Hunting: a standoff, with critics opposed and farmers in favour
The PD considers the measure to be flawed in both substance and approach. Farmers, on the other hand, regard it as an essential measure to curb the proliferation of wildlife
Key points
The standoff continues over the draft bill to reform the Hunting Act (Law No. 157 of 1992), which is currently under consideration by the Chamber of Deputies’ Agriculture Committee and has already been approved by the Senate. On the one hand, the opposition parties have tabled over a million amendments to Draft Bill No. 1552. On the other hand, the agricultural sector – which has been particularly hard hit by wildlife – has confirmed its support for the reform bill during hearings before the parliamentary committees.
A million amendments from the opposition
‘We have tabled one million amendments to the hunting bill. One million reasons to oppose the government’s mad scheme, which is not intended to regulate hunting, but to wreak havoc on animals and nature. Because when a law endangers our country’s natural heritage, it is not enough simply to say “NO”. We must do everything possible to stop it.” This was announced in a video posted on the M5S’s social media channels by the Movement’s MPs Sergio Costa, Alessandro Caramiello, Carmen Di Lauro, Ilaria Fontana, Gisella Naturale and Susanna Cherchi, together with representatives from the organisations Alessandro Polinori (LIPU), Dante Caserta (WWF Italia), Annamaria Procacci (ENPA) and Massimo Vitturi (LAV).
The PD says the measure is flawed in both approach and substance
The Democratic Party is on the same wavelength, having tabled only amendments to repeal the reform of the hunting law approved by the Senate, explaining that ‘for us, the measure is beyond amendment; it is flawed both in method and in substance’. ‘Law 157/1992,’ explained the PD members of the Chamber of Deputies’ Agriculture Committee – Antonella Forattini, Stefania Marino, Nadia Romeo, Andrea Rossi and Stefano Vaccari – “was the result of a lengthy dialogue between all stakeholders, a political compromise that successfully balanced the protection of biodiversity, agricultural production and the regulation of hunting. This reform, by contrast, is a unilateral initiative by the majority, imposed by Palazzo Chigi without any consultation.”
A reform that is essential for farmers, however
On the other hand, the farmers’ organisations that were heard by the Agriculture Committee on the draft bill took a different stance. “This must be the parliamentary term that reforms Law 157/92; farmers cannot wait any longer.” This was stated in no uncertain terms by the CIA-Italian Farmers during the hearing in the Chamber of Deputies.
Cia Agricoltori italiani: wildlife is a national emergency
“Wildlife,” the CIA added, “is no longer a marginal issue, but a national emergency that jeopardises agricultural production, business income, public safety and the protection of the countryside. After more than thirty years, the current legislation is no longer capable of responding to the profound changes that have taken place in the agricultural, environmental and wildlife sectors. The reform therefore represents a step that can no longer be postponed, aimed at establishing a truly effective wildlife management system that gives equal weight to environmental needs and productive interests, whilst listening to those who live in and protect the countryside on a daily basis. It is essential to halt the uncontrolled proliferation of ungulates, starting with the more than 2 million wild boars in Italia, which are responsible for around 80 per cent of damage to agriculture and hundreds of road accidents every year.”
