homepage

Guidelines for the Preparation of Environmental Monitoring Plans for Projects Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures

May 14, 2026 09:00 AM — May 14, 2026 01:30 PM Roma, sede ISPRA, via Vitaliano Brancati 48 e online

Within the framework of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental changes associated with the construction and operation of projects, measuring their sustainability.

The new ISPRA Guidelines provide criteria and technical contents for the preparation of EMPs, offering unified methodological and operational guidance that also enables technical harmonization across the national territory, as well as the comparison and reuse of monitoring data.

Highlight

Topics in evidence

ISPRA and cetacean monitoring: the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative 2026 gets underway

May 14, 2026

In the summer of 2026, the ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative will resume, the synoptic survey aimed at estimating the distribution and abundance of cetacean populations across the entire Mediterranean basin. The initiative, promoted by the countries participating in the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic area (ACCOBAMS), relies on the coordinated use of naval and aerial assets to provide updated scientific data, following up on the first edition carried out in 2018.

continue

Map of Underground Cavities of Rome 2026

May 13, 2026

The Map of Underground Cavities of Rome 2026 represents a significant update to the current knowledge framework regarding the distribution of underground voids within the urban territory of Rome. The cartography was produced by integrating data from scientific literature, historical cartographic archives, institutional databases, archaeological maps, and direct investigations, enabling the mapping of the main types of underground cavities (quarries, catacombs, hypogea, hydraulic tunnels, and other underground infrastructures) as well as the development of a density map of hypogeal systems.

continue

World Bee Day 2026

May 20, 2026 — May 20, 2026

Pollinating insects play vital ecological roles that support global biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem balance. About 90% of the world’s wild flowering plants depend on insects for pollination in order to reproduce. It is also estimated that 75% of major global crops—including vegetables, fruits, nuts, and forage—benefit from insect pollination. Beyond agriculture, pollinators indirectly contribute to climate change mitigation by supporting the health of forests and natural ecosystems, which are essential for CO₂ absorption.

The status of pollinator populations in Italy is considered critical, reflecting the broader negative trend across Europe.

Species at risk: around 22% of the 151 assessed native bee species are threatened with extinction.
Main causes: habitat fragmentation, intensive agriculture, widespread pesticide use, and increasing pressure from climate change.

We all depend on pollinators. Monitoring their decline and taking action to halt biodiversity loss is essential—not only for protecting ecosystems, but also for safeguarding food systems and environmental stability.

continue