Tuscany, the protest of the associations against the new hunting policies of the Region

A group of Tuscan citizens has launched a campaign to raise awareness among public opinion and institutions regarding the recent changes to the hunting legislation of the Tuscany Region.In an email addressed to the Regional Council and Coldiretti Toscana, and forwarded to the editorial staff of The Independent, the promoters they expressed concerns about wildlife management, in particular due to the measures recently adopted by the administration against wild boars and other species, endorsed and promoted by the main organization of agricultural entrepreneurs.The fulcrum of the protest is the perception of an "anachronistic" and "retrograde" approach towards local fauna, fueled by recent changes to the legislation promoted by members of the Northern League and immediately implemented by the Regional Council, of opposite political color.In fact, they extend the hunting period for wild boars, introducing practices such as attractive foraging and the use of night vision goggles.A form of hunting which, the promoters point out, until recently «could be depicted as “poaching”».

The recent decisions, among which the exceptions stand out expected from the 2024-2025 Hunting Calendar, have raised criticism above all for their impact on biodiversity and the safety of citizens.«Let's forget about the categories “bad right” and “good left”», wrote the promoters, pointing the finger at «the “red” (bloody) council led by vice-president Saccardi», which «is carrying out a real policy of massacre towards ungulates", authorizing "pre-openings and exceptions always to the detriment of the animals».According to the writers, in fact, the current Regional Council, led by vice-president Stefania Saccardi, has adopted a line that favors agricultural interests to the detriment of the ecosystem.The promoters of the initiative attack a council which, according to them, «participates in the decision-making tables carried out almost under the dictation of Coldiretti Toscana, which has given rise to real "hate campaigns" towards native fauna», as demonstrated the fact that «wild boars are criminalized in an absurd way and they are facing extermination».The residents themselves, according to the signatories, risk their safety as hunting is also extended into night hours, creating potentially dangerous situations for those who live or own land in wooded areas.

Asking about consider alternatives to indiscriminate hunting, which go beyond agricultural interests and respect the principles of wildlife protection established by law, in the email the promoters ask two fundamental questions to president Saccardi and to the managers Scalacci and Ferretti:«Whoever protects the opinions and interests of all other citizens who are neither registered with Coldiretti nor registered with Federcaccia, since the decisions of its hunting calendars (and all the enormous consequences that they imply for citizenship and the ecosystem) follow negotiations that take place between exclusive category parties?What measures have been taken for the safety of those who, owning private land and forests, paying the due charges and having the right to go there as and when they want, he risks his own safety now even at night?".Citizens therefore require "a clear position from the Regional Council given its public role of institutional representation which is based on respect for the Constitution itself as a superordinate source".

The protest is not limited to the defense of wild boars alone.In fact, we also highlight the risk of downgrading the wolf, a protected species in Italy, which could become the subject of extraordinary culls to reduce its population, as requested by some agricultural associations.Coldiretti Toscana has in fact expressed explicit support for the opening of wolf hunts, arousing indignation among environmentalists.Activists argue that such a policy is in clear contradiction to the recent one edit of article 9 of the Italian Constitution, which requires the protection of the environment and biodiversity.The awareness campaign invites citizens to exert collective pressure to review the Region's environmental policies.

[by Stefano Baudino]