Hunting for wildlife conservation in the river Po Delta

Hunting, particularly duck hunting, represents a relevant activity in the Po river delta, due to the abundance of wetlands and the hunters’ demand. If not strictly regulated, hunting is a serious harm for wildlife and ecosystems. Hunting in Po river Delta Park is restricted to limited zones, regulated by specific rules and managed with the sold of a number of hunting permits (i.e. authorization card for a given time lapse).
The Park reinvests the cash incomes deriving by the sold of hunting permits in measures aimed at conserving and managing the ecosystems. Such measures also improve the fruition of the environment by hunters (i.e. the cleaning of the pathways, the maintenance of signs, surveillance activity, etc.). This represents an implicit Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme, aimed at regulating and controlling hunting while conserving wildlife and habitats and improving accessibility to natural areas.
The Park obtained the double advantage to avoid negative consequences of non-controlled hunting and improve accessibility to natural areas (e.g. woodlands) by users (e.g. tourists). Hunters benefit from the abundance of wildlife (e.g. ducks), guaranteed by a proper management of natural resources. Moreover, other users, such as birdwatchers and tourists, can have more easy access to natural areas