between Federcaccia and Anuu Migratoristi, aimed at the study and scientific research, aimed at sustainable management from the wood pigeon species. For some time, the need has been felt on the part of the respective associations to make a qualitative leap on a theme, that of wood pigeon hunting, which unites a large number of enthusiasts throughout Italy. A hunt that requires knowledge and research to best combine tradition and conservative management of the species, in full recognition of all the various hunting techniques practiced.
Initiatives of common interest
The new coordination was born within a recent memorandum of understanding signed at national level by the two associations and already active also in Tuscany, with other initiatives of common interest. No contrast, therefore, with other experiences gained outside the associative sphere. A desire based on the need to play an active role, as already happens today for other species of hunting interest, focused on research activities applied to the wildlife management of migratory avifauna also for the defense of hunting calendars. The participation and enthusiasm that characterized this first important meeting is tangible evidence of a widespread and growing interest in the wood pigeon species. A need aimed at setting up serious and scientifically correct work to be carried out, supported by technical-scientific skills and investments of an organizational and economic nature, aimed at research on the species.
Operations to be expanded
A common thread - that of scientific research - which characterized the opening speeches of the President of Federcaccia Toscana - Unione Cacciatori Toscani - Marco Salvadori and of the Vice President Anuu Migratoristi Toscana - Terfiro Innocenti. In their speeches they recalled how the new Coordination was born today as a reality destined to expand its operations to other regional territories under the guidance and technical-scientific support of the Studies and Research Office of the Italian Hunting Federation. The participation of Dr. Michele Sorrenti – technical-scientific coordinator of the office and Dr. Daniel Tramontana, deputy coordinator of the office itself, contributed to clarifying and outlining the priorities of the work to be carried out in the coming months, counting primarily on the collaboration and involvement of passionate trackers, for the monitoring and data collection activities to possibly also be extended to the species wild dove. Other important operational and programmatic contributions were expressed by the numerous participants present in the room and connected remotely. UCIM President Carlo Romanelli and National Vice President Gherardo Ambrosini, as well as provincial president of Federcaccia La Spezia, reiterated the organization's full support for the introduced project. Even the interventions of the representatives of regional realities such as the Marche through Nazareno Galassi - Provincial President of FIDC Macerata and for Calabria with Mario Pucci, National Vice President of UCIM, underlined the importance of the initiative. After the interventions of the regional president of Anuu Toscana – Franco Bindi and of the national delegate of Anuu migratoristi – Giorgio Paffetti, the works were concluded by Marco Salvadori.
Knowledge and scientific research
He himself recalled how hunting associations have today, as yesterday, the duty to represent, within a framework of defense of the general interest, the hunting passion linked to knowledge and scientific research applied to wildlife management. Today, dealing with a species that enjoys good health such as the wood pigeon means setting ourselves the objective of exercising sustainable hunting also for the conservation and maintenance over time of one of the most fascinating forms of hunting. The new coordination was therefore born in an "open" way to any contribution, determined to give a serious and non-biased contribution, to increase knowledge about the species. An aim to be achieved through monitoring activities of both nesting populations and the migratory contingent also with the aid of innovative techniques such as satellite telemetry. Projects, studies and research which will also be carried out thanks to the collection of funds allocated and obtained from events, cultural events, conferences and trade fairs aimed at promoting wood pigeon hunting and conservation (source: FIDC-UCT).