Editorial

Real progress at last.  

The Italian Hunting Law has long been seen as far from perfect, but it is a lot better than it would have been had it not been for the advice and pressure of LIPU and other NGOs in Italy.

One of its obvious weaknesses has been the ease with which the Regions have been able to “opt out” of the sections they don’t like – the process of derogation. Despite rulings that this is illegal it has been going on for many years, and has been used by many regions to add birds to the list of those which may be legally hunted.

Birds such as Chaffinch and Brambling have been added to the list and shot – not for food, for one can hardly make a meal of a Chaffinch, but simply for “fun” – because the little bird makes a convenient moving target.

Law 157 of 1992 has, at last, been amended and all the lobbying, petition signatures and judgements of the European Court have produced a change for the better, let us all hope that the adherence to the new law will be permanent.

There could hardly be a better seasonal present to the birds of Italy – well done to all who had a part in bringing about this change.

Contents

• Reserve anniversaries
• Hunting law changed for the better
• Egyptian Vulture success
• Montagu’s Harrier

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