The provincial councillor in charge of forests and large carnivores, Roberto Failoni, expresses his satisfaction for the favourable opinion expressed today by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate Agriculture Commission regarding the proposal to amend the Habitats Directive, downgrading the wolf from a "strictly protected species" to a "protected species". A step that will allow member states to manage wolf populations more flexibly, meeting the need for safety and protection of social and economic activities in mountain territories. The Autonomous Province of Trento - the only territory on a national level, together with Alto Adige - had, moreover, intervened with Councillor Failoni in a hearing at the XIV Commission 'European Union Policies' of the Chamber of Deputies, as part of the examination of this proposal. At that hearing, the representative of the Council had spoken out on behalf of the territories, highlighting the need for more flexible regulatory instruments suited to the specific nature of Trentino. "The safety of people, the safeguarding of agriculture, zootechny and tourism are absolute priorities for our territory,' Failoni declared. 'We have been working for some time to find a solution that protects economic activities and prevents the depopulation of our mountain areas, while favouring coexistence with wildlife. With the long-awaited new classification, it will also be possible to intervene through instruments that are not accessible today, such as direct control of the population or, if envisaged, inclusion among huntable species. The proposal to amend the Habitats Directive is therefore an important step in the right direction: the hope is that the final vote by the European Parliament, scheduled for Thursday 8 May, will also confirm this line".
Publication date: 06/05/2025
