On Wednesday 14 July, hunting and conservation experts and members of the European Parliament they met online to discuss the issue "The Future for the Turtle Dove in Europe: Perspectives on Hunting and Conservation" (The future of the turtle dove in Europe: Perspectives on Hunting and Conservation) as part of an informative webinar organized by European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE). The aim was to explain to hunters and policy makers the current situation and next steps regarding this heartfelt issue. This webinar follows the great interest expressed in the workshops on the adaptive harvesting of the Tortora organized by the European Commission, putting the species in the spotlight as regards the conservation measures and hunting regulations.
During the webinar, Professor Gregorio Rocha of the University of Extremadura provided updates on the conservation needs of the species, on the work done by the hunting community and on the negative consequences of stopping hunting. Cy Griffin, Senior Conservation Manager at FACE illustrated the progress of the adaptive harvesting process with an overview of the scenarios presented, including those that would have allowed limited harvesting in the western area. For the countries of the central and eastern area, it is clear that there will be a 50 percent reduction in the levy, and this will require considerable work. Governments have already committed themselves to this also with new systems for registering the collection and supporting research. In this context, Tristan Breijer, director of Strategic Partnerships, Hunter & co., Which is the largest European application for hunters, explained the added value of smartphone applications for the sampling recording, tracking and research.
Of course, there was widespread frustration expressed by many participants with the situation in the western area, especially since the mathematical models used in the adaptive management process have shown that it is possible to achieve the goal ofincrease in the population of turtle doves maintaining a limited withdrawal, which hunters are ready to accept, coupled with the fact that the option of a reduced withdrawal has not been fully addressed. FACE President Torbjörn Larsson stated that: "It is a real shame that, instead of reducing the levy and helping the member states of the western area, there is a strong push from the European Commission to ban the levy and start infringement procedures against France and Spain.
There have been further threats of infringement actions against other member states of the western range, making adaptive levy decision making impossible. In addition, several MEPs from different political groups - Álvaro Amaro (EPP, Portugal), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, Malta), Isabel Benjumea-Benjumea (EPP, Spain), Juan Ignacio Zoido (EPP, Spain), Josianne Cutajar (S&D, Malta) - stressed the need for a balanced combination of hunting and conservationrather than the total closure of the hunt, which would result in the loss of huge annual conservation measures and investments. Member States are currently taking decisions at national level regarding the hunting of this species.
The President of the "Biodiversity, Hunting and Countryside" Intergroup Álvaro Amaro, in reference to his open letter, jointly signed by other MEPs, expressed "disappointment at the preconceived and intransigent position taken by the European Commission for introduce a moratorium on the hunting of the species, even if it was rejected by the 10 countries that allow it to be hunted ”. He also underlined the disappointment for the infringement initiated by the Commission against France and Spain, which, thanks to the interventions of hunters, have not failed in the conservation of the species compared to many other Member States where the species has almost disappeared. although it is not huntable. During the discussion, several representatives of FACE members took the opportunity to express their views on the current situation at national level, underlining the support and strong involvement of local communities in the conservation of the species.
However, some have also expressed disappointment resulting from the lack of official recognition that they have to face in their own institutions. Federcaccia participated by speaking with Dr. Michele Sorrenti, who exposed the habitat improvement initiatives carried out by hunters and the research undertaken by the association for the deepening of knowledge on turtledove, such as the collection of wings and the study on the productivity of young people. this year. Sorrenti reiterated that FIdC accepted the Commission's proposal with a constructive spirit which keeps the hunt open despite a significant reduction in the levy, and for this reason is pressing the Italian Regions to comply with what has been decided in the European field, asking for the passage from 20 to 10 seasonal animals and the reduction to half days of hunting in pre-opening instead of full days as implemented in previous years.
Federcaccia is convinced that a sacrifice in heads and hours of hunting is feasible for this year since the alternative was the total suspension of the turtle dove hunt, as had been requested by the Ministry for Ecological Transition. This time the European Union has helped us, and for this we must demonstrate credibility and support, in future years we will be able to discuss more in depth and possibly increase the levies and bring hunting days back to full ones. Federcaccia repeats again to all the Regions: it is necessary to halve the days and the collection allowed on the species: from this passes the conservation of the turtle dove hunting and the credibility of the Italian hunting system in Europe (Source: Hunting Federation).