Il Regional Council of Liguria approved the provision which exempts i neo-hunters twigs payment of the hunting card for the first year of activity. As pointed out by the Regional Councilor for Agriculture, Stefano Mai, it is a small incentive that aims to reduce the decline in practitioners in this region. In the last six years, in fact, they have gone down from 20 thousand to 15 thousand and their presence is essential to protect biodiversity and the territory.
Furthermore, every year around 200 new Ligurian hunters are registered: the amount of the tax to be paid is equal to 90 euros, which means that in the first year the Region will lose 18 thousand euros. To compensate for all this, however, a virtuous circle will be generated and the greater number of hunters and the generational turnover will give continuity to regional services and activities. According to Mai in recent years we have witnessed a slow but progressive abandonment of wooded areas and the hinterland, which have contributed to raising the risk of fires and the presence of ungulates, up to the inhabited centers.
There is satisfaction with the vote and the hope that the new law can serve to reverse the current trend, guaranteeing a widespread presence and according to certain rules of those who carry out hunting wildlife activities, which can create the conditions for re-establishing an environmental balance that has now been blown up.