Events and News

Presentation of the Europe's Environment 2025 Report, the State of the Environment Report, and the SNPA Environment Report

On October 28, 2025, in the Sala della Regina of Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome, a national event will be held to jointly present three major reports on the state of the environment: Europe's Environment 2025 (European Environment Agency), State of the Environment in Italy 2025: Indicators and Analysis (ISPRA), and the SNPA Environment Report 2025 (National System for Environmental Protection).

The event will offer an integrated and up-to-date overview of key environmental dynamics, from the European, national, regional, and autonomous provinces perspectives.

The three reports present data, indicators, and analyses that enable us to understand current trends, identify emerging critical issues, and understand the responses adopted in different contexts.

These are essential tools for providing the scientific community, institutions, and citizens with reliable and comparable information capable of guiding future decisions towards sustainability. Not just a snapshot of the state of the environment, but also a thoughtful reflection and a solid basis for discussion on the priority challenges to be addressed.

Three complementary perspectives will offer a coherent and authoritative vision of the state of the environment in 2025.

Press release (ita)

Environment report in Europe 2025

The state of environment in Italy 2025

Environmental indicator data base ISPRA 

Program

GEO-7 SPM Review and Approval Meeting

From October 27 to 31, 2025, the international meeting for the review and approval of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), the main environmental assessment report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), will be held at United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The meeting will be attended by government representatives, UNEP-accredited observers, and the group of experts and scientists who contributed to the report.

Earth Jubilee: Towards a New Sustainable Humanism

Under the prestigious recognition of the Medal of the President of the Republic, the conference “Earth Jubilee: Towards a New Sustainable Humanism” will be held on 23 October in the Chamber of Parliamentary Groups. Participants will include the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Hon. Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, and H. E. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture and founder of the “Courtyard of the Gentiles”.

Another year of commitment for Bonelli's Eagle: the first year of the Life Abilas project.

The first year of the Life Abilas project concluded in October 2025. Its goal is to reestablish a stable population of Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata) in Sardinia, where they had become extinct in the 1990s. Thanks to the joint efforts of ISPRA, Forestas, e-distribuzione, the Sardinia Region Environment Department, and GREFA, with the support of the CFVA and the SoS Abbjlarios association, the release of Bonelli's eagles, begun in 2018 as part of another Life Aquila a-Life project, has continued. At the same time, other concrete conservation activities have been launched, such as wild rabbit breeding to support local wild populations, the census of water bodies that pose a threat to the Bonelli's eagle and other species, the identification of power lines to be secured in key areas for the species, and much more.

Lead, a poison without borders

International conference on the effects of lead in hunting ammunition on wild birds, the environment, and human health
The event is organized by the Association for Ornithological Studies and Ecological Research of Friuli Venezia Giulia (APS) - in collaboration with the Italian Center for Ornithological Studies, the Vulture Conservation Foundation, the Julian Prealps Natural Park, and the Cornino Lake Nature Reserve.

SEAGHOSTS: The European project uncovering the secret lives of storm petrels is underway

From the Mediterranean Sea to the Northeast Atlantic, an international consortium including ISPRA will study the smallest and most elusive seabirds to protect them from new threats from the sea.

Understanding how animals move in nature and the environments they frequent is key to safeguarding biodiversity. This understanding is the basis for SEAGHOSTS "Winged ghosts wandering the oceans" a project funded by the European Commission that, between 2024 and 2027, will investigate the spatial and trophic ecology of storm petrels (Hydrobatidae and Oceanitidae families), the smallest and most elusive seabird species.

World Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Congress will take place in Abu Dhabi from October 9 to 15. It will be a packed event with events and initiatives: 500 working sessions, 70 interactive exhibitions, over 1,400 IUCN members, and delegations from 140 countries. The conference has three main objectives: to facilitate discussion and collaboration on actionable solutions; to support the achievement of the Global Biodiversity Framework targets and continue conservation efforts towards 2030; and to mobilize key networks and partnerships to promote sustainable change for nature and humanity.

World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day, proclaimed by the United Nations in 1985, was created to raise awareness of the importance of addressing the challenges of global urbanization. Every year, on the first Monday of October, it is celebrated worldwide, emphasizing everyone's right to adequate housing.

The theme of World Habitat Day 2025 is "Urban Crisis Response." It focuses on the multiple crises affecting urban areas, with a particular focus on climate change and conflicts that exacerbate social inequalities.

The United Nations estimates that by 2050, 2.5 billion new urban residents will arrive in cities, significantly increasing the pressure on resources and infrastructure. Today, over a billion people live in precarious conditions, including slums and inadequate housing. It is essential to review urban planning policies to respond to these challenges, with concrete solutions to improve the quality of life in urban areas (Source: UN Habitat).

The event calls for the development of innovative responses and integrated approaches to effectively address urban crises. Cities are experiencing an increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, which pose a threat to public health and safety. Urban heat islands, where temperatures are significantly higher than in surrounding rural areas, are an example of the threats posed by climate change.

Discovering the residual vegetation of a Mediterranean forest in the heart of Rome! Citizen Science activities

As part of the URBAN NATURE initiative promoted by the WWF to promote the value and care of nature in cities for people's well-being, the ISPRA National Biodiversity Network is organizing a one-day meeting between experts and citizens at the Pineto Regional Urban Park in Rome.

The initiative will lead participants to discover the residual vegetation of a Mediterranean forest in the heart of Rome. Along a 3-kilometer trail, researchers from the Institute will address topics related to the importance of land management and the Natura 2000 Network, and lichens as bioindicators and bioaccumulators for monitoring air quality. The endemic species present along the trail will be described, along with the description of the residual vegetation typical of the Mediterranean environment, and the bird species present in the visited area will be "listened to."

Festival Planet Earth

Pianeta Terra Festival is an event for all who wish to explore our extraordinary common home and reflect on ways to preserve and inhabit it sustainably. It is a multidisciplinary event: we will discuss ecosystems, climate, new economic models, energy, agriculture, food, urban development, as well as new political, social, philosophical, anthropological, and artistic visions.

Ancient Forests and Old Trees: a Treasure of Nature, Life, and Culture

Old-growth forests are unique ecosystems, characterized by high structural and functional heterogeneity, with features that develop over decades and centuries. They are therefore of exceptional and irreplaceable importance, being forests where human disturbance is absent or negligible, and which host a truly unique flora and fauna. Moreover, they represent valuable carbon reservoirs and are essential for studying the impacts of climate change in areas where human influence is minimal

Published EEA Report Europe's Environment 2025

Despite significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, the overall state of the environment in Europe is not good, particularly with regard to nature, which continues to suffer from degradation, overexploitation, and biodiversity loss, as well as from the acceleration of climate change, which poses an urgent challenge.

These are the conclusions of the Report Europe's Environment  2025, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report provides the most comprehensive analysis of the current state and outlook for the environment, climate, and sustainability on the continent, based on data from 38 countries. The outlook for most environmental trends is alarming and poses serious risks to economic prosperity, security, and quality of life in Europe.

Bees, Pollinators, Pollen, and Biodiversity

ISPRA researchers will explain the ecological role of pollinating insects and pollen, as well as the Pollnet network. There will be a focus on the life of honeybees, with insights into the social habits of these insects. Fruit, food, pollinators, and biodiversity are connected by a bond that should never be forgotten, as it underpins our survival. Organic Honey Tasting.

Recommended: from age 5 and up.

The European Researchers' Night 205

This year, ISPRA is participating in the European Researchers' Night, along with other public research institutions and universities.
The initiative, which will take place across Europe on September 26 and 27, will be an opportunity to introduce citizens to the world of scientific research and discover the activities and results of public research on current topics.

The National Biodiversity Network and the role of citizen science in monitoring riparian vegetation – The RiVe project

Synchronous e-learning course

As part of the activities of the National Biodiversity Network and the RiVe (Riparian Vegetation) Project, ISPRA is promoting the training course "The National Biodiversity Network and the Role of Citizen Science in Monitoring Riparian Vegetation – The RiVe Project."

City, volcanoes, and mammoths: the metamorphoses of the ancient Appian Way

The Appian Way, one of the world's most fascinating archaeological parks, will be the narrative center of a trek led by university professors and researchers from ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research). The changing landscape will be explored with the help of zoology, geology, and urban planning to explore the multiple perspectives through which the history of the Regina Viarum can be interpreted.

Pastoralism and Mountain Livestock Farming between Globalization and the Return of Large Carnivores

The conference aims to provide information and interpretive tools to understand the importance of pastoralism and livestock farming for humankind, in the past, present, and future. This has always been in a close — and often conflictual — relationship with the presence of large carnivores, while also taking into account what this entails today, in a globalized world that has changed dramatically in recent decades and is still evolving.

Restoration Economy: Businesses Leading the Redevelopment of Territories

The event aims to shed light on the crucial role that businesses can play in the transition towards a nature-positive economy, by integrating biodiversity and natural capital into corporate strategies and reporting systems.

Discussions will cover international initiatives that are carrying out major ecosystem restoration projects through collaboration between public and private actors, as well as ways to access funding to take action in support of nature.

ISPRA inaugurates the sixth edition of the Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology and Biology in marine and island environments

A laboratory for students, PhD candidates, graduates, and young researchers that combines advanced training, interdisciplinary research, and policies for the protection of marine resources.

The sixth edition of the Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology, and Biology in Marine and Island Environments was officially opened in the presence of the Mayor of Procida, the Director General of ISPRA, Maria Siclari, the Director of the Regno di Nettuno Marine Protected Area, the Director of ARPA Campania, Stefano Sorvino, the representative of the Italian Geological Society, Fabiano Gamberi, the Director of the Vivara State Nature Reserve, Nicola Scotto di Carlo, and Giordano Giorgi, Head of the ISPRA National Center for Environmental Characterization and Coastal Protection, Marine Climatology, and Operational Oceanography. The event is promoted by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Chieti-Pescara.

As per tradition, the aim of the event is to provide advanced training, hands-on field experience, and opportunities for exchange between young researchers and professors from different institutions.

The 6th Report on the State of Natural Capital has been approved

The sixth Report on the State of Natural Capital has been definitively approved and submitted to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy. The Report contains useful information for the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, providing an integrated annual report, both physical and monetary, on Natural Capital and promoting environmental accounting at the national level.

The purpose of the report is to highlight the role of Italian Natural Capital in the country's socioeconomic system, developing conceptual frameworks, improving knowledge, and refining models for measuring Natural Capital and the impacts of policies on it.

European toolkit for nature protection

The European Commission has developed practical support for teachers to guide students in their discovery of nature: biodiversity, species, habitats, ecosystems, and Europe's natural heritage.

The European Toolkit for Nature Protection is aimed at students aged 13 to 16 throughout the European Union and can be used in schools and non-formal educational settings, such as history museums or environmental education centers.

ISPRA joins the LIFE MAPPER Project

Guidelines for MAPping, ProtEcting, and Restoring Marine Ecosystems

LIFE MAPPER initiative seeks to consolidate current knowledge and best practices in marine habitat mapping and restoration

For the first time in Sicily, a Golden Eagle chick from a natural nest has been “tagged” for scientific purposes

The study of the interactions between the Bonelli’s Eagle and the Golden Eagle becomes a reality in Sicily and Sardinia thanks to satellite GPS transmitters placed on the raptors. A webcam, installed near the nest in the Nebrodi Park and constantly monitored by researchers, provides live streaming of the chick’s extraordinary life, publicly accessible online.

ISPRA is conducting research on the ecological interaction between the Golden Eagle and the Bonelli’s Eagle in the Mediterranean, within the framework of the LIFE Abilas project on the reintroduction of the Bonelli’s Eagle in Sardinia. The results of this study will make it possible to highlight possible differences in dispersal strategies and spatial distribution, as well as the potential areas of overlap between the two species, in order to develop the best conservation strategies.

Observe and report the flora and fauna around you even on holiday!

Participate in the "Biodiversity in Pose" initiative of the ISPRA National Biodiversity Network, dedicated to collecting and sharing observations of fauna, flora, and the natural environment made by citizens.

"Biodiversity in Posa" offers anyone interested the opportunity, through its connection to the iNaturalist app, to share reports of nature images taken by both professionals and amateurs with the Network at any time, thus providing a data entry channel.

Monk seal: good practices to recognize her

Best practices to follow if you spot a seal

If you spot a monk seal, it's important to immediately reduce any potential disturbance caused by human proximity.
If you're on a boat, reduce speed to a minimum and maintain a distance of 50 meters, without obstructing the animal's path and avoiding loud noises and shouting that could cause significant stress.
It's essential to immediately alert the Port Authority (call 1530).

To support scientific research, reporting and describing the sighting will be extremely helpful to ISPRA researchers by emailing focamonaca@isprambiente.it and/or sending a message to the Ispra Monk Seal Facebook page. Please also contact the Marine Protected Area closest to the sighting location to expedite the reporting process.

COP 15 on the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands

Four Italian wetlands have been recognized as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The Conference of the Parties (COP15 Ramsar) is currently underway at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to develop a new strategy for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The theme chosen for COP15 is "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future." The conference highlights the essential role that wetlands play in sustaining biodiversity, supporting climate resilience and water security, and thus supporting economic development and human well-being.

European pond turtle - Monitoring an endangered species

ISPRA monitors the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano (Rome), a protected area of great value for its biodiversity. The European pond turtle is a native species classified as "critically endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Italian vertebrates (2022). Its population has drastically declined in Italy due to the degradation and disappearance of suitable aquatic habitats and competition with invasive alien species, such as the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).

The monk seal in the seas of Campania

What to do in case of sighting?
The event is organized as part of the Life Sea.Net Project coordinated by Legambiente. The ISPRA researchers together with the staff of the Marine Protected Area Regno di Nettuno and Punta Campanella will share curiosities about the monk seal and illustrate the best practices to follow in case of sighting of specimens in our seas.

ISPRA’s new oceanographic vessel: up to 4000 meters deep to overcome the challenge of climate change

On July 15, the ISPRA Major Oceanographic Vessel will be presented at the Chamber of Deputies: not just a new research infrastructure, but the concrete symbol of a collective commitment to the sea, to science, to future generations. The vessel represents one of the key interventions of the Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project (MER), the largest investment envisaged by the PNRR for the protection of the marine environment: 400 million euros intended to protect and restore fragile ecosystems, starting with those that are submerged, invisible and mostly unknown. A project of great national scope, with ISPRA as the implementing body and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security as the titular administration.

Alien species in our seas

The Mediterranean Sea's biodiversity is constantly evolving, colonized by species expanding their ranges and arriving through natural corridors, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, and by non-native or alien species introduced by human activities or arriving through artificial corridors such as the Suez Canal. Some of these species can also pose a threat to human health, being toxic to eat or poisonous upon contact.

To help marine life recognize new species that can potentially be observed and fished in our seas, including those that pose a threat to human health, a brochure has been created, an updated version of the 2021 edition.

Any reports sent to researchers will also help monitor the distribution and spread of these species in our waters.