We take note of the attention reserved by Umbria Region towards our passion, a fundamental tool for managing the territory, safeguarding crops andfaunal balance. On April 30, the regional councilor Morroni will present in addition, for pre-adoption, the hunting calendar for the 2020 / 21 season. However Federcaccia Umbra judges in a negative way the substantial modification proposed for wild boar hunting, with the introduction of only the single form starting from October while the collective jokes will begin. only on November XNUMXst.
There are basically three critical issues, and they concern the protection of crops, biodiversity and consistency with the national framework law 157/92. Starting with crop protection, there are many valuable ones still standing in October. Postponing the hunt for a month means abandoning them to the wild, among other things in a period of health emergency that prevents the spring containment of the species. In this regard, it would be interesting to know the voice of agricultural associations, which we have not heard so far. As evidenced by the data of the past seasons, moreover, October is the most effective month for driven hunts.
Similarly, without wild boar hunting during the month of October, all hunters will concentrate on other species, with serious damage to biodiversity (noble sedentary and small migratory game). Finally, but certainly not least, by opening on October 31st in single form and closing on January XNUMXst, the wild boar would be hunted for four months instead of the three foreseen by the 157/92. Umbrian hunters are responsible people: the now customary closure of pheasant hunting testifies to this as of November 30th instead of December 31st, or of the hare on the second Sunday of December instead of 31st, even if the commissioner - inexplicably - has proposed closing it on 6th, despite the fact that the species is in excellent health.
Also on this point Federcaccia asks to move the closing to 13 December. At the same time, we ask that the hunting dog training period be extended until September 17th, excluding pre-opening days. We are surprised, then, the attitude of the commissioner Morroni, ready for discussion but without sufficient space for discussion. The meetings have so far been limited to informing the interlocutors of what he has already decided, all accompanied by his own admission that he does not know the subject very well. One wonders who advises him in his decisions: certainly not the regional offices, whose expertise we know and appreciate well. Returning to the wild boar, the commissioner justifies his choice by arguing that in the neighboring regions it is hunted until the end of January, and that therefore - if in Umbria it closed earlier - the suide would find refuge areas in our region, increasing the damage to crops.
However, the situation in the neighboring regions is very heterogeneous, with some realities evolving towards the opening in October (in the Marche, in a part of Tuscany and a part of Lazio). Moreover, the mountainous border areas naturally protect a large part of the territory, given that at high altitudes - in January - there is no cultivation in place. Finally, speaking of the mountains, we invite the councilor to consider the fact that, especially in late January, the teams of mountainous areas they may find themselves unable to hunt due to snow.
All to the detriment of farmers and the balance of fauna, above all, but also of the same hunters who would see reduced hunting days, against the already high costs incurred for the license. By virtue of all the previous considerations, Federcaccia Umbra hopes that the species will be opened in early October, as already mentioned, and closed at the end of December, respecting the time frame. In the month of January, if the established quotas are not reached, it would be possible to provide for specific jokes to complete the plans. In the hope of having specified in the best possible way what, in our opinion, are the most evident criticalities of the future hunting calendar, we hope for a serious and constructive dialogue for their prompt resolution.