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Environment and Research: ISPRA and Sapienza Renew Their Framework Agreement
Environment and Research: ISPRA and Sapienza Renew Their Framework Agreement
Jul 29, 2026 — Jul 29, 2026 Rome

The President of ISPRA and the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), Maria Alessandra Gallone, and the Rector of Sapienza University of Rome, Professor Antonella Polimeni, have renewed their framework agreement on scientific and educational cooperation for an additional three years. The agreement aims to strengthen the synergies between the two institutions on key issues for the country's future and to foster collaboration on joint projects in the fields of environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, soil and land protection, the circular economy, environmental law and economics, climate change, and Earth observation.

The renewal builds on the significant achievements of the previous three-year period, during which Sapienza and ISPRA collaborated on a wide range of research topics, including geological mapping, legal aspects related to combating environmental crime and the Emissions Trading System (ETS), biodiversity and habitat monitoring within protected areas, and environmental law.

A cornerstone of the renewed agreement will continue to be advanced training. The collaboration will enable Sapienza PhD candidates to undertake research placements at ISPRA under the supervision and mentorship of the Institute's researchers and technologists.

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ISPRA Conducts Cetacean Monitoring under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the LIFE MareNatura Project
ISPRA Conducts Cetacean Monitoring under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the LIFE MareNatura Project
Jul 27, 2026

The first survey session of ISPRA’s aerial monitoring activities carried out under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the LIFE MareNatura project has been successfully completed. These aerial surveys are aimed at estimating the population size of cetacean species inhabiting the seas surrounding Italy and the Ionian Sea.

The monitoring activities conducted by ISPRA under the MSFD constitute Italy’s official national cetacean monitoring programme. Together with the activities carried out within the LIFE MareNatura project, they represent Italy’s contribution to the international commitments undertaken within the framework of ACCOBAMS (the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area), while also contributing to the broader ACCOBAMS Survey Initiative (ASI).

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Beyond the coast: bottlenose dolphins follow the rhythm of the seasons in the Mediterranean
Beyond the coast: bottlenose dolphins follow the rhythm of the seasons in the Mediterranean
Jul 27, 2026

The sea is a complex environment, and to better understand it we often rely on categories that help describe it, such as distinguishing coastal waters from the open sea. While these distinctions are useful, nature rarely follows such clear-cut boundaries. The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), widely regarded as the quintessential coastal dolphin, is a perfect example.

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Observe and Report Biodiversity Around You – Even While on Holiday!
Observe and Report Biodiversity Around You – Even While on Holiday!
Jul 14, 2026

Take part in "Biodiversity in Focus", an initiative of ISPRA's National Biodiversity Network dedicated to collecting and sharing citizen observations of wildlife, plants, and natural environments.

Through its integration with the iNaturalist app, "Biodiversity in Focus" enables anyone, at any time, to share photographs of nature with the National Biodiversity Network. Whether taken by professional or amateur photographers, these images provide valuable biodiversity records and contribute to the Network's growing database of citizen-generated observations.

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