A major project
The hunting world is a partner of the ULyCA2 project to reinforce the lynx in the Alps. The liberation of some individuals of lynx in Forest of Tarvisio, is part of an international project, the LIFE Lynx, which deals with the conservation and reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx in Europe. For the reintroduction in the Alps, the owners of the ULyCA2 project are the Carabinieri Forestali, who are making use of the skills of a group of experts from the University of Turin, the "Lince Italia Project" and the very important support of the FVG Region, the WWF and of the hunting world.
The role of hunters
Of strategic importance in monitoring and as partners in the conservation of biodiversity, Friulian hunters have an important and active role in this project. To this end, a dedicated working group was created, which brings together the four most representative hunting associations present in the Region, the Italian Hunting Federation, Enalcaccia, Libera Caccia and Arcicaccia, respectively represented by their Presidents Paolo Viezzi , Gianfranco Turchetti, Dario Salvador and Graziano Busettini, the Director of the local Tarvisio-Malborghetto Hunting Reserve Mario De Bortoli, the President of the Hunting District Mario Agnola and the experts of the Italian Lynx Project and the Forest Carabinieri, who have developed a collaboration strategy . Collaboration that was expanded during a meeting in Kranjska Gora, where cross-border cooperation was agreed upon with the highest leaders of the Slovenian Hunting Association, the Slovenian Forest Service and the EU LIFE Lynx project and confirmed the important role of hunters in the conservation of biodiversity.
Wildlife conservation
Applause for this important collaboration with the hunting world was expressed both by the Commander of the Carabinieri Biodiversity Group in Rome, General Raffaele Manicone, and by WWF Italy in the voice of Isabella Pratesi and naturally by the local coordinators of the project. Claudio Angeli, the spokesman of the “Hunting and Lynx Working Group” explains: “What we have achieved in this context is something historic in the panorama of fauna conservation in Italy, and we are proud of it. We will give our support in the monitoring work, emphasizing the responsible role we have in wildlife and biodiversity management".
Lynxes to be baptized
To symbolically honor this wonderful commitment, the hunters were allowed to baptize one of the lynxes that will be released in the Forest of Tarvisio. Director Mario De Bortoli has chosen the name for the first male to be released and which will be called "Jago". One of the origins of this name is the word “jagod” – Old High German and derives as a verbal abstract from the verb hunt (jagōn) – “to chase, rush, catch or hunt game”. The right name for a hunter like the lynx. In the photo: Kranjska Gora, Friday 3 March 2023. Hunting delegation of the "Hunting and Lynx Working Group" hosted by the top management of the Slovenian Hunting Association and Forestry Service and by the LIFE Lynx management. The subject of the meeting was the role of hunters in the conservation of the lynx in Europe. (Source FB page Progetto Lince Italia)