Regional Act No. 8 in matter of wildlife protection and hunting.

The present Regional Act, consisting of three Titles, regulates the management, the protection and the maintenance of the ecological and fauna balance. The Region undertakes to create the necessary conditions to safeguard particularly the protected species listed out in article 2, paragraph 1 of Act No. 157 of 11 February 1992. To this end the Region shall: (a) promote the maintenance of natural and semi-natural habitats of autochthonous wildlife species; (b) regulate the establishment as well as the management of wildlife protection zones; (c) regulate the establishment and management of Hunting Territorial Areas (ATC) as per Act No. 157 of 1992. The instruments for hunting planning are the following: (a) the Regional Territorial Chart on Fauna; (b) regional directives for provincial planning activities; (c) the Regional Financial Plan; (d) provincial plans on fauna and hunting and related annual intervention programmes. The Provinces shall determine the types of cultivations and farms to be particularly protected and shall subsequently define the areas where hunting is prohibited. Article 19 lists out and defines the different wildlife protection zones: (a) protection oasis; (b) repopulation and capture zones (ZRC); (c) public centres for autochthonous wildlife species reproduction. Article 20 regards fauna management on nature parks and reserves, in which hunting is prohibited, with the exception of contiguous areas (art. 32 of Act No. 394 of 1991). In case of introduction of wildlife species for repopulation purposes, such fauna species shall be subject to veterinary checks in order to certify their wholesomeness. The Provinces shall approve annually a programme regarding the introduction, production and capture of autochthonous species within the above-mentioned repopulation zones and public centres for reproduction (art. 27). Article 29 concerns the protection of nests. Further provisions are related to territorial private structures intended for wildlife production, including: (a) private centres for wildlife reproduction; (b) farming for ornamental, nutritional and repopulation purposes; (c) hunting enterprises. Hunting is allowed only upon the issuance of a regional permit. Article 44-bis fixes the regional hunting permit fee. Surveillance functions are entrusted to the Provinces. Article 61 sets out penalties.