The announcement for the drafting and updating of the plans for the protection and management of Natura 2000 areas and that will be published tomorrow Wildlife-hunting in relation to Sicily. Financial resources amount to one million euros. The beneficiaries are the Rural Development department and the managing bodies of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites. The deadline for submitting the project proposal is set on next April 15th. "Environmental protection and maintenance of biodiversity must take into account the economic, social, cultural and regional needs and the constraints to which the territories are subjected according to the areas identified in the conservation and development plans" declares the Regional Councilor for Agriculture , Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries, Tony Scylla.
"The drafting and updating of the plans - continues the commissioner - result essential also in consideration of the damage caused by wildlife to natural biodiversity and agricultural crops in protected areas, which already endure a situation of hardship and penalization ». The competence of the Rural Development department of the Sicilian Region, both in terms of wildlife and hunting, and of management of 32 nature reserves of very high environmental value (Zingaro, Vendicari, etc.), will allow the creation of a cutting-edge management tool and will integrate with that of the managing bodies of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites (ex. Nebrodi Park, Madonie, etc.).
"The drafting of the wildlife-hunting plan, a tool for planning and rational management of wild fauna or wild animals to protect the agro-forestry-pastoral territory, as required by Law 11 February 1992, n. 157, will help to maintain ecological continuity between all Natura 2000 areas thanks to a systemic approach on a regional scale that must look at the entire territory and not just parts of it »concludes Councilor Scilla. There Natura 2000 network in Sicily it consists of 245 sites, of which 213 SIC-ZSC (Sites of Community Importance - Special Conservation Areas), 16 ZPS (Special Protection Areas) and 16 type C sites (SIC-ZSC / SPA) with different subjects who manage the areas.