A historic date
The UNA Foundation – Man, Nature, Environment – is celebrating today the tenth anniversary of its birth, which took place on 21 January 2015 following the intuition of various entities, from the CNCN – National Hunting and Nature Committee, committed since 1986 in promotion of a modern and sustainable hunting culture, to the other Founding Members – Federcaccia, Arci Caccia, Enalcaccia and the University of Urbino. Born with the aim of building a new model of dialogue between different realities, Fondazione UNA today connects the hunting world with the environmentalist, agricultural, scientific and academic worlds, broadening the traditional horizons of hunting and committing itself to telling and communicating it, also to the general public, as an essential resource for the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of our country. Ten years after its conception, it has managed to gather around itself one of the largest communities committed to the issues of biodiversity and the protection of the natural environment.
The role of hunting
Over the past ten years, Fondazione UNA has been among the promoters of innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing the role of hunting in protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable management of the territory. Among the most representative projects, Selvatici e Buoni has contributed to the creation of a sustainable and safe model for the wild meat supply chain, already implemented in the Bergamo area, and now potentially exportable to all territories thanks to the publication of the Operational Manual of the project, created in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo and SIMeVeP – Italian Society of Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Thanks to the Operation Paladini del Territorio, Fondazione UNA has systematized all the charitable actions carried out by hunters in support of their community, highlighting their social role and consolidating the project over the years as one of the most participated in by the hunting community.
A journey full of successes
In parallel, it has always carried out an intense dialogue with agricultural and environmental entities to promote projects that move in the direction of scientific and responsible management of natural heritage. Strategic collaborations with Federparchi, AB – Agrivenatoria Biodiversitalia, and memberships in international organizations such as the FAO Mountain Partnership and the IUCN have projected the Foundation into a global context. “With the achievement of its tenth year of work, Fondazione UNA celebrates a journey full of successes and looks to the future with ambition and determination. Our ultimate goal is clear: to guarantee a future for hunting, continuing to strengthen the dialogue between the various actors in the territory, promoting sustainable, scientific, and conscious management of our natural heritage” commented Maurizio Zipponi, President of Fondazione UNA. “With the same passion that characterized the first steps of the Foundation, we are now preparing to write a new chapter, certain that we can once again overcome all expectations and prejudices.” The milestone of the first ten years of the Foundation will be celebrated throughout 2025. The first opportunity to celebrate together will be in Verona as part of EOS | European Outdoor Show, from 8 to 10 February, with a rich programme of events and workshops, as well as the first party of Fondazione UNA.