"Per una gestione professionale della fauna selvatica" / "For professional wildlife protection"

Constitutional initiative / Legislative initiative in the form of the elaborated draft

Based on Article 37 of the Constitution of the Republic and Canton of Ticino of 14 December 1997 and on the Law on the Exercise of Political Rights

Submitted by the Initiative Committee [Date of submission]

Note: The Canton of Ticino is Italian-speaking. For submission, the initiative text must be in Italian. The German version provided here serves for overview and strategic planning purposes.

Initiative text

The undersigned persons, who are eligible to vote in the Canton of Ticino, submit the following legislative initiative:

The Constitution of the Republic and Canton of Ticino of 14 December 1997 is supplemented by the following articles:

Art. [new] Professional Wildlife Protection

1. Hunting by private individuals (licensed hunting, hobby hunting) is prohibited throughout the entire territory of the Canton of Ticino.

2 The protection, care and, where necessary, regulation of wild animals are the sole responsibility of professionally trained wildlife managers employed by the canton.

3. The shooting of wild animals is only permitted as a last resort, when all other suitable measures for damage prevention or hazard control have been exhausted or are insufficient. It requires the prior authorization of the Wildlife Commission.

4. The canton shall establish an independent wildlife commission composed of representatives from animal and nature conservation organizations, the scientific community, and the relevant authorities. The commission shall oversee wildlife management and decide on regulatory measures.

5 The canton promotes the natural regulation of wildlife populations, the networking of habitats and the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

6. Further details are regulated by law.

Art. [new] Protection of threatened and protected wildlife species

1 The canton waives requests for preventive population control of protected wild animal species under the Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds, in particular wolf, lynx, bear, beaver, otter, golden jackal, golden eagle, goosander and other species protected under federal law.

2 He focuses on promoting the coexistence of humans and wild animals, passive damage prevention, the ecological enhancement of habitats and the scientific monitoring of wildlife presence.

Three measures against individual wild animals that pose an immediate and significant threat to humans remain reserved. These measures are to be kept to a minimum and carried out by the responsible cantonal authority.

4 The canton actively promotes the protection and conservation of threatened wildlife species within the framework of intercantonal cooperation and towards the federal government.

Transitional provision

1 The Consiglio di Stato shall issue the necessary implementing regulations within two years of the adoption of this constitutional amendment.

2. Existing hunting licenses expire upon the entry into force of the implementing regulations. License fees already paid for the current hunting season will be refunded proportionally.

3 The Consiglio di Stato ensures the continuity of wildlife management during the transition phase.

Explanations

1. Initial situation

In the canton of Ticino, Switzerland's only Italian-speaking canton with approximately 350,000 inhabitants spread across 2,812 km², recreational hunting is a system that serves neither species conservation nor modern wildlife management. It is the pursuit of a bloody leisure activity at the expense of sentient beings, legitimized by outdated narratives that do not stand up to scientific scrutiny. The claim that the ecological balance would collapse without recreational hunting has been empirically refuted for over 50 years by the Geneva model (see the comprehensive dossier on the Geneva hunting ban at wildbeimwild.com ).

In Ticino, recreational hunting is organized as a licensed hunting system. Private individuals obtain a cantonal license and hunt without fixed responsibility for a specific hunting area (see the psychology of recreational hunting in the canton of Ticino and the critical analysis of hunting training on wildbeimwild.com ).

At the same time, more and more protected wildlife species are coming under pressure at the federal level. The wolf is present in Ticino and is migrating across the Italian border. The lynx is native to the canton. The bear crosses Ticino on its way from Italy to Central Switzerland. The golden eagle breeds in the Ticino Alps. Since February 2025, beavers may be shot upon request from the canton. Due to its southern location and proximity to Italy, Ticino is a key canton for the return of predators to Switzerland (see the analysis of hunting policy and wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com ).

The canton of Ticino has the opportunity to send a clear message here: not only in favor of professional wildlife conservation instead of recreational hunting, but also for the consistent protection of endangered wildlife species at the cantonal level. As the only Italian-speaking canton, this message would carry particular cultural significance.

2. The model: Canton of Geneva

On May 19, 1974, around two-thirds of voters in the canton of Geneva voted to abolish militia-based recreational hunting. Before the ban, large game had been practically eradicated in the canton.

The experiences since the ban on recreational hunting are clear:

Biodiversity has increased significantly. The number of overwintering waterfowl has multiplied from a few hundred to around 30,000. Geneva is now home to the largest population of brown hares and one of the last remaining populations of grey partridges in Switzerland.

– The deer population has stabilized at a healthy level, with an annual special cull by professional game wardens of only 20 to 36 animals.

– In 2005, 90 percent of Geneva's voters supported maintaining the ban on recreational hunting. A motion to reinstate it was defeated in 2009 by a vote of 70 to 7.

– The total costs amount to approximately 1.2 million Swiss francs annually: around 600,000 francs for personnel, 250,000 francs for prevention, and 350,000 francs for compensation for damages. This corresponds to approximately 2.40 francs per inhabitant per year.

Geneva's wildlife inspector, Gottlieb Dandliker, describes the ban on recreational hunting as the most financially advantageous alternative. A detailed explanation can be found in the dossier "Geneva and the Hunting Ban" on wildbeimwild.com .

The efficiency of the Geneva model is evident in a direct comparison: A professional game warden in Geneva needs an average of 8 hours and a maximum of 2 cartridges for the sanitary culling of a wild boar. A recreational hunter in the canton of Zurich needs 60 to 80 hours and up to 15 cartridges for the same task. The brown hare density in Geneva is 17.7 animals per 100 hectares (the highest in Switzerland), while in the canton of Zurich it is only 1.0 per 100 hectares (see fact check by the Zurich cantonal government ).

3. The concept: Professional gamekeeping instead of hobby hunting

The initiative does not replace recreational hunting with a vacuum, but rather with professional wildlife management based on the game warden model. This model is based on the following principles:

Expertise instead of leisure. Professional wildlife managers operate on a scientific basis (see the critical analysis of hunting training on wildbeimwild.com ).

The principle of ultima ratio applies. Shooting down an aircraft is only permissible if all non-lethal measures have been exhausted.

Democratic oversight through a wildlife commission. This independent commission prevents political pressure from weakening wildlife management.

Natural self-regulation as a guiding principle. Experience from Geneva, national parks , and numerous scientific studies proves that wildlife populations regulate themselves in most cases.

4. Why Ticino?

The canton of Ticino is suitable for the introduction of professional wildlife protection for several reasons:

Gateway to southern Switzerland and Italy. Ticino is the key canton for the return of predators to Switzerland. Wolves migrate across the Italian border. Bears cross the canton on their way from the Italian Alps to central Switzerland. Professional wildlife management in Ticino would secure a cross-border corridor (see wildbeimwild.com for information on predators ).

Wolf policy. The wolf is present in Ticino. The initiative offers a constitutionally sound solution: professional wildlife management instead of politically motivated culls (see the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com ).

A bear in transit. Ticino is the most important transit corridor for bears between the Italian and Swiss Alps. Professional wildlife management protects the bear during its return.

A unique Insubrian climate. Thanks to its Insubrian climate, Ticino boasts a unique flora and fauna, distinct from the rest of Switzerland. Chestnut forests, Mediterranean vegetation, and high alpine mountains converge here. Professional wildlife management would provide more consistent protection for these unique habitats.

Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano. These two large lakes are waterfowl habitats of regional importance. The experience in Geneva shows what happens when recreational hunting of waterfowl ceases.

7,000 signatures. With 350,000 inhabitants, 7,000 signatures represent 2 percent of the population. Collecting signatures efficiently is possible in Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno, Mendrisio, and Chiasso (see wildbeimwild.com for information on wild animals in populated areas ).

Patent hunting = simple system change. No lease agreements, no municipal compensation.

Tourism canton. Lugano, Locarno, Ascona: Ticino is an important tourism canton. Professional wildlife protection is an argument for sustainable tourism.

5. Regarding the initiative text

Paragraph 1 – Prohibition of recreational hunting

The prohibition of private hunting rights corresponds to the Geneva model. The cantonal authority is undisputed: Art. 3 para. 1 JSG. The three hunting systems are equivalent. Geneva has been in accordance with federal law since 1974.

Paragraph 2 – Professional Wildlife Management

Instead of amateur hunters, professionally trained wildlife managers employed by the cantonal government handle all tasks. This system has proven successful in Geneva for over 50 years.

Paragraph 3 – Shooting as a last resort

Shooting down an animal is the exception, not the rule. Passive measures take precedence.

Paragraph 4 – Wildlife Commission

The independent wildlife commission is modeled on the Geneva system. It prevents the Consiglio di Stato from independently granting exceptions (see wildbeimwild.com/jagd-fakten ).

Paragraph 5 – Natural regulation and coexistence

In Ticino, the promotion of coexistence includes in particular securing the cross-border wildlife corridors to Italy, the ecological enhancement of the chestnut forests and the Insubrian habitats, and educating the population (see wildbeimwild.com on wild animals in settlement areas ).

Transitional provisions

The two-year deadline gives the Consiglio di Stato sufficient time. The existing Ufficio della caccia e della pesca can serve as an institutional basis.

6. Regarding the second article: Protection of threatened and protected wildlife species

The second article is particularly relevant for Ticino. The wolf is migrating across the Italian border. The bear is crossing the canton. The lynx is native. The golden eagle breeds in the Ticino Alps. The use of the word "in particular" also protects future returnees, especially the bear and the otter (see the wolf policy on wildbeimwild.com ).

7. Cost implications: Specific budget for Ticino

The Geneva reference budget

In Geneva, which at 282 km² is about ten times smaller than Ticino and has around 500,000 inhabitants, the total costs amount to around 1.2 million Swiss francs annually.

Conservative forecast for Ticino

For Ticino, with an area of 2,812 km² and approximately 350,000 inhabitants, the following deliberately conservative cost estimate is calculated. This estimate is generous and takes into account the alpine topography, the presence of large predators, and the establishment of livestock protection measures:

Personnel costs: CHF 1,080,000 to 1,820,000 annually. Nine to thirteen full-time positions are required. Ticino is ten times larger than Geneva and topographically diverse: the Alps in the north (Leventina, Blenio, Maggia), the Pre-Alps, and the lake basins of Lugano and Locarno. The wolf has been documented in Ticino, and the bear is returning to Switzerland via Ticino (bear M29 in Misox in 2019). Red deer migration management is also required.

Material costs: 250,000 to 400,000 Swiss francs annually. Alpine equipment, off-road vehicles, monitoring infrastructure, livestock protection equipment, and public relations in Italian.

Compensation for damages: 150,000 to 300,000 Swiss francs annually. Primarily for wolf attacks, browsing damage in protected forests, and any bear damage. The higher estimate takes into account the increasing presence of large predators.

Livestock protection start-up investment: 500,000 to 900,000 Swiss francs. In the first three to five years after the system change, a one-time start-up investment in livestock protection infrastructure is needed for the Ticino Alps (Leventina, Blenio, Maggia): livestock guardian dog programs, mobile fences, night enclosures, and training of shepherds. This investment is not recurring and will be amortized over three to five years.

Total costs: CHF 1,480,000 to 2,520,000 annually (gross). This corresponds to approximately CHF 4.25 to 7.20 per inhabitant per year.

Red deer transition management

Red deer populations in Ticino are substantial and are not sustainably regulated by recreational hunting. Compensatory reproduction – the artificially increased reproduction rate due to hunting pressure – prevents a sustainable reduction. Scientific literature clearly documents this effect. Following the system change, targeted transition management is needed during the first three to five years, which is factored into the higher staffing figures (see studies on wildbeimwild.com ).

Savings and offsetting costs

This is offset by considerable savings: no hunting exams, no license administration, no culling plans, no game wardens. A single wolf needlessly killed costs the public around 35,000 Swiss francs (helicopter deployments, coordination, legal proceedings). The costs for wolf and bear culls are completely eliminated.

Lost revenue

With the abolition of recreational hunting, the estimated 1 to 1.5 million Swiss francs in annual license fees will be eliminated. However, this is offset by the never-accounted-for external costs of volunteer hunting – wildlife collisions, hunting-related browsing damage in protected forests, administrative expenses, police and court interventions – which amount to many times these revenues. In the Canton of Geneva, these revenues have been absent since 1974 – without any financial problems: Before the hunting ban, over 400 recreational hunters were active; today, three full-time positions do the same work more effectively. Sanitary and therapeutic culling by professional game wardens is not the same as regulated hunting based on hunters' tall tales or the misguided "experience of nature" of recreational hunters. A full cost analysis shows that volunteer hunting costs taxpayers significantly more than it generates (see "What recreational hunting really costs Switzerland" on wildbeimwild.com ).

Hobby hunters in politics vote against nature conservation. The hobby hunting lobby systematically opposes biodiversity and species protection efforts. In 2024, they opposed the biodiversity initiative (63 percent voted against). In 2020, the hunting law they helped draft failed at the ballot box (51.9 percent voted against). In 2016, the Ticino Hunting Association thwarted the Parc Adula National Park. During the 2015-2019 legislative period, hobby hunters in parliament predominantly voted against environmental issues . Anyone claiming that hobby hunters are conservationists ignores their voting record (see Ticino Hunting Association: 30 Years of Nonsense and Cost Dossier ).

The net additional costs are expected to be between 900,000 and 1,700,000 Swiss francs annually , which corresponds to approximately 2.55 to 4.85 francs per inhabitant . Even generously calculated, this is less than the price of a coffee per person per year. For a canton with a total budget of around 4.5 billion francs (2024 cantonal accounts, Federal Finance Administration), this represents less than 0.05 percent (see the fact check on hunting myths at wildbeimwild.com ).

8. Compatibility with higher-ranking law

First article: Abolition of recreational hunting

Compliant with federal law. Art. 3 para. 1 JSG. Three equivalent hunting systems. Geneva has been unchallenged since 1974.

Second article: Protection of protected species

Article 7a of the Youth Welfare Act (JSG) permits preventive regulation but does not mandate it. Waiving this right does not violate either federal law or the Berne Convention.

Unity of matter

This is ensured, as all regulations relate to cantonal wildlife management and the protection of wild animals.

9. Anticipating foreseeable objections

"Ticino is ten times larger than Geneva and alpine – the system doesn't work here."

The facts: Settlement is concentrated in the Sottoceneri (Lugano, Mendrisio) and the Sopraceneri (Bellinzona, Locarno). The side valleys and the high mountains are sparsely populated with fewer conflict zones. The basins of Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano are similar to the Lake Geneva basin. Per capita costs are comparable to those in Geneva (cf. the psychology of recreational hunting in the Canton of Ticino ).

A concise communicative formula: "Le rive dei laghi sono come Ginevra. E nelle valli laterali ci sono meno conflitti, non di più." / "The lakeshores are like Geneva. In the side valleys there are fewer conflicts, not more."

"The wolf and the bear must be regulated."

The facts: The wolf regulates the population. Recreational hunting is disruptive. Geneva has proven this for 50 years. The bear is a rare transient, not a "problem". Professional wildlife management scientifically monitors the bear population instead of shooting it.

A concise communicative formula: "Il lupo regola. La caccia di svago disturba. Ginevra lo dimostra da 50 anni." / "The wolf regulates. Hobby hunting disturbs. Geneva has proven it for 50 years."

"The costs are too high."

The facts: 2.55 to 4.85 francs per inhabitant per year. In line with Geneva's level. Geneva has been doing it for 50 years, and 90 percent want to keep it.

A concise communicative formula: «Circa 3–5 franchi per abitante all'anno. Meno di un caffè.» / «Rund 3 bis 5 Franken per inhabitant per year. Less than a coffee.»

10. Summary

This initiative gives the people of Ticino the opportunity to express their support for modern, evidence-based wildlife management and comprehensive protection of endangered wildlife species. The first article follows the Geneva model, which has proven successful for over 50 years. The second article specifically protects the wolf, the bear in the transition corridor, the lynx, and the golden eagle. As the only Italian-speaking canton and gateway to southern Switzerland, success in Ticino would have particular cultural and strategic significance.

Initiative Committee «Per una gestione professionale della fauna selvatica» / «For professional wildlife protection»

[Name 1], [Name 2], [Name 3]…

(Committee members according to cantonal law, residing in the canton of Ticino)

Contact address: [Address of the committee]

Appendix: Further documentation

The Geneva model in detail: wildbeimwild.com/genf-jagdverbot

Scientific studies: wildbeimwild.com/studies

Hunting in Switzerland: wildbeimwild.com/jagd-in-der-schweiz

Psychology of recreational hunting in the canton of Ticino: wildbeimwild.com – Psychology of recreational hunting in the canton of TI

Psychology of recreational hunting: wildbeimwild.com/category/psychologie-jagd

Wolf dossier: wildbeimwild.com/category/wolf

Predators: wildbeimwild.com/category/raubtiere

National parks and protected areas: wildbeimwild.com/category/nationalpark

Wild animals in residential areas: wildbeimwild.com/category/wildtiere-im-siedlungsgebiet

Hunting myths: wildbeimwild.com/dossiers/jagdmythen

Basel-Stadt cantonal popular initiative: Sample text of the initiative in the canton of Basel-Stadt

Note on the procedure

The initiative committee submits the initiative text in Italian to the Ticino Cantonal Chancellery for preliminary review before the signature collection begins. 7,000 valid signatures are required for the initiative to be successful. The submission procedures are governed by the Law on the Exercise of Political Rights.

Strategic briefing for activists

Popular initiative «Per una gestione professionale della fauna selvatica» – Canton of Ticino Internal working document – Status March 2026

Summary

Ticino is the only Italian-speaking canton in Switzerland and the gateway for the return of predators from Italy. Wolves and bears are migrating across the border. 7,000 signatures from a population of 350,000 are achievable. The per capita costs are comparable to those in Geneva. Key messages in Italian: "The wolf rules. Hunting is a nuisance. Geneva has been demonstrating it for 50 years."

1. Why Ticino in particular?

Gateway to southern Switzerland. Key canton for the return of wolves and bears from Italy.

The only Italian-speaking canton. A unique cultural status.

Insubrian climate. Unique fauna and flora.

7,000 signatures. 2 percent. Doable.

Patent hunting = simple system change. No lease agreements.

2. Opponent analysis and prepared answers

Counterargument 1: "Ticino is too big"

A concise communicative formula: "The lakeshores are like Geneva. There are fewer conflicts in the side valleys."

Counterargument 2: "The wolf and the bear must be regulated"

Communicative short formula: «Il lupo regola. The caccia di svago disturba."

Counterargument 3: "The costs are too high"

Communicative short formula: “Approximately 3–5 franchi per abitante all'anno. Meno di un caffè.”

3. Communication strategy: The three core messages

«Ginevra lo fa da 50 anni.» / «Geneva has been doing it for 50 years.»

“Professionals invece che hobby.” / “Professional instead of hobby.”

"Approximately 3–5 francs per person per year. Less than a coffee." / "Around 3–5 francs per person per year. Less than a coffee."

4. Timetable and next steps

5. Campaign material

• The Geneva dossier on wildbeimwild.com serves as the central argument.
• The psychology of hobby hunting in the canton of Ticino as background material.
• Local media: Corriere del Ticino, la Regione, RSI (Radiotelevisione svizzera), Ticinonews.
• Infographic: Cross-border corridor Italy–Ticino–Central Switzerland. Lake Maggiore/Lugano. Bear transit. Cost comparison TI vs. GE.
• All campaign material is in Italian.

6. Further Sources

• Geneva hunting ban in detail
• Scientific studies
• Hunting in Switzerland
• Psychology of recreational hunting in the canton of Ticino
• Hunting myths fact check
• Wolf policy
• predators
• Federal Hunting Statistics (BAFU)
• Cantonal popular initiative Basel-Stadt

This document is a sample text from the IG Wild beim Wild (Interest Group for Wildlife). It can be freely used by activists, organizations, or initiative committees and adapted to the conditions in the canton of Ticino.

Fact check: The claims of the hobby hunting lobby

The brochure "Hunting in Switzerland Protects and Benefits" by JagdSchweiz reads like an advertising leaflet – but its central claims don't stand up to a fact check. Ten narratives put to the test, from "a state responsibility" and "biodiversity" to "80% approval": Dossier: Fact check JagdSchweiz brochure →