Two virtuous supply chains for managing the meat obtained from the containment of wild boars.

With the end of summer 2023, the activities for the depopulation of wild boar within the Parks of the Cozie Alps are intensifying. The species control program initiated in the Piedmont Region in 2022 after the appearance of African Swine Fever also applies to protected areas according to methods established by the management bodies through a specific numerical control plan. After a reduction of outings during the peak tourist season in August, new technical equipment has been acquired for operations through night selection hunts using infrared viewers and captures using traps both in Val Chisone and Val di Susa.

The novelty is related to the creation of a supply chain specifically developed by the Authority for economically sustainable management of the culled animals, which, instead of being disposed of with added expenses, are transformed into food resources distributed for charitable purposes to the residents of the area. This is a differentiated mechanism for the Chisone and Susa Valleys.

A “compensation” for those who have suffered damage in Val Chisone

In the area of the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park, on the Val Chisone side, the Protected Areas staff works with technicians from the “Albergian” wildlife management company, through a specific agreement, both for the capture of wild boars and in the immediate subsequent phases of slaughter. The animals are indeed delivered to the laboratory of the same company where the meat is stored pending analyses carried out by the ASL to confirm the destination for human consumption of the cuts. The specificity of the agreement provides that the meat declared edible is distributed free of charge to private individuals, farmers, and breeders who have suffered damage from wild boar in the areas of the Parks and the Albergian Company, as a partial form of compensation. This way, waste of food resources – which are particularly valuable, moreover – is avoided, as well as further expenses since no additional economic burdens are foreseen for either the Park Authority or the hunting company.

Support for those in economic difficulty in Val di Susa

In Val di Susa, the containment of wild boars is concentrated in the Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park and the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park, where in summer 2023 a specific supply chain was activated after an initial trial in autumn 2022, allowing the meat from culled wild boars to be designated for non-profit associations present in the area. Compared to Val Chisone, the animals are hunted exclusively by park rangers and delivered to the Rousset Agricultural Company in Oulx for storage pending analyses conducted by the ASL prior to slaughter and destined for human consumption. According to the agreement signed by the Authority, 70% of the meat destined for food use is retained by the agricultural company to cover the costs of pickup, certification, processing, and conservation, while the remaining 30% is vacuum-packed and donated to the diocesan Caritas of Oulx and the Red Cross of Bussoleno to be distributed to the neediest families in the valley and to support the management of the migrant emergency. In this case as well, the use of food resources represented by the culled wild boars occurs without additional costs by the Cozie Alps Parks with the aim of creating an economic impact and contributing to the work done by the associations in the area. The Authority is also available to receive and evaluate further requests from non-profit organizations interested in joining the initiative.