From the European Union the probability of having a law in Italy that allows wolves to be hunted in order to limit serious damage to livestock and agriculture.
The EU Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, expressed herself on the possibility of introducing a law in our country that could allow wolves to be hunted in the Ravenna Apennines "to prevent serious damage to crops and livestock".
According to Potocnik in fact, member states must “carefully consider all available alternative solutions before proceeding to a possible use of derogations"Expressly provided for by the Habitats Directive concerning the conservation of biodiversity.
The comment from the EU Commissioner for the Environment arrives in response to a recent question submitted by MEP Andrea Zanoni, according to which, "before endorsing wolf hunting in the Ravenna Apennines, Italy should have carefully considered all the alternative solutions available".
So Potocnik replied to Zanoni “with reference to the problem of the depredation of livestock, a series of prevention and protection measures have proved effective to mitigate the risks of damage: electrified fences, guard dogs, safer night accommodation for livestock, presence of shepherds in the pastures ”.
The EU Commissioner then continues underlining that "when a Member State intends to make use of the derogation provided for by the Habitats Directive (92/43 / EEC) it has the responsibility to adequately justify this condition".
Ma according to Zanoni “this was not done by the Italian authorities which fueled a political and media campaign aimed at demonizing wolves as the main cause of serious damage to crops and grazing livestock ”.
"In reality - continues Zanoni - it is just an attempted gift to poachers that in this way they would be free to hunt an animal protected by EU legislation, Canis lupus ".
The MEP then acts, "The Commission, always very diplomatically careful not to criticize a Member State, non has gone further on a provision which, for the moment, is not yet state law".
In conclusion, Zanoni says "However, the emphasis placed by the commissioner on the importance of considering all alternative solutions leaves no room for doubt:wolf hunting in the Ravenna Apennines is pretext and risky".