A unique case in Europe
The two associations are working on a project to "monitor" the packs by providing the institutions with a scientific, realistic and objective tool in view of the future management plans for the species. In Vernio, a well-attended meeting promoted by Federcaccia and Coldiretti Toscana. The leading scholar Apollonio (University of Sassari): “Italy is a unique case in Europe”. Farmers and hunters together to support the need to start monitoring the wolf in Tuscany. The wolf is no longer an endangered species and its downgrading by Europe opens up the possibility for states and regions to evaluate, develop and propose a management plan where its presence has become problematic and conflictual. The conference “Management of the wolf: a necessity to mitigate social conflicts”, organized by Federcaccia Toscana-UCT and Coldiretti Toscana, with the patronage of the Municipality of Vernio, ended with great participation. Over 200 people, including hunters, farmers, breeders and citizens, participated in the event, underlining the interest and relevance of the central theme. The meeting also saw the participation of numerous technicians, institutional representatives and law enforcement, united by the desire to address the issue and the problems related to the management of the species in Tuscany.
Census and estimate
The two Associations clearly want to continue in the direction of the realization of an important project to scientifically correctly census and estimate the presence of the wolf in Tuscany, to allow for a future correct management of the species. An open inclusive project, ready to welcome other participants, such as trade associations, ATCs and institutions. Angelo Corsetti, Director of Coldiretti Toscana, opened the proceedings, introducing the central theme of the conference. The moderator of the event underlined the need to develop concrete solutions that can guarantee the sustainability of the presence of the wolf in the territory, taking into account the needs of agricultural businesses, in particular breeders, and local communities. Maria Lucarini, Mayor of Vernio, brought institutional greetings, highlighting the importance of finding a balance between the protection of fauna and the protection of the interests of citizens who live and work in the territories affected by the presence of the wolf, such as Val Bisenzio.
Historic collaboration
Marco Salvadori, Regional President of Federcaccia Toscana-UCT and National Vice President of Federcaccia, in the first scheduled speech of the evening, underlined the importance of a historic collaboration between Federcaccia Toscana-UCT and Coldiretti in Tuscany, underlining how the two Associations are among the most representative at regional and national level. "Every initiative carried out jointly - stated Salvadori - can only have a greater and more effective resonance, both with the Institutions and with public opinion. The management of the species can no longer be postponed. The recent downgrading of the wolf by the European Community, from a particularly protected species to a protected one, opens up new possibilities that could lead to the management and even control of the species". Salvadori then specified that "hunters are not interested in hunting wolves, but in a correct overall management of the fauna and the protection of biodiversity. We have actively sought the involvement of the Tuscan ATCs to start the first phases of the project on the field as soon as possible".
A moment of reflection
Letizia Cesani, Regional President of Coldiretti Toscana, in the continuation of the works underlined the importance of this conference as a moment of reflection and updating on the project started a year ago with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on wolf monitoring between the two Associations. "It is an objective that we share with Federcaccia Toscana-UCT born from the need to give answers to our members, explained Letizia Cesani, President of Coldiretti Toscana. Our farms suffer 500 predations a year. An exorbitant number if you think of the great effort and sacrifice that breeders make to guard often marginal and internal areas and guarantee the raw material to produce our PDOs such as Pecorino Toscano and Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane, quality dairy products that today are at risk precisely because of the lack of milk caused by the closure of the stables. In Grosseto the streets are filling up with signs-gravestones to denounce the drama they are experiencing. The wolf is a devastating element for our farms and what we propose, together with Federcaccia, is to start a serious monitoring: it is a first step to have a realistic cognitive framework, so as to evaluate and prepare a management plan for the species and clarify, for example, through the survey, also the presence of hybrids. Today the wolf has also colonized urban environments and lives a few kilometers from the cities: it is no longer a problem for farmers alone”.
Increase of the species
Marco Apollonio, Full Professor at the University of Sassari, presented an exhaustive and detailed report to the audience in which he illustrated the development and increase of the wolf species from the post-war period to today. Apollonio explained how the abandonment of rural areas, the increase in forests and ungulates have created the ideal conditions for the expansion of the species. “From the post-war period to today, these changes have favored an exponential increase in the wolf population,” he highlighted. “All this, added to the change in collective perception of this animal, has determined the favorable conditions for the expansion of the species in our country.” According to Apollonio, “managing the wolf means carefully and scientifically evaluating its consistency in certain areas and deciding which approach to adopt. In Italy, for example, we are an emblematic case with the presence of wolves that live a few kilometers from our cities in close contact with inhabited centers.” The university professor finally concluded: “From a political point of view, the wolf is always about choices. In the European Union, twenty countries apply different rules on the predator, divided between those who protect it and those who kill it. The wolf can and must certainly be managed with intelligence, knowledge and through scientific data. This monitoring project proceeds in this direction. However, the choice is and will always be of a political nature”.
Period of difficulty
Stefania Saccardi, Vice President of the Regional Council of Tuscany, addressed the issue of support for livestock farming, which suffers every day due to predation. “We have a duty to support extensive farming in Tuscany, especially in a period of difficulty accentuated by the presence of predators,” said Saccardi, recalling the commitment of the Tuscany Region to compensate farmers for the damages suffered and to finance prevention. “Tuscany has not been standing still, we are carefully following developments at a European level, helping regional businesses remains one of our top priorities.” Marco Ciani, Provincial President of Federcaccia UCT of Prato and member of ATC Firenze 4, expressed his thanks to hunters for having come in large numbers and for their daily commitment to managing wildlife and the territory. “The wolf problem in our areas also causes difficulties for the wildlife-environmental management of local ungulate populations,” explained Ciani, underlining the importance of balanced and shared management for the protection of the territory, hunting and agricultural activities.
Answers to find
At the end of the meeting, a fruitful and constructive debate developed, with some interventions by those present that enriched the discussion, helping to outline the main problems and possible solutions for the management of the species. The active participation of the public highlighted the interest and the will to collaborate to find concrete and shared answers to the challenge represented by the presence of the wolf. The conference represented an important step forward in defining shared management strategies for the species, promoting a constructive dialogue between institutions, agricultural and hunting associations, and the scientific community. The collaboration between Federcaccia Toscana – UCT and Coldiretti will continue to be a fundamental pillar in addressing the challenges related to the presence of the wolf and other issues related to wildlife management and the conservation of biodiversity in Tuscany (source: FIDC).
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