Building a paradise pitstop for Migratory Ducks
A private hunting area – Azienda faunistico venatoria – in the Po Delta in Italy is currently welcoming hundreds of ducks on their migratory journey, offering water, food and tranquillity, thanks to the conservation and environmental restoration work carried out by hunters in the area.
For more than 20 years, investments at no cost to the community, amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros, have been carrying out the conservation of freshwater areas, and are home to many species even those judged to be in decline, such as the Common Pochard, which recently arrived in this area with around 600 individuals, some of which will stay over the winter and several pairs will spend the breeding season there.
The contribution of hunters to the maintenance of biodiversity is developed throughout the year and the results of monitoring give reason to the world of hunters, the number of species and individuals are increasing or stable in the Po Delta and the Lagoon of Venice, where hunters are key players of the conservation of natural habitats.
POLICY RELEVANCE
The new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which includes a new restoration initiative, calls for more community-based actions led by citizens, businesses, or social partners to protect and restore Europe’s nature. This project demonstrates yet again that hunters are active on the ground and will be an essential player in implanting the strategy throughout Europe in the next 10 years.
