ROME – Military exercises by choppers from the American base of Aviano, along the Piave river in northern Italy, are disturbing the local population and wildlife, local officials say.  Marianella Tormena, the local mayor, wrote a letter to the U.S. military, who only confirmed that there were repeated over-flights, in the provinces of Pordenone and Treviso. 

 “The military exercises on the Grave di Ciano are both political and environmental cases.”

  “Citizens can no longer stand the low flight of helicopters over their homes day and night.”

 “Imagine what it means to live and work surrounded by the deafening noise of military helicopters that also cause vibrations,” said regional councillors Andrea Zanoni and Renzo Masolo, Europa Verde. 

 “Some local administrators have contacted the Aviano U.S.A.F. Military Base asking to stop or limit the exercises. The only response was an admission of the fact, but there was no mention of possible reductions,” they explained.

 The two Europa Verde representatives noted of what high environmental value the area is, given that it was included in the Natura 2000 Network, which aims to protect fauna and flora in accordance with the E.U. Birds and Habitats directives.

  “Wildlife must be protected from interference and strong disturbance as much as with human beings. It is imperative to stop training of this variety.”

 “We are aware of the fact that military agreements between countries are a topic of international relations, however, it is important that the Veneto Region does not remain silent and shows that it cares about the requests of all these citizens and respect for European standards on environmental protection”. 

 The question posed to the Regional Council and Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region was ‘whether the Environmental Impact Assessment (V.I.N.C.A.) procedure was carried out for military exercises with helicopters and what measures have been adopted or are intended to be adopted to protect residents and wild fauna”. 

 There are photos that demonstrate a constant presence of the helicopters and a mass movement of birds away from the area. 

 Rachele Scarpa, Democratic Party representative of Treviso, brought up the matter in parliament.

 “The constant low-altitude flights of US military helicopters are creating a serious inconvenience to citizens and risk compromising an area of ​​great environmental value.”

 “After the interpellation presented in the city council by Lucia Poloniato, I decided to bring the issue to the attention of the government myself, in which I addressed both the ministers of Defence and the Environment”.

og