May 22: World Biodiversity Day
Italy possesses one of the richest wildlife heritages in Europe: about one third of all European animal species are found in Italy. Wildlife makes an important contribution to biodiversity in terms of richness and complexity. However, although in recent decades Italian wildlife biodiversity has seen the numerical increase and geographic expansion of many vertebrate species, a significant portion still remains under threat.
Italian fauna is estimated at more than 58,000 species, and the total rises to around 60,000 taxa when subspecies are also considered. Of the 672 Italian vertebrate species (576 terrestrial and 96 marine), 6 are extinct in Italy and 161 are threatened with extinction (equal to 28% of the assessed species). Italy’s flora is also highly significant because of its richness in species and subspecies; 20.65% of the 8,241 entities of Italian vascular flora are endemic, meaning exclusive to Italian territory, and among these, 1,128 are also regionally endemic, meaning their distribution is restricted to a single region.
May 22 is World Biodiversity Day, established by the United Nations to celebrate the ecosystems of our planet. This year’s official theme is “Acting locally for global impact”.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the international agreement adopted in December 2022 during COP15, represents the global action plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. It includes four global goals for 2050 (Conservation, Sustainable Use, Equity, and Financing) and 23 operational targets to be achieved by 2030. The core of the agreement is the 30x30 target: by 2030, signatory countries have committed to effectively protecting and conserving at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas, protecting at least 30% of marine and coastal areas, and restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems.
This year’s celebration carries particular significance: we are now in 2026, which means we are exactly halfway between the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework (2022) and the deadline for achieving the targets set for 2030.
Maria Alessandra Gallone, President of ISPRA and SNPA, stated:
“Protecting biodiversity begins above all at the local level, as suggested by this year’s official theme, through concrete actions aimed at regenerating ecosystems. Scientific data show us a fragile balance and reveal a major challenge that can still be addressed, provided we are capable of acting with vision, expertise, and continuity, while safeguarding the natural capital on which our well-being depends.
The key word is: regenerate. Only in this way, through nature-based solutions that will also contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, will it be possible to protect this immense heritage and maintain a high quality of life for everyone.
In this direction, ISPRA and the National System for Environmental Protection are strongly committed to supporting policies, scientific knowledge, and concrete actions for ecosystem recovery, accompanying the path outlined by the European Union and the Green Deal toward the sustainability goals for 2030 and 2050”.
What ISPRA Does: The DigitAP PNRR Project
The Institute carries out a number of activities aimed at biodiversity conservation through continuous collaboration with the scientific community for the production and exchange of reliable, verifiable, and publicly accessible data. It also maintains ongoing dialogue with national and local authorities (regions, autonomous provinces, and parks) in order to better understand specific local contexts and provide the best possible support for decision-makers.
Among these initiatives, within the framework of the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), is the DigitAP Project, led by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Transition, with ISPRA serving as the scientific and technical coordinator.
The project aims to create a biodiversity monitoring network within protected areas and seeks to place digital innovation and technology at the service of nature conservation through targeted actions, training programs, and professional development for technical staff working in Protected Areas, ensuring that these innovations become lasting and firmly rooted within local territories.
One specific initiative, carried out directly by ISPRA, is dedicated to developing indicators for assessing the effects of climate anomalies on natural systems.