Regional Act No. 70 making provision on wildlife protection and hunting.

The Piemonte Region promotes the knowledge of the natural environment as well as wildlife protection, in compliance with the principles laid down in Act No. 157 of 11 February 1992. To this end, the present Regional Act sets out rules in matter of management and protection of wildlife and environmental resources and, moreover, regulates hunting. The Regional Act consists of eleven Chapters. Chapter I contains general provisions: article 2 contains the list of species particularly protected; article 3 concerns the promotion of research and cultural activities in matter of wildlife to be carried out by schools, Universities, naturalistic museums, managing entities of protected areas, agricultural and hunters' associations, environmentalist organizations; article 4 regulates administrative functions pertaining to the Region and to the Provinces. Chapter II of the Regional Act refers to planning on wildlife protection and hunting. The Regional Council shall draw up and approve the Regional Plan for Fauna and Hunting. Further Plans shall be elaborated by each Province (art. 6). Protected zones shall be created by the Regional Council along birds' migration routes. Further protected zones to be established comprise: protected oasis; repopulation and capture zones; public and private centres for wildlife reproduction. Article 14 regulates the management of the above-mentioned protected areas. Chapter III deals with Territorial Hunting Areas (ATC), which are defined as sub-provincial areas with homogeneous features delimited by natural boundaries (art. 17). The ATC shall be managed by specific management committees. Chapter IV, on the other hand, concerns private structures intended for wildlife hunting and production, including: (a) hunting and wildlife enterprises (art. 20); (b) private centres for wildlife reproduction (art. 21); (c) wildlife farming for nutritional, ornamental and repopulation purposes (arts. 22 and 23). Chapter V concerns, on the other hand, the following administrative structures: (a) Regional Coordinating Committee for Hunting and Wildlife Protection (art. 24); (b) Provincial Advisory Committees for the protection and management of wildlife and to coordinate hunting policies (art. 25); (c) Regional Observatory of Wildlife. Article 28 regards inspection functions. Chapter VI lays down provisions concerning particular activities related to wildlife, such as: widlife species introduction, capture and repopulation (to be planned by the Provinces); capture for scientific purposes; wildlife species import (which is permitted only for repopulation or genetic improvement purposes); taxidermy and embalming (permitted upon previous registration in the register to be kept by enterprises belonging to the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, handicrafts and Agriculture). Chapter VII sets out the conditions under which hunting is permitted, taking into particular account the issuance of the regional hunting permit (art. 35). A special permit is required to hunt in the Alpine Zone, as per art. 41. Chapter VIII contains further hunting conditions: article 44 specifies the species that may be harvested and related hunting periods; article 46 fixes total allowable catch, per day and per year, with regards to particular wildlife species; article 48 describes the hunting gear which may be used. Chapter IX contains further prohibitions, regulates inspection and lays down penalties. Chapter X fixes hunting permit fees.