The Piedmont TAR has suspended hunting of four species that risk extinction

The Piedmont Regional Administrative Court has issued a ruling blocking the hunting season in the regional territory, accepting the appeal of some animal rights associations.The administrative judges have recognized the existence of a «situation of exceptional gravity and urgency», establishing that the measure is necessary «in order to protect the biodiversity of the regional territory».But now, between the regional administration and associations, there is a war over the interpretation to be given to the verdict.According to the council, the ruling only suspended the hunting of four species of typical birds (Tufted Duck, Rock Ptarmigan, Rock Partridge and Black Grouse) and therefore the rifles can continue to target the rest of the fauna.An interpretation radically contested by animal rights activists, who accuse the Region of disregarding a ruling that would block all hunting activity.We are now awaiting a definitive clarification from the administrative judges, to whom the Region has asked through a request for a timely clarification on the provisions of the verdict.

“The suspension was motivated by several irregularities found in the calendar approval process,” they said written in a joint note the appellant animal rights associations Pro Natura, Oipa and Leal, who highlighted in particular the «lack of transparency» of the Piedmont Region, which « did not publish Annex C of the calendar, which contained the regional counter-reasons compared to the opinion of the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra), mandatory but not binding».Within their request, the associations had highlighted «the inadequacy of planning», as an updated regional hunting wildlife plan has not been presented, which «raises concerns regarding the management of species at risk of extinction such as the tufted duck, the ptarmigan, the rock partridge and the black grouse».The associations concluded the note by stating that «for the appellant acronyms this decision represents an important victory and a significant step in the protection of wildlife in Piedmont».What dampened the enthusiasm, however, was the content of the communicated issued by the Region, in which it was said that, excluding the four protected species mentioned, hunting activity "can continue".The regional councilor Paolo Bongioanni explained:«Our lawyers they interpreted that the TAR only blocked the targeting of Alpine fauna, now we are waiting for a response from the judges."In the meantime, he said bluntly, “the hunt can continue.”

Lega deputy Francesco Bruzzone also intervened in the discussion and asked that the Piedmontese council take action to immediately approve a bridging resolution that allows hunting to reopen pending discussion of the appeal.In the meantime, the Piedmont Region, through the Regional Advocacy, has filed a request with the Regional Administrative Court with which requested a timely clarification on the provisions of the presidential decree which sanctioned the suspension.The debate, therefore, remains hot, also because the contours of the scenario opened by the TAR ruling are not at all defined.

[by Stefano Baudino]