Hunting in derogation. Lombardy Region intends to activate, for the 2016/2017 hunting season, the derogation procedures to authorize the taking of specimens of the species Fringuello, Peppola and Storno, making use of the waiver option provided for by the "Birds Directive". This was announced by the regional councilor for agriculture Gianni Fava, with a communication to the council in the session held in recent days.
“The request for authorization to withdraw the transfer also derives from the need to limit the loss of quality agricultural production - explained the commissioner Fava -. Between 2008 and 2015, in Lombardy, damage to crops caused by the species was ascertained for 643.573 euros. In 2015 alone, the damages reported by the Lombard provinces most affected amounted to 68.280 euros. In the areas where the greatest concentration of damage was recorded there are significant high quality productions, such as specialized vineyards for the production of DOC and DOCG wines and apple orchards ". Further damage was verified on other crop types such as corn, sunflower and tomatoes.
"The request to authorize the hunting of specimens of the species Fringuello, Peppola, as well as of the Starling - added the commissioner - aims to satisfy the requests made by the regional hunting associations".
For the Chaffinch species, it is expected to authorize the collection only for the period between 1 October and 31 October 2016; for Peppola in the period between 15 October and 13 November and for the Storno in the period between 18 September and 23 October 2016.
(April 30, 2016)
Source: AskaNews