We were told that agents of WWF volunteer supervision in recent days they have contested the use of lead-containing ammunition in hunting in the 1000 meter range outside the SIC VALPREDINA. All the bodies will want to address (Utr Bergamo, Lombardy Region, Prefect of Bergamo, Province of Bergamo, Provincial Police Corps Fish-Hunting Unit of the Province of Bergamo and WWF Valpredina Nature Reserve) provide for what is within their competence, also recalling the agents in charge of supervision to comply with the provisions of the legislative and regulatory level: to date, in fact, there is no prohibition in this sense, except with reference to territories qualified as Wetlands within the Natura 2000 Network Sites.
In fact, it is true that the Valpredina Oasis in the Evaluation of Incidence on the Hunting Calendar expressed an opinion requesting that in the 1000 meter range around the SCI managed by the same it was forbidden. the use of lead-containing ammunition, but this request was not accepted by the Region (pages 43 and 44 of Decree 10435 of 29.7.2021 - Evaluation of the incidence of the Regional Hunting Calendar). In the dispositive part of the aforementioned Decree all the additional requirements to those of the Law are indicated and the one claimed by the investigators is not there. Moreover, it is not even reported in "VADEMECUM FOR THE EXERCISE OF VENATORY ACTIVITIES IN THE NATURA 2000 NETWORK SITES IN LOMBARDY", published by the Region after the adoption of the VINCA decree to inform hunters, nor is it indicated in the supplementary calendar or in the reductive one (as had been requested by the Oasis of Valpredina).
Il ban on the use of lead-containing ammunition according to the Vinca Decree (and related Vademecum) and the superordinate regulations (Ministerial Decree 17 October 2007 and DGR 1029 of 5 December 2013) exclusively concerns the pursuit of hunting "within the wetlands, such as lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, oxbow lakes, freshwater, salty, brackish water lagoons, as well as a radius of 150 meters from the outermost shores ", subject to specific provisions possibly provided for in the Provincial Wildlife-Hunting Plans. It does not appear that the fixed posting object of control is located less than 150 meters from a site that can be classified as "Wetland" inside the SIC / SAC Valpredina.
In light of the above, should new reports be issued for non-compliance with the non-existent obligation, we will proceed in the appropriate offices towards the investigators, in order to also proceed with the reimbursement of damages for the aggravation of unnecessary proceedings. As for those already issued, you will want to cancel and revoke them "de plano". The Excellency Prefecture and the Province of Bergamo are also requested, as far as they are concerned, to suspend the decree authorizing the investigators to control hunting activities. Sure of your intervention, best regards (Lorenzo Bertacchi - President of Federcaccia Lombardia).