Italy moves closer to expanding hunting of migratory birds
A controversial reform of Italy’s hunting law could allow shooting in protected areas, reopen pressure on Alpine migration routes and reduce penalties for hunting offences.
Senate approval brings reform closer
Italy has moved closer to expanding hunting opportunities for migratory birds after the Senate approved a controversial reform of the country’s hunting law.
The amendment, backed by the right-wing populist government in Rome, is now expected to pass its final vote in the Chamber of Deputies because of the governing majority. If approved, it would mark a significant shift away from the framework that has shaped Italian hunting regulation since the early 1990s.
The move has prompted strong opposition from conservation groups, with protests also gaining support from prominent public figures including Pope Leo XIV. The Committee Against Bird Slaughter has described the reform as a major rollback of bird protection in Italy.
Protected areas and migration routes at risk
Under the proposed changes, hunting could be permitted in protected areas, while songbirds may once again be shot on some of the most important Alpine passes used by migrating birds.
These mountain passes are critical migration bottlenecks, where large numbers of birds are funnelled through narrow routes as they move between breeding and wintering areas. Shooting at such sites can have a disproportionate effect because birds are concentrated and predictable in their movements.
The reform would also bring additional species under hunting regulations, including Greylag Goose, which has previously been protected. Conservationists have warned that this would widen hunting pressure at a time when many migratory birds are already facing habitat loss, climate pressures and illegal killing along their flyways.
Songbirds remain a central concern
More than six million migratory birds are already shot in Italy each year, including around three million songbirds.
Italy has long been one of the most closely watched countries in Europe for bird protection, particularly because of the scale of hunting and illegal trapping along Mediterranean migration routes. Small migratory birds are especially vulnerable where they pass through mountain corridors, coastal stopover sites and other predictable migration points.
Conservation groups are also concerned that approval of bird trapping with nets has not been entirely ruled out. The possible return or expansion of controversial hunting practices has added to fears that the reform could undo decades of progress in bird protection.
Penalties could be reduced
Another major concern is the proposed reduction in penalties for hunting offences.
Weaker sanctions would make enforcement more difficult and could reduce the deterrent effect of existing law. Bird protection organisations argue that this would send the wrong signal in a country where illegal killing, trapping and the use of prohibited hunting methods remain persistent concerns.
The Italian government appears to be shaping the reform so that it remains within the limits of the EU Birds Directive. That could leave Brussels with limited room to intervene, even if the changes weaken domestic safeguards for migratory birds.
Final vote still to come
The bill must still be approved by the Chamber of Deputies before becoming law, but final approval is widely expected because of the government’s parliamentary majority.
If passed, the reform would represent a major change in Italy’s approach to hunting and migratory bird protection, with implications for birds using routes between northern Europe, the Alps, the Mediterranean and Africa.
June 2026
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