Since then, the regional offices have taken charge of the emergency situation, involving the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Bari, Higher Institute for the Protection of Environmental Research. With a reply note, the regional councilor for Agriculture, Agri-food Industry, Agri-food resources Donato Pentassuglia confirms the administration’s concerns by stating that “the monk parrot has colonized part of the province of Bari, in particular starting from the area north of the capital Pugliese, initially involving the municipalities of Molfetta and Terlizzi, and then extending first to the neighboring cities (including Giovinazzo and Bitonto) and, subsequently, to the city of Bari and the inland towns, such as Modugno, Bitritto, Bitetto and those to the south of the Apulian capital such as Torre a Mare, Triggiano, Mola di Bari, Rutigliano and Noicattaro.”.
With prot. note 60807/2023, ISPRA expressed an opinion at the request of the competent regional section, specifying that the species falls within the definition of wild fauna pursuant to art. 2 of LN 157/92 and subsequent amendments. (which specifies that “… the species of mammals and birds of which there are populations living permanently or temporarily in a state of natural freedom in the national territory are part of the wild fauna subject to the protection of this law”).
It should be noted that the same rule, in art. 2 paragraph 2, specifies that, as an “allochthonous species” on the national territory, its management is aimed at eradicating or in any case controlling the populations. With prot. note 172820/2024, this Regional Section invited the ATC of Bari/Bat to plan a census plan to define the actual numerical consistency and the areas of presence of the Black Parakeet species in the province of Bari. These censuses are preparatory for structuring a plan of containment capable of defining, in clear and precise terms, the consistency of the monk parakeet population, its population dynamics, the areas in which it actually exists, the bearing capacity of the territory (if there is a bearing capacity for an alien species) and above all the breeding areas and which therefore allows us to propose a containment plan for the same in which the reduction objectives are declared, which, moreover, must be agreed and approved by ISPRA.
“Finally, it must not be overlooked that any reduction intervention, even if carried out with the aim of protecting biodiversity, could trigger counter-action movements (which are already active) on the part of citizens who are not inclined to understand the motivations behind the action. Therefore , it is important that a correct and constant communication campaign on the omentum is launched which proceeds hand in hand with the scientific and technical activity in the field” concludes the regional councilor Pentassuglia.
