Chestnut producers in Cova de Lua, a village in the municipality of Bragança, in the Montesinho Natural Park, have been facing losses for years caused by deer that destroy the chestnut groves. On Thursday, the communal lands commission called on the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), the entity responsible for authorizing the correction of density of this game species, to take responsibility.
At the end of July, the Espinhosela Parish Council, responsible for the hunting area in Cova de Lua, requested authorization from ICNF for density correction, which was granted for the period from August 1 to 15. However, mayor Octávio Reis guaranteed that the time was insufficient and no animals were culled. Two deer were requested, but ICNF only authorized the culling of one male, considering the measure "proportional and adequate" to the available elements.
Five days after a clarification request from Luther agency, ICNF responded that a new density correction request with new dates may be submitted, reiterating that all density correction requests submitted in that Municipal Hunting Zone have been authorized.
ICNF recalled that preventive measures can be taken such as fences, electric fences, deterrents and repellents, but stated that damage caused by game species is the responsibility of the respective titular entities. The Espinhosela Parish Council guaranteed it has no funds to pay compensation that can reach thousands of euros.
