Regional Act No. 17 in matter of wildlife protection and hunting programmed management.

This Regional Act has been enacted in order to regulate hunting through rational programming methods and to protect wildlife. The Region and the Provinces shall jointly: (a) promote the protection of the wildlife natural habitats and the protected oasis referred to in articles 14 and 15; (b) coordinate programmes concerning the use of the regional territory. In addition, the Region shall carry out periodically studies and surveys relating to the environment and wildlife.
The Regional Act consists of six Titles. Title I defines the aims hereby pursued and lays down general principles and provisions. Within four months from the entry into force of the Act, the Regional Council shall create protected zones throughout migration routes of bird species, giving priority to the species listed out in Annex 1 to Directives 79/409/EEC, 85/411/EEC and 91/244/EEC. Article 7 of this Act lays down amendments and addenda to Regional Act No. 81 of 2 December 1988 in matter of taxidermy. The Regional Technical Committee for Fauna and Hunting is established under the Regional Agricultural Counsel by article 8. Article 9 regulates the administrative functions in matter of hunting and wildlife protection which are entrusted to the Region and to the Provinces. Title II of the Act regards territorial planning and sets up an institutional system intended for wildlife and environmental improvement. The Regional Council shall draw up the Regional Plan for Fauna and Hunting, in accordance with the content prescribed by article 10. The Region and the Provinces shall provide for the enforcement of the plan by defining the Hunting Territorial Areas (ATC). The regional territory shall be arranged as follows: (a) areas destined to wildlife protection; (b) areas for reserved hunting; (c) areas intended for hunting programmed management. Further plans on hunting shall be drawn up by the Provinces and they shall comprise in particular: (a) protected oasis (art. 14); (b) repopulation and capture zones (art. 15); (c) public and private centres for wildlife reproduction; (d) fauna and hunting enterprises; (e) Hunting Territorial Areas. Moreover, the Provinces shall elaborate special environmental improvement plans as referred to in article 13. Article 18 creates the Regional Observatory for Fauna which shall promote biological studies on wildlife. Article 19 concerns farming for ornamental, nutritional or repopulation purposes, to be classified into the three categories defined by paragraph 1. Title III lays down detailed provisions relating to hunting, taking into particular account the hunting permit as well as hunting gear and methods (including the use of hawks, which is particularly regulated by art. 22). Further provisions in matter of hunting are contained by Title IV: article 34 lists out the wildlife species that may be hunted and related allowed periods; article 41 regards hunting permit fee. Title IV lays down penalties and fully regulates the application procedure.