The association Io non ho paura del lupo APS, which has been working for over ten years in Veneto and at a national level to promote coexistence between human activities and large carnivores, has sent a letter to the Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting Policies and Highlands of the Veneto Region, Dario Bond, to highlight the main critical issues in the management of the wolf in the Veneto region.
The return of the wolf to Italy, particularly in the north, is not an emergency but a natural process consolidated at the European level, requiring structured responses based on data, planning, and administrative capacity. However, according to the association, the Veneto Region has not yet established an effective and continuous governance system, facing challenges that appear not only technical but also political.
"After nearly fifteen years of stable wolf presence in Veneto," the association emphasizes, "a fragmented approach, consisting of sporadic interventions and lacking a comprehensive vision, is no longer justifiable. Without a clear strategy, we risk fueling further confusion and conflict."
Among the critical issues highlighted, monitoring stands out in particular: knowledge of the species is the essential technical basis for any credible decision, but currently appears insufficient and fragmented. The recent national report on wolf mortality also highlighted significant gaps in data collection and systematization in the Veneto region.
According to I'm Not Afraid of the Wolf, the abandonment of the "Network Lupo Veneto" is a serious matter. This was a virtuous model of collaboration between institutions, technicians, and volunteers that had produced a significant amount of data and expertise, now lost.
Added to this is the complete lack of an updated public report on the status of wolves in Veneto, unlike other regions such as Lombardy, Trentino, and Alto Adige. "Without data transparency," the association emphasizes, "it becomes difficult to engage in serious and informed dialogue with citizens and stakeholders."
There are also doubts about the effectiveness of the experimental projects funded in recent years, for which no accessible and measurable results have been published. At the same time, management continues to rely on occasional interventions, while complex areas like Lessinia require structured and ongoing actions.
The association also notes a significant lack of institutional communication, which contributes to social tensions and misinformation. "The Region must clarify whether it intends to address the issue by investing in information, prevention, and coexistence, or whether it will continue to neglect its communication efforts."
Among the proposals put forward is the establishment of a permanent regional committee on large carnivores, modeled after what already exists in other Italian regions, involving breeders, technicians, institutions, researchers, and associations.
In the letter, "I'm Not Afraid of the Wolf" also invites the Councilor to visit some livestock farms in Lessinia where coexistence with wolves is already a concrete practice, thanks to the adoption of prevention tools such as electric fences and guard dogs. "These are real experiences that work, but they rarely find space in public debate."
"The wolf is back to stay," the association concludes, "and the real challenge is not to chase the emergency, but to manage the phenomenon with appropriate tools and a long-term vision. The Veneto Region has the responsibility to create the conditions for a viable coexistence, through solid data, transparency, dialogue, and consistent decisions."