Protected birds at risk in Lombardy and Liguria. Animal rights activists are alarmed.

The Liguria and Lombardy regions have approved resolutions authorizing the hunting of a disproportionate number of birds belonging to protected species: 25,984 finches and 11,058 starlings in Liguria (provided for by Regional Council Resolution no. 335 of 10/7/2025), and 97,637 finches and 41,552 starlings in Lombardy (Regional Council Resolution no. 4714 of 14/7/2025).

Faced with these decisions, Italian environmental and animal rights associations, including Cabs, Enpa, Lac, Lav, Legambiente, Lipu, Lndc Animal Protection and WWF, have formally asked the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Pichetto Fratin, to intervene immediately to stop the regional resolutions , which are based on unfounded and illegitimate motivations, the result only of a clear political will to favor particular interests and dictated by purely electoral logic, with the aim of offering hunters further opportunities to shoot and "have fun" at the expense of small migratory birds and in open violation of European laws and directives .

"We are faced with two measures justified on grounds devoid of any legal or scientific basis ," the associations state. "In both cases, hunting 'traditions' are invoked, a justification already rejected by the European Court of Justice, see case C-900/19."

And they continue: "Equally specious and ridiculous is the claim that hunting can lead to 'environmental improvements' or counteract the depopulation of inland areas. These are arguments contradicted by the facts and devoid of any logic."

Claiming that mowing the grass around a fixed hunting post is an "environmental improvement" project and can even help "combat erosion and hydrogeological instability" is pure fantasy. The Liguria Region even goes so far as to claim that hunting under exemptions can counteract the depopulation of inland areas: another laughable claim, based on the vague assumption that hunters "will frequent bars and restaurants."

The associations add: "On the contrary, quality tourism, based on hikers and nature lovers, is discouraged by the massive presence of hunting posts, as numerous sector studies demonstrate." Even more paradoxical is that the Lombardy Region, in attempting to justify its exemption, cites the European Court of Justice ruling in the Finland case (C-334/03). However, that case concerned an exemption on hunting periods, not on huntable species, and furthermore, led to Finland's conviction for failing to comply with the Birds Directive; a further sign of the weakness of the regional arguments.

"Italy has already been condemned by the European Court of Justice precisely for its handling of derogations. For all these reasons," the associations conclude, " we ask Minister Pichetto Fratin to intervene promptly to prevent irreparable damage to wildlife and to avert European sanctions ."

Top photo by Sandi Mager on Unsplash

Tags:
• environment
• animal welfare