Controversy between the Hunting Security Guards and the Municipality of Vasto on the question of the boundaries of the “Bosco di Don Venanzio” Regional Reserve.
In recent days some statements have been released to the press by the municipal councilor Del Prete on the matter of the boundaries of the “Bosco di Don Venanzio” Regional Natural Reserve.
Del Prete argues that the Reserve "erroneously contains dozens of hectares of Vasto's territory", also citing "events that saw hunters as protagonists denounced because they were surprised within the reserve, but in the territory of the Municipality of Vasto which, by law, should be outside from the reserve ".
The Voluntary Security Guards of the WWF Association and those of the Provincial Body Association Gev "Chieti" intervene on the matter, which, according to the current legislation in force, exclude any possibility of hunting within the "Bosco di Don Venanzio" Regional Reserve. both in the countryside of the municipality of Pollutri and in that of Vasto.
Claudio Allegrino, Coordinator of the WWF Security Guards, declares: the boundaries of the Reserve are indicated in the maps attached to the regional law establishing the Regional Reserve. They include the municipalities of Vasto and Pollutri. This cartography is the only one that has legal value as the only one to be published in the Regional Bulletin (BURA) of the Abruzzo Region.
Antonio Giovannelli, President of the Voluntary Hunting Guards of the GEV Provincial Body Association "Chieti" declares: the Hunting Guards act in compliance with the current legislation according to which the hunting activity carried out within the boundaries of the Reserve (as delimited by the cartography and regulations in force) is prohibited and criminally prosecuted. Councilor Del Prete refers to a bill of the regional council Peace which, therefore, has lapsed as it has not been approved and has no legal value.
We invite Councilor Del Prete to be more cautious in making statements that could confuse hunters about the possibility of hunting within the Regional Reserve, but above all they could stir up spirits and create situations that could become risky for the volunteers themselves.
We invite all stakeholders to sit around a table in order to find a solution on the matter of the boundaries of the Bosco di Don Venanzio Reserve to be submitted to the Regional Council so that it can legislate accordingly.
Hunters are required to know the boundaries of the areas forbidden to hunting. Our Associations will always continue to pursue both poachers surprised inside the Bosco di Don Venanzio and any other form of poaching, as they have always done.
Antonio Giovannelli
President of the Association's GVVs
GEV Provincial Body “Chieti