News

The first number of EMAS Newsletter 2026 is online

News, updates, and best practices from the EMAS world, sharing experiences, tools, and concrete paths toward increasingly sustainable environmental management.

Newsletter (ita)

Maria Alessandra Gallone is the new ISPRA president

Today the official inauguration

Today, Maria Alessandra Gallone officially took office as the new President of the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA).

Born in Bergamo in 1966, she holds a degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the University of Bergamo and is a certified teacher. She has gained extensive institutional experience at both local and national levels. She served as a Senator of the Republic for two legislatures and was a member of the Environment Committee, the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on Environmental Crimes, the Justice Committee, and the Agriculture Committee. In recent years, she has served as Advisor to the Minister of University and Research and as an expert for the Minister of Environment and Energy Security, contributing to processes aimed at strengthening integration between universities, research, innovation, and local territories.

“I thank the Minister of Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, for the trust he has placed in me by appointing me to this role, which I assume with a deep sense of institutional responsibility. ISPRA is a strategic institute for the country: a scientific authority of the highest level, a technical reference supporting public decision-making, and a cornerstone of the National System for Environmental Protection.

At a historic moment marked by climate change, hydrogeological fragility, water crisis, soil consumption, and the need to protect biodiversity, the contribution of science is essential. Sustainable development is not a slogan: it is a balance that must be built every day, with rigor, competence, and responsibility.

My priority will be to enhance the extraordinary professional expertise within the Institute—technologists, scientists, and researchers—promoting respect for skills and the scientific method, strengthening dialogue with ARPA and APPA, and consolidating a culture of prevention.

Education, accurate information, and transparency are fundamental tools to increase public awareness and support institutions in making the most complex decisions. ISPRA must continue to be an authoritative, independent, and credible point of reference, serving the State and future generations.”*

Silent Plains: 2025 data released on bird populations associated with agricultural environments

The recent 2025 update on the “Common Birds of Agricultural Areas in Italy” produced within the framework of the National CAP Network with the support of Lipu, provides a crucial and concerning snapshot of the health of our countryside. At the center of the study is the Farmland Bird Index (FBI), an aggregated indicator that monitors trends in the populations of species closely associated with agricultural environments.

Third appointment of “Voce all’Ambiente”

GMOs: Opportunity or risk for the environment? Interview with: Valeria Giovannelli, Matteo Lener and Giovanni Staiano, ISPRA researchers

GMOs, an acronym for Genetically Modified Organisms, is a term familiar to many, but whose meaning, implications, and impacts in the environmental, agricultural, and social fields are often not fully understood. Some consider them a danger to the environment and human health, while others see them as a resource for the future of agriculture. But… what exactly are GMOs?

We discuss this with Valeria Giovannelli, Matteo Lener, and Giovanni Staiano, who have been studying genetically modified organisms for years, with particular reference to genetically modified plants and their environmental impacts.

“Educate, communicate, connect”: ISPRA publishes the new report from the Life SIC2SIC project

ISPRA’s new publication is dedicated to the Life SIC2SIC project and is available online in the Environmental Education and Training Notebooks series: “Educate, communicate, connect – The educational format of the Life SIC2SIC project”

The project represents a concrete example of how a well-designed communication strategy can amplify the impact of an environmental plan.

The volume systematizes the extraordinary experience of a bicycle journey of over 5,700 km across the biodiversity of our peninsula, offering an innovative model that combines scientific communication, territorial storytelling, and the protection of the Natura 2000 Network.

Hydromorphological Assessment System, Analysis and Monitoring of Watercourses – IDRAIM

12th National Training Course

ISPRA, with the support of ARPA Piemonte, is organizing the twelfth training course on the assessment of the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) of watercourses, as provided within the IDRAIM system. The course will be held in Turin, at the ARPA Piemonte headquarters, during the week of June 8–12, 2026, and will include alternating classroom instruction and field visits to demonstration river reaches for the application of the method.

The course will take place if the minimum number of 20 participants is reached. Participation requires the payment of a registration fee to cover direct expenses and coffee breaks at the ARPA Piemonte headquarters. Travel expenses (transportation, meals, and accommodation) will be borne by the participants

ISPRA Participation in the Workshop “SiCon – Contaminated Sites 2026”

ISPRA actively participated in the 17th edition of the workshop “SiCon – Contaminated Sites 2026: Experiences in Remediation Interventions,” held at the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome, from February 11 to 13, 2026.

The event, a national reference point for professionals in the remediation sector, involved researchers, institutions, environmental agencies, and companies, with over 300 scientific contributions presented across plenary, special, and technical sessions. The workshop represented an important opportunity for exchange and discussion with academia, environmental agencies, institutions, and industry professionals.

ISPRA partecipates at Didacta Italy 2026

Didacta Italia is the most important event on education and innovation in the world of education.
For three days, Florence will be the capital of the school of the future, offering: a place to meet and discuss the world of education today and tomorrow; a meeting point for schools, companies, organizations, associations, teachers, school administrators, and school staff; exhibition areas dedicated to companies and the latest innovations in the education sector; and rooms dedicated to training.

ISPRA at “Fa’ la cosa giusta 2026”

“Fa’ la cosa giusta” aims to promote and disseminate “good practices” in consumption and production across the country, while enhancing local specificities and excellence through networking and synergy with institutional bodies, associations, and local businesses.

The 2026 edition will take place from March 13 to 15 at Fiera Milano Rho. ISPRA will participate in the event at Pavilion 16, stands H62 and H64, to present Facciamo Circolare, a communication campaign on the circular economy, with a focus on food waste, separate waste collection, the blue economy, and biodiversity.

The initiative is carried out by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) with funding from MIMIT

The Hydrogeological Map of Italy at the 1:500,000 scale has won the “Elio Botti – Come Acqua Saliente” Award

The seminar “Water Well Design” was held on February 18 in Padua. During the event, the awards of the 21st edition of the “Elio Botti – Come Acqua Saliente” Prize were presented.

For the third time, ISPRA has won this prestigious award, which recognizes projects and activities focused on groundwater. The prize is supported by leading scientific and technical institutions, including the Università degli Studi di Padova, Gruppo Italiano della IAH, Ordine dei Geologi del Veneto, Parco Regionale del Delta del Po, Confindustria Veneto, ANIPA and AIGA.

Following the two awards received during the 18th edition, ISPRA has now received, in collaboration with Università degli Studi di Milano (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra “Ardito Desio”), ISTAT e CMCC, the “Jury’s Special Mention” for the project CII500K — la nuova Carta Idrogeologica d’Italia alla scala 1:500.000.

The PNRR-MER at the Eudi Show in Bologna

EUDI Show is the most important diving event in Italy and one of the leading events in the sector worldwide. The 31st edition will take place in Bologna from February 20 to 22.

On Sunday, February 22 at 11:30 a.m., ISPRA researchers will present the PNRR MER – Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project, the largest national program for the restoration of marine ecosystems, with a focus on the use of advanced technologies for the study and protection of the sea. The integrated use of LiDAR, AUVs, and ROVs enables high-resolution mapping of seabeds, seamounts, and ghost nets, even in deep environments. The installation of dedicated buoy fields to protect the seabed and ISPRA’s oceanographic vessel ARCADIA operates as an integrated platform for research, monitoring, and intervention.

Second event of “Voce all’Ambiente”

Restoring Nature: Behind the Scenes of the European Law on Ecosystem Restoration for People, the Climate, and the Planet
Interview with Valentina Rastelli, ISPRA Researcher

Following a complex legislative process, the European Nature Restoration Regulation officially entered into force on August 18, 2024. What objectives has Europe set to restore degraded ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss? What challenges await Member States in its implementation? We discuss this in the second episode of “Voce all’Ambiente” with Valentina Rastelli, who serves as Italy’s representative in the European Union’s expert group on the Regulation.

World Wildlife Day 2026

On December 20, 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day. This day is important because it commemorates the date in 1973 when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed.

The theme chosen for the 2026 observance is “Medicinal and aromatic plants: safeguarding health, heritage, and livelihoods”

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are essential for both human health and ecological balance. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes their importance, particularly in developing countries, where 70–95% of the population relies on traditional medicine for primary healthcare. These plants form the foundation of many healthcare systems and remain vital to modern pharmaceuticals, as many active compounds are derived directly or indirectly from natural sources, despite advances in synthetic chemistry.

1st Training of the Italian initiative “C3S NCP for Italy” in support of hydro-climatic and environmental monitoring and climate change adaptation actions

As part of the National Collaboration Programme C3S for Italy, the first training event organized by the Italian Air Force and ISPRA will take place on February 19.

The training will provide an overview of the products of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which is dedicated to delivering authoritative and actionable information on past, present, and future climate in Europe and worldwide, as well as on the services currently under development within the C3S NCP for Italy initiative.

The National Biodiversity Network supporting the educational programme to explore the biodiversity of Benevento

On Wednesday, February 11, the educational programme dedicated to biodiversity, territory, and citizen science officially began, involving students from the Made in Italy High School and the Applied Sciences High School of the Guacci Institute in Benevento. The programme is carried out in collaboration with Futuridea – Territorial Innovation Laboratory and is supported by ISPRA’s National Biodiversity Network (NNB), which provides its infrastructure for data collection.

First Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP)

The first plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP), the new scientific intergovernmental body established by the United Nations, concluded on February 6, 2026, at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG). The panel focuses on the management of chemicals and waste and the prevention of pollution, and is dedicated to strengthening the science–policy interface in this field.

“Stop the clock” on environmental commitments?

Between regulatory decisions and voluntary corporate commitments.

The event, which will take place in Rome on February 18, aims to provide an updated overview of the current state of implementation, as well as the future prospects, of regulations affecting the agri-forestry sector in particular.

The meeting will also be an opportunity to analyze the possible effects of delays in implementing some key European Green Deal regulations.

Circular Sea. On the route to sustainability: fifth and final episode of the podcast Tandem – Discovering Circular Italy.

At the final stop, Edo and Marti cycle along the Apulian coast to talk about the sea. A plant considered “dirty” by tourists proves essential for protecting the coastline; plastic objects resurfacing after decades become clues to our past; a nature reserve shows how scientists, fishers, and local communities can work together to save sea turtles, seabeds, and habitats.

Tandem – Discovering Circular Italy is the podcast series that tells how sustainability and beauty can grow together thanks to the circular economy.

Tandem gives voice to the commitment of ISPRA and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, which through the Facciamo Circolare campaign promote a more sustainable development model, where every daily choice can make a difference.

On February 27, a new Copernicus Land Monitoring Service training course will take place: Bio-geophysical Variables at the European scale

The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) is launching a new training course focused on Bio-geophysical Variables products at the European scale, with particular emphasis on HR-VPP, Water Bodies, Snow, and the EU-Hydro dataset.

ROV pilot course aimed at some of the Marine Protected Areas within the DigitAP Project

As part of the DigitAP Project, one of the technical training sessions for ROV pilots concludes on February 13. The course, aimed at Marine Protected Areas and managed by specialized economic operators who won the tender, ensures the full operational readiness of the equipment delivered for the protection of our seas

Voice from environment

Voce all’Ambiente is a podcast series made up of six weekly episodes, broadcast on Roma Tre Radio and available on Spotify. With an accessible and informal approach, the podcast gives a voice to ISPRA researchers, who share scientific findings, new regulations, and future perspectives on a range of environmental topics.

The project—conceived by Alessandra Casali with contributions from Chiara Bolognini (ISPRA), Marta Perrotta and Oriella Esposito (Roma Tre University), and with post-production support from Alessandro Saviantoni and Emanuela Favata—was developed within the Master’s program in Science and Research Communication (ComRiS) at Roma Tre University.

Rigid coastal defense works, a step forward in knowledge: the ISPRA geodatabase has been published

Italy today has almost one fifth of its coastline affected by the presence of rigid coastal defense works: as of 2020, this amounted to more than 1,500 km of coastline, equal to 18%, representing a 27% increase compared to 2000 data—over 200 km of coastline. Calabria, more than other regions, has seen the length of coastline affected by these structures grow by 66%. From 2020 to today, following the same trend, an additional roughly 50 km would have been added.

Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as Mediterranean cyclones and storm surges; sea-level rise and alterations in wind and current regimes amplify wave energy, accelerating coastal erosion processes and increasing the vulnerability of already fragile coastlines. In this context, events such as Cyclone Harry, which recently struck the coasts of Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia, are no longer isolated incidents but signs of a structural trend that adds to the effects of certain human activities and calls for increasingly integrated, evidence-based coastal adaptation and management strategies.

IPBES publishes a report on the links between business and biodiversity

On the occasion of the 12th plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, held in Manchester from 2 to 8 February 2026, the global methodological report “Business and Biodiversity: Methodological Assessment of the Impact and Dependency of Business on Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions to People” was adopted. On the same occasion, the plenary also approved the Summary for Policymakers of the report.

New sighting of a Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) in Favignana

A new sighting of a Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) has been reported on the island of Favignana by a local citizen, who promptly informed the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area. The MPA immediately alerted ISPRA researchers, initiating the procedures for the recovery and preservation of the organisms for scientific analyses.

The Portuguese man o’ war is a colonial hydrozoan of Atlantic origin that can reach the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, carried by ocean currents. In Italy, the most frequent reports come from Sardinia, the Pelagie Islands, and the Messina coastline.

The species is easily recognizable thanks to its pneumatophore, the floating structure visible at the surface, but it also has long, highly stinging tentacles. For this reason, it is essential to avoid contact and to report any sightings to the local Marine Protected Areas or to the dedicated email address alien@isprambiente.it, providing photographic or video documentation.

13th National Day for the Prevention of Food Waste

February 5 marks the National Day for the Prevention of Food Waste: halving food waste by 2030 is the goal set by the United Nations Agenda, also echoed by “#2030Calling,” the theme of the thirteenth National Day for the Prevention of Food Waste.

The 2030 Agenda (Target 12.3) aims to halve per capita food waste at the retail and consumer levels and to reduce losses along production and supply chains by 2030, compared to 2015. This key target, which supports food security and reduces pressure on natural resources, is crucial for sustainability.

Dronitaly 2026

Dronitaly, now in its eleventh edition, confirms itself as the leading event for the professional drone community. With the participation of leading Italian and international companies, the event represents a strategic platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration among operators, institutions, and sector stakeholders.

The event will explore new frontiers in environmental monitoring, showcasing practical examples of the use of drones for the acquisition and management of information in support of institutional decision-making processes. This will follow the entire operational value chain, from procedure management to surveying, data processing, and the delivery of information products.

On 11 and 12 March, ISPRA and SNPA are organizing the conference “The new ‘eyes’ of environmental monitoring: how technological innovation supports institutional Earth observation activities,” structured into two sessions.

Day of Women and Girls in Science

February 11 marks the eleventh International Day of Women and Girls in Science, promoted by the United Nations to encourage women’s participation in STEM disciplines—an acronym that in English refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In these fields, women’s presence is globally far more limited than that of men, from the crucial stages of education and training through to academic and professional careers. This is an issue that concerns everyone, because gender equality, women’s self-determination, and equal opportunities are essential elements for building a democratic, fair, and prosperous society, as envisioned by Goal 5 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The theme of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) 2026 is “Synergizing artificial intelligence, social sciences, STEM, and finance: building an inclusive future for women and girls.” As societies grapple with widening inequalities, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and finance is emerging as a four-pillar approach to accelerating inclusive and sustainable development.

The Traveler: Danger or Resource?

The Contribution of Bioethics to Regenerative Tourism

The role of the conscious traveler can constitute a sort of "public good." We create connections between the health of people, places, crops, animals, and knowledge.

ISPRA researcher Andrea Monaco will participate in the meeting with a presentation entitled "Inform yourself, think, travel. For sustainable and alien-free tourism, data on invasive species."

Published the Report "Ecological Networks in Regional Spatial Planning Instruments. Report 2025"

ISPRA Awarded at the PA OK! Contest for Management Innovation

The ISPRA project “Innovating Public Administration Through Knowledge – The Sustainability Report as a Platform to Educate, Measure, and Generate Public Value” was awarded within the national PA OK! Contest – Together to Create Public Value, promoted by the Department of Public Administration and implemented by Formez PA as part of the NRRP (Mission 1).

During the award ceremony, held on 29 January 2026 in Rome, ISPRA received the special mention “Excellence for Citizens” in the Management Innovation category, as the project most voted for by citizens in this area. It also received the “PA OK! Award Finalist” mention, following its selection among 275 submitted projects, ranking among the top 10 projects in the Management Innovation area (modernization, human resources management, organizational improvement).