On Sunday, June 13, in neighboring Switzerland, more precisely in the Canton of Grisons, a referendum was held which presented one of several questions "For a hunt that respects nature and ethics". In essence, the popular initiative aimed at partially revising various points of the cantonal law on hunting, with a strong extension of the safeguards and forms of protection of the fauna, the abolition of bird hunting, the introduction of lead-free ammunition, further verifications and certifications for hunters, strong restriction of interventions by the hunting supervisory bodies in case of damage caused by game.
Furthermore, already from the wording of the title, the proposal tendentiously aimed at suggesting in public opinion that hunting as it is currently practiced would not be respectful of nature and it would lack high ethical standards. On the other hand, in support of the "NO" to the question, it was instead highlighted how the limitation of hunting has the consequence of weakening the forest and biodiversity, endangering the protection of the population and animals. The results for the proponents were definitely not the desired ones: in fact, a high percentage of voters was matched by a clear desire of Swiss citizens residing in the Grisons to reject the proposal with a percentage of 80% of the votes against.
It is perhaps worth underlining that the Canton of Grisons is defined by the Swiss authorities as “pure nature”. A clear indication, once again, that those who live and carry out their activities in nature, not limiting themselves to an abstract concept of this or to be an occasional user, considers the hunting activity sustainable and regulated not only absolutely "normal" but above all a strong and irreplaceable component of management and conservation of habitat, territory and fauna.
Press Office of the Italian Hunting Federation