The associations Stazione Ornitologica Abruzzese (SOA), Salviamo l’Orso and LNDC Animal Protection have filed an appeal with the Regional Administrative Court of L’Aquila against the Abruzzo Region’s decision to extend until 2027 the validity of the Regional Wildlife Plan (PFVR), which was set to expire in 2025.
According to the plaintiffs, the extension is unlawful because it was approved without the necessary environmental assessments and without updating wildlife data required by the regulations. In fact, the PFVR, a pivotal tool for wildlife management, has a five-year term and must be renewed based on updated scientific analysis, not simply extended.
Lawyers Michele Pezone and Herbert Simone, who represent the associations, point out that the region has merely stated that there have been no major environmental changes. A position, they argue, belied by several recent studies that point to critical issues for iconic Abruzzo species such as the Marsican brown bear, red kite and golden eagle, which are also threatened by lead contamination linked to hunting activity.
According to Stefano Orlandini, president of Salviamo l’Orso, “the recent expansion of the Marsican brown bear into new areas is a positive sign that deserves attention and targeted measures. Ignoring this aspect in the Wildlife Plan would be a serious mistake, just now that the region has allocated significant funds for the conservation of the species.”
A view shared by LNDC President Piera Rosati, who points the finger at the regional administration’s “lack of environmental vision,” recalling that more than 1,300 hectares of natural land were consumed in Abruzzo between 2020 and 2024. For Augusto De Sanctis of SOA, the extension confirms “yet another gap in environmental monitoring,” which should have covered more than 40 indicators, from wildlife data to lead use.
The outcome of the appeal is now in the hands of the L’Aquila Regional Administrative Court, which will be called upon to decide whether the Plan’s extension can remain in effect or must be annulled for lack of scientific and environmental basis.
Cover photo: Gaetano De Persiis