Hunting in Italy in adverse environmental conditions caused by extremely serious drought could seriously affect bird and mammal conservation
12.9.2012
Question for written answer E-008075/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Andrea Zanoni (ALDE) , Sonia Alfano (ALDE) , Gianni Vattimo (ALDE) , Cristiana Muscardini (PPE) and Niccolò Rinaldi (ALDE)
All regions of Italy have been hit by a very serious drought this summer (Veneto also recorded a drought in winter 2011 and spring 2012). The extreme weather conditions have created a serious water shortage, with wetlands drying up, water levels in lakes and rivers falling and salinity in the rivers owing to an influx of sea water. This has all had a major impact on the environment, farming, wild animals and fish, the drinking water supply, and stock and fish farming. The Italian agricultural associations Coldiretti and Confagricoltura have spoken of ‘empty, cropless’ fields.
The authorities in Veneto and Emilia Romagna have estimated damage in each region at EUR 1 billion. The CFS[1] reported that there were more than 100 fires a day in August, with the record being 159 on 28 August 2012. The situation is very serious and ISPRA[2] has forwarded a circular entitled ‘Limitazioni dell'attività venatoria in relazione alla situazione climatica esistente’[3] [Restrictions on hunting owing to the current climatic situation] to all the regional governments and to the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture. In the circular ISPRA refers to its own guidelines issued following transposition of Directive 2009/147/EC and stresses the need to:
- 1.prohibit the training of hunting dogs,
- 2.cancel the planned 1 September early‑opening date for the hunting season,
- 3.postpone the date for the opening of hunting in general to October[4],
- 4.introduce lower limits on game bagged. ISPRA pointed out that the rain in September cannot correct the lasting damage to fauna, such as lower breeding figures and a shortage of the wild berries and seeds they feed on in the autumn and winter.
Letters have been sent by environmental and animal associations, figures from the scientific and entertainment worlds and members of parliament to the Presidents of the Regional Governments, to hunting, environmental and agricultural advisors, to the Prime Minister, and to the Ministers for the Environment and for Agriculture, but none of these have acted on ISPRA’s requests or moved to enforce Law No L.157/92[5], which provides for hunting to be suspended in the event of adverse weather conditions[6].
In view of the persistent lack of action by the authorities responsible and the subsequent patent infringement of Article 7 of Directive 2009/147/EC, what action will the Commission take in regard to Italy to ensure it complies with said directive so that wild animals and migratory birds may be protected?
- [1] Corpo Forestale dello Stato [State Forestry Corps].
- [2] Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale [Institute for Environmental Protection and Research].
- [3] http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/notizie-ispra/Nota_ISPRA_limiti_attivit_venatoria_per_siccit.pdf
- [4] Hunting in general is scheduled to start on 16 September 2012.
- [5] Law on the protection of wild animals, hunting and the transposition of Directives 2009/147/EC and 92/43/EC.
- [6] Article 19(1) of Law 157/92.
OJ C 308 E, 23/10/2013