New criteria for refreshments
Since 2007, the Liguria Region has paid increasing attention to the presence of wolf on the territory, implementing all the provisions set out in the current National Action Plan for the species. This has led, over the years, to various initiatives to monitor the predator's population, as well as the establishment of procedures aimed at preventing and compensating for the damage caused to farmers. “In the last zootechnical table we approved the new criteria for refreshments and predation – explains the vice-president of the Liguria Region with responsibility for Agriculture Alessandro Piana – and streamlined the procedures, without the obligation of inspections as in the past, today giving the possibility to submit the documentation via georeferenced photos to the regional wildlife surveillance by email. As regards the criteria, the most significant innovation sees the passage from 50% of the value of the item from the value of the Ismea Bulletin, to 100% of the compensation, therefore the highest amount that, as a Region, we can attribute".
A different approach
Compensation for lost animals and indirect damage to production losses was also introduced, the latter carried out on the basis of the size of the herd or flock grazing at the time of the damage. “At this moment more than ever and beyond any understandable ideology, we also need greater attention from Europe – adds Alessandro Piana – and a different approach to the issue of large carnivores. In Liguria we have niche farming, it's true, but it is fundamental because it allows us to maintain the meadow, the pasture and consequently that extraordinary biodiversity that has always characterized our region and which is bringing many tourists to our Alps and Apennines. I would also like to remind you that the Liguria Region joined the LIFE WolfAlps 2018 Project in 2.0, which will last five years, with a total amount of 10 million euros, of which approximately 1 million will go to the Liguria Region. The project, approved by the European Commission, provides for international coordination activities for the entire Alpine range (even across borders) on actions aimed at improving coexistence between wolves and human activities".
Among the various initiatives implemented, we highlight first of all the monitoring of the presence of the wolf which has strengthened and made the national monitoring of Ispra continuous, the collection of data and the inclusion of the same in the "Gaia Observer" telematic platform. The monitoring, carried out following the "Guidelines and protocols for the national monitoring of the wolf in Italy" created within the framework of the Ispra-Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea agreement for "National monitoring activities within the Wolf Action Plan", was carried out on a total of 113 officially monitored transects equal to 489,945 km travelled, per year, with the participation of the Forestry Carabinieri, Regional Surveillance personnel, Parks and Provinces and partly also by specially trained volunteers. “Furthermore – concludes councilor Alessandro Piana – interventions have been carried out to support farmers on the use of prevention tools and methods, the training of supervisory personnel on assessment activities connected to livestock predation, the development of a guide , aimed at citizens, which reports the good rules of behavior useful for avoiding, or at least minimizing, possible problematic situations in inhabited contexts" (source: Liguria Region).