News

RAMOGEPOL 2026

RAMOGEPOL 2026, the international exercise conducted under the Operational Plan of the RAMOGE Agreement, successfully concluded in Monaco. Held from 22 to 26 June, the exercise brought together Italy, France, and the Principality of Monaco in a comprehensive programme of operational, technical, and institutional activities dedicated to preventing and responding to accidental marine pollution incidents.

International Day of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean is a sea of extraordinary natural beauty, history, and culture that deserves to be protected and enhanced. Its unique heritage is celebrated each year on 8 July with the International Day of the Mediterranean Sea. Through the MER Project (Marine Ecosystem Restoration), funded under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), ISPRA is developing a comprehensive initiative to map, restore, and protect one of the world's richest—and most fragile—marine ecosystems. The project's goal is to safeguard the Mediterranean's biodiversity and preserve it for future generations. The MER Project, the largest marine initiative within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is led by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) as the responsible authority, with ISPRA acting as the sole implementing body. The project comprises 37 lines of activity to be carried out across the entire national territory and is structured around three main pillars: the restoration and protection of the seabed, the strengthening of marine and coastal observing systems, and the mapping of coastal and marine habitats of conservation interest.

ISPRA's Contribution to the Third Edition of the United Nations "World Ocean Assessment"

The third edition of the World Ocean Assessment (WOA) has recently been released. Spanning more than 1,300 pages, the report is the result of five years of work by around 600 international scientists. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the growing impacts of climate change, pollution, and overfishing on the world's oceans, which cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface.

Italy Joins the Second Phase of the National Collaboration Programme for the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service

Italy has reaffirmed its commitment to European environmental cooperation by officially joining the second phase of the National Collaboration Programme for the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS). The continuation of this important initiative was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) on 12 June. The agreement will remain in force for a period of 18 months.

Seas Growing Warmer: Second-Highest Temperature Ever Recorded in 2025

Above-Average Temperatures. Water Resources Remain Under Close Monitoring

Findings from the New SNPA Report The Climate in Italy in 2025

With an average annual sea surface temperature of 20°C and peaks exceeding 26°C in July (26.64°C) and August (26.48°C), 2025 recorded temperatures 1.18°C above the 1991–2020 climate reference period, making it the second warmest year since 1982 for Italian seas. At the same time, more frequent rainfall in northern Italy improved water availability, with precipitation 7% above average, while central Italy remained close to the long-term average and southern Italy experienced a 5% decrease in rainfall. These findings highlight the growing need to continue implementing both climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

These are among the key findings of the report The Climate in Italy in 2025, published by the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), which comprises ISPRA and the Regional and Provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (ARPA/APPA). The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of the climate and its evolution across Italy, offering analyses at the national, regional, and local levels. It also includes in-depth examinations of the most significant climate events that occurred during the year.

Since 2000, Italy has recorded above-average air temperatures in almost every year, and 2025 continues this trend, with an average temperature anomaly of +1.03°C relative to the 1991–2020 climatological baseline. All months except October and November were warmer than average. June, with a temperature anomaly of +3.23°C, was the second warmest June on record after 2003. All four seasons also recorded above-average temperatures. In particular, summer, with an anomaly of +1.46°C, ranked as the fourth warmest since 1961. Winter (+1.21°C) and spring (+0.86°C) were also among the warmest on record, while autumn showed a more moderate increase of +0.16°C.

Report: "Geology and History of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls"

As part of the Rome Science Festival, ISPRA organized the geological walk "Stories in Stone: A Geological Journey through Rome's Basilicas" on April 18.

Rebuilt after the devastating fire of 1823, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is an outstanding example of the restoration of Early Christian architecture while preserving its connection to its ancient origins. One of the building's most distinctive features is the extensive use of ornamental stones sourced from various regions of the Mediterranean. The guided tour provided participants with the opportunity to closely observe these different lithological varieties, appreciating their quality, aesthetic value, and historical significance.

Disaggregation of the national emissions inventory at the provincial level

Years: 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2023

The report describes the provincial-level disaggregation of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions estimated in the ISPRA national inventory, carried out using a top-down approach for the years 1990 through 2023.

SYNFONY 2026 First Survey: An Outstanding Start Across the Mediterranean

The first survey of SYNFONY 2026 – Synoptic Ferry Observation Network, a new Mediterranean monitoring initiative built on the legacy of the LIFE CONCEPTU MARIS project and the long-standing experience of the FLT Med Net network – has provided a highly encouraging snapshot of marine biodiversity across the Mediterranean Sea. Research teams documented an extraordinary diversity of cetaceans, sea turtles, sharks, rays and seabirds along numerous ferry routes.

ISPRA at the 11th International Symposium on Mediterranean Coastal Monitoring

ISPRA took part in the 11th International Symposium, "Mediterranean Coastal Monitoring: Issues and Measurement Techniques" held in Livorno from 16 to 18 June 2026 at the Mediterranean Museum of Natural History

Presentation of the "Guidelines for Urban Nature Plans"

The Guidelines for Urban Nature Plans, developed within the framework of the National Biodiversity Future Center, aim to support public authorities, technical experts, and planners in integrating biodiversity into urban planning policies and tools.
The meeting will provide an overview of the Urban Nature Plan as a new strategic tool promoted by the European Union to strengthen the climate resilience of cities.

The Manual for the Application of VIncA Procedures in Marine Sites has been Published

This volume offers a methodological guide for professionals, technicians, and public administrations involved in protecting marine and coastal biodiversity.

The Manual was created as part of the LIFE SEA.NET project "Urgent actions for the implementation of the Natura 2000 marine network" (LIFE20 GIE/IT/000763) to support the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security's initiatives to strengthen and optimize the application of the Environmental Impact Assessment (VIncA) procedure in marine and marine-coastal sites of the EU Natura 2000 network.

Biodiversamente: Discover Wildlife Through New Eyes

As part of the  Environmental Education and Sustainability Initiatives Program 2025/26, more than 100 students from two schools in the province of Bologna had the opportunity, between April and May, to experience firsthand what it means to study wildlife for management and conservation purposes. They took part in activities simulating the monitoring and field identification of terrestrial mammals and explored conservation genetics laboratories to discover how DNA analysis can contribute to understanding and protecting wild populations.

8th Edition of the European Meeting on 3D Geological Modelling

Rome will host the 8th edition of the European Meeting on 3D Geological Modelling from 20 to 23 April 2027. The event is organized by ISPRA with the support of the CARG Programme.

The meeting will bring together Geological Surveys, universities, research institutions, and industry representatives to share knowledge and experiences in 3D and 4D subsurface geological modelling, while strengthening scientific collaboration at both the European and international levels.

Over 100 Golani Sardines Caught off Lampedusa

More than 100 specimens of the Golani sardine (Etrumeus golanii), a species native to the Red Sea, were caught by fishermen from Lampedusa during an anchovy fishing trip.

The species was first reported in Italian waters by ISPRA in 2006, following the capture of a specimen off the Island of Lampedusa in September 2005, with only sporadic catches recorded in subsequent years.

This remarkable catch confirms the widespread presence of this alien species in the Strait of Sicily. The specimens were handed over to ISPRA researchers working on the island for scientific research and will be analyzed in the laboratory.

The role of fishermen continues to be of great importance in monitoring alien and rare species in our seas.

XXI ReMI-ISPRA network meeting

Round Table on Historic Mining Sites

As part of the "I International Meeting of European Miners," to be held in Tarvisio from June 26 to 28, 2026, the 21st ReMi-ISPRA Network Meeting will be held on June 27.

The 21st ReMi Network Meeting aims to foster discussion among mining museums operating throughout the Italian Alps and in other European contexts. The aim is to highlight both their strengths and key weaknesses, and identify potential improvement measures to enhance the effectiveness of the local mining heritage valorization and management.

The quality of European bathing waters remains stable

The European Environment Agency (EEA) publishes an annual report on the quality of bathing waters across Europe. According to the latest annual report, covering 2025, bathing water quality from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean appears to remain stable compared with the previous year. Overall, 96% of all monitored EU bathing sites (22,200 sites) met the minimum EU quality standards, while only 1.5% were classified as poor. Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece lead the ranking of safe bathing waters, with around 95% of their bathing sites rated as having excellent water quality.

Photography Contest: "From land consumption to urban and territorial regeneration"

A photograph to tell the story of change

ISPRA and SNPA are renewing their photography contest initiative to engage professionals, amateurs of landscape and street photography, and anyone interested in documenting urban and regional regeneration in Italy. The goal is to foster positive change: documenting environmental redevelopment projects, resurfacing projects, and the ecological recovery of previously degraded or artificially developed areas, to provide a comprehensive and scientific view of territorial dynamics.

The ISPRA IdroGEO platform wins the Golden Smartphone award

The ISPRA IdroGEO platform has won the Golden Smartphone award for innovation, the award dedicated to the best digital communication and information experiences of public entities and companies, organized by the Fondazione Italia Digitale.

JoNeF Report 2025 at the IMPEL General Assembly

Land Consumption: Sharing of Preliminary 2025 Data from the National Environmental Protection System's Monitoring Activities

ISPRA and the National Environmental Protection System (SNPA), including for 2025 land consumption data, allow operators from municipalities and observatories of the regions and autonomous provinces to access preliminary data from the land consumption monitoring activities, in order to make the process increasingly effective and participatory.

Wildfires on the Rise in 2025: More Investment in Prevention Needed

ISPRA Updates Its Webpage on the Impacts of Large Wildfires on Ecosystems

Monitoring activities carried out by ISPRA during 2025 show an increase in wildfire occurrence compared with the previous year. The total area affected reached 965 km² (equivalent to the size of the Province of Pistoia), a figure that nearly doubles the estimates recorded in 2024. Historical data archived by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) place 2025 among the years with the highest wildfire severity, surpassed only by the peaks recorded in 2007, 2017, 2021, and 2023.

These findings emerge from ISPRA’s monitoring programme on the impacts of large wildfires, a system that provides robust and up-to-date data each year to support national and regional authorities. The analyses, based on high-resolution satellite observations, ensure methodological consistency and statistical representativeness. Any discrepancies with other datasets are limited and do not affect the overall interpretation of the phenomenon.

A particularly significant finding concerns the incidence of wildfires within the protected areas network, where more than 30% of the total burned area was concentrated and as much as 38% of the forest ecosystems affected by fire nationwide were located.

Considering the entire national territory, 48% of wildfire events in 2025 affected forest ecosystems. In terms of area, approximately 123 km² of forest land (equivalent to the size of the Municipality of Ancona) was affected by fire, distributed as follows:

• approximately 57 km² of evergreen broadleaf forests (mainly holm oak forests, cork oak forests, and tall Mediterranean maquis);
• approximately 36 km² of deciduous broadleaf forests (oak woods, chestnut forests, and beech forests);
• more than 24 km² of evergreen coniferous forests (natural forests and conifer plantations);
• the remaining 5.79 km² consisting of mixed forest systems.

At the territorial level, the historical trend confirming Southern Italy and the major islands as the most affected areas continues. In particular, Sicily, Calabria, and Campania were the regions most severely impacted, accounting for 71% of the total national forest area affected by wildfires. An increasing trend in the annual extent of burned forest areas is also observed in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, and Apulia (Puglia).

Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal areas: problems and measurement techniques

This event is addressed to researchers and scholars involved in the study of coastal areas across Mediterranean countries. As in previous editions, it aims to provide a forum for presenting research activities carried out in recent years on Mediterranean monitoring, while also offering an opportunity to introduce new proposals and promote initiatives aimed at the protection and sustainable management of marine and coastal environments.

Food, Biodiversity and Desertification

On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservators of the Province of Messina and the Mediterranean Architects Foundation of Messina, under the patronage of the National Institute of Bioarchitecture and in collaboration with Assocea Messina, are organizing a training event entitled: “Food, Biodiversity and Desertification”.

The event will address issues related to the relationship between climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable food systems, and the risk of desertification, with contributions from experts in research, technical professions, and public institutions.

KARC 2026: ECHA Identifies New Research Priorities to Strengthen Chemical Safety

The Key Areas of Regulatory Challenge (KARC) report was originally developed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to support activities under the Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), a Horizon Europe programme aimed at advancing chemical risk assessment and strengthening collaboration between scientists and regulatory authorities. The initiative was established with the primary objective of addressing existing gaps in regulatory science and providing scientific evidence to support the implementation and further development of European Union chemicals legislation.

In this context, ECHA has published the June 2026 update of the KARC report, identifying new areas of regulatory scientific research needed to enhance the protection of human health and the environment. The document broadens the scope of action to address global challenges related to pollution and biodiversity loss in a targeted manner, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts while promoting safe innovation and the circular use of materials.

RAC-77: ECHA Risk Assessment Committee Recommends Classification of Trifluoroacetic Acid (TFA) as Reproductive Toxic and PMT/vPvM Substance

During the 77th plenary meeting of the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC-77), held from 1 to 5 June 2026, the scientific opinion on the proposal for the harmonised classification of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (the CLP Regulation) was unanimously adopted. The proposal had been submitted by the German regulatory authority, BAuA (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).

Blues in Campus

Blues in Campus returns on June 24th, the festival where music and science meet and intertwine, generating new awareness and sensibilities.
This year's central theme is the city; the relationships between humans and the urban fabric are analyzed through scientific data and satellite imagery, but also from the perspective of music and artistic creation.

The Hidden City

ISPRA Presents the Updated Map of Rome’s Underground Cavities

The 2026 Density Map of Rome’s Underground Cavities highlights that more than 100 km² of the Eternal City’s territory is affected by the presence of underground voids, while nearly 61 km² fall within areas characterized by a high density of cavities. The highest concentrations are found in Municipalities I, II, IV, V, and VIII, corresponding to areas historically affected by the extraction of pozzolana and tuff, as well as by the presence of extensive catacomb systems. In contrast, the northwestern and western sectors of the urban area show a lower concentration of cavities, reflecting the different lithological characteristics of the outcropping rocks and the lower intensity of past quarrying activities.

These findings emerge from the Update of the Map of Rome’s Underground Cavities 2026, prepared by ISPRA’s Department for the Geological Survey of Italy in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (CNR-IGAG) and the University of Tuscia. The map was presented today at the Appia Antica Regional Park.

The map is conceived as a dynamic and continuously evolving tool, subject to periodic revisions through the incorporation of new data, additional surveys, and the progressive improvement of positional accuracy. This process also benefits from advances in surveying and georeferencing technologies.

Overall, the project compiled approximately 5,600 point records (indicating the presence of cavities whose full extent is unknown) and 1,600 linear and polygonal records (representing the development of underground tunnels or the general footprint and, where available, the precise layout of cavities). These data refer to various types of underground structures, including quarries, catacombs, hypogea, hydraulic tunnels, and underground infrastructure, covering an area of approximately 350 km² of Rome’s urban territory characterized by the presence of subterranean systems.

The study updates the map originally produced by ISPRA in 2017, in collaboration with Roma Capitale and the speleological associations Roma Sotterranea and Sotterranei di Roma. The dataset is based on the integration of bibliographic sources, historical cartographic archives, archaeological maps, and direct field investigations.

Why Rome?

Rome is underlain by a complex network of human-made underground cavities, whose full extent remains only partially known. These cavities are the result of more than two thousand years of excavation and subsurface exploitation, carried out with varying intensity from the Roman era through the mid-twentieth century.

The presence of these underground voids constitutes one of the main triggering factors for ground collapses and anthropogenic sinkholes that affect the urban environment of Rome, making their identification, mapping, and monitoring essential for urban planning and risk management.

Maria Alessandra Gallone, President of ISPRA and the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), stated:

“Understanding the subsurface of the Capital means understanding a fundamental part of its identity, its history, and its future. Beneath Rome’s streets, buildings, and monuments lies an extraordinary heritage, shaped by centuries of historical stratification and urban development. A thorough knowledge of the underground environment is not merely a scientific and technical necessity; it is also an essential tool for enhancing the city’s capacity to plan its future development, prevent potential hazards, and promote resources that are often invisible yet possess immense cultural, historical, and environmental value”.

2nd Summer School “Mineral Deposits”

Epithermal and Hydrothermal Deposits

ISPRA, as part of the training program of the School of Specialization in Environmental Sciences and in collaboration with the Italian Geological Society (SGI), its “Raw Materials and Mineral Deposits” Section (GGM), and the Italian Society of Mineralogy and Petrology (SIMP), is organizing the 2nd Summer School “Mineral Deposits”, entitled “Epithermal and Hydrothermal Deposits.” The event will take place from 21 to 25 September 2026 in Monteponi, Iglesias (Sulcis).

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026

Observed every year on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is an occasion for the United Nations to raise public awareness about land degradation and drought, while mobilizing action to protect and restore the health of the world's soils and lands. The 2026 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought will be hosted by Kenya, marking the first time in nearly a decade that the African continent has hosted this global observance.

The theme for 2026 is “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore”.

The Day will highlight the central role of the world’s rangelands in climate resilience, food and water security, biodiversity conservation, and the cultural identity of pastoral and Indigenous communities.

From the Nest on the Beach to the Open Sea: The Hidden Journey of Mediterranean Sea Turtles

Every summer, more and more people have the chance to see Caretta caretta sea turtles on Mediterranean beaches, thanks to nest monitoring and protection activities. But the big question is: where do they go when they disappear back into the sea?

For the first time at a Mediterranean-wide scale, researchers from the Life Conceptu Maris project have reconstructed the “hidden” marine life of these turtles across three stages of growth, showing that they do not all live in the same places or in the same way. On the contrary, their habitat changes with age, from young individuals to adults, almost as if they follow different pathways through the ocean.