News

KEY - The Energy Transition Expo 2026

KEY – The Energy Transition Expo is the leading European trade fair dedicated to the energy transition, technologies, services, and integrated solutions for renewable energy and energy efficiency. It takes place from 4 to 6 March at the Rimini Expo Centre.

The energy transition is a key element in the path toward a sustainable future, and KEY has developed seven interconnected thematic areas: photovoltaics, wind energy, storage, energy efficiency, electric mobility, sustainable cities, and the Innovation District.

Fourth Episode of Voce all’Ambiente

Alien Species in the Tiber: The “Zebra Mussel” – Interview with Roberto Crosti, ISPRA Researcher

In the fourth episode, we will travel along the course of the Tiber River to discover a story that is both curious and scientific. We will talk about freshwater molluscs, alien species, and citizen science. We will do so by following the traces of an alien and invasive protagonist: the zebra mussel.

The episode will feature Roberto Crosti, scientific coordinator of a citizen science project aimed at engaging the public in freshwater conservation issues through the collection of information on the presence and distribution of molluscs along the river, with the title: #Tevere molluschi fantastici….e dove trovarli".

The Guardian of the Coastal Dunes: The Conservation of the Kentish Plover Tells the Story of the Health of Mediterranean Coasts

In order to stop the rapid decline of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), the Life ALEXANDRO project has just been launched. It is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme and aims to protect the species while promoting a sustainable model for coastal management. Classified as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Italian vertebrates, the Kentish plover has declined from more than 1,300 estimated breeding pairs in 2004 to about 500 in 2023, mainly due to tourism pressure and the loss of dune habitats.

The project involves 10 Italian regions and the Croatian region of Zadar, covering a total of about 400 km of coastline. Planned actions include nest protection, monitoring, habitat restoration, and dialogue with public authorities and beach tourism operators. ISPRA will play a central role: it will coordinate concrete conservation actions, develop research activities to identify the most suitable nesting areas at the national scale, and prepare Guidelines for the protection of the species.

Who protects pollinators in Italy? First meeting of the LIFE PolliNetwork National Stakeholder Platform

The first map of institutional, scientific, economic, and social actors engaged in pollinator protection in Italy is now ready: 258 stakeholders have been identified as part of the PolliNetwork project.

In recent days, the first meeting of the Stakeholder Platform promoted within the LIFE PolliNetwork project and coordinated by WWF Italy took place. The technical meeting marked the first official opportunity for discussion with a broad and diverse audience composed of 116 representatives from around 70 organizations, including public bodies, institutions, universities, infrastructure managers, agricultural organizations, associations, and other entities interested in the protection of pollinating insects in Italy and involved in the restoration and management of the natural habitats where bees, butterflies, and hoverflies live.

Good news, bad news, fake news: renewables between narrative and reality

In a context marked by strong geopolitical pressures and an increasingly polarized debate, the event aims to explore the gap between the narrative and the reality of the energy transition, bringing together representatives from the media and industry operators.

The meeting will be structured into two panels: the first featuring specialized journalists, to analyze the media portrayal of renewables and the tools to counter misinformation; the second with industry operators, to take stock of the current state of renewables and the progress of the green transition.

International Day of Forests 2026

The International Day of Forests is celebrated every year on March 21 and represents an important opportunity to reflect on the vital role forests play for our planet. Established in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Day aims to highlight the essential contribution forests make—not only in providing timber and non-wood forest products (such as berries, mushrooms, resins, and more), but also in delivering key ecosystem services, including erosion control, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people.

The theme for the 2026 International Day of Forests is “Forests and Economies.” Forests support livelihoods, create jobs, reduce poverty, and strengthen food systems for billions of people around the world.

World Recycling Day

March 18 is World Recycling Day, an initiative aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of recycling and the responsible use of resources, promoting practices that reduce energy consumption, improve the quality of the water and air we breathe, and combat climate change.

ISPRA has recently updated its Environmental Indicators Database. In the “Circular Economy” section, indicators are collected to monitor the transition toward a circular economic model in which materials are used, recycled, and reused as much as possible.

With a focus on food waste and separate waste collection, ISPRA and the Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy are promoting the “Facciamo Circolare” campaign.

Microplastics: How Much Do We Know?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, conventionally defined as being smaller than 5 millimeters in size. They represent a potential threat to global health according to the One Health paradigm.

The BioPlast4Safe Project promotes the study of the characteristics, fate, and potential toxicological and ecotoxicological effects of plastics, with a specific focus on biodegradable polymers as a potential strategy to mitigate plastic pollution, in a from science to action perspective.

ISPRA is a partner of the Project

Film Lab at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano

Pianeta Mare Film Festival

A five-day Film Lab dedicated to the sea, climate change, and biodiversity.

The “Pianeta Mare Film Lab” on biodiversity will return in 2026. It will take place from April 20 to 24 at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano in Rome.

The initiative represents an extraordinary stage of the “Pianeta Mare Film Lab 2026” Tour of Italy: five-day artistic and educational residencies dedicated to students under 30, focused on the themes of the sea, climate change, and biodiversity. During the Film Lab, with the artistic residency hosted within the Estate, participants will have the opportunity to conceive and develop stories, experimenting with innovative smartphone filming techniques to create short films on the selected themes.

The Presidential Estate of Castelporziano, covering approximately 6,000 hectares, represents a unique site in terms of biodiversity, featuring typical Mediterranean ecosystems: from the sea to inland areas, there are unspoiled beaches, dunes, rich Mediterranean scrub, woodlands, and a wide variety of wildlife species, including wild boars, fallow deer, red deer, roe deer, and wolves.

The Presidential Estate of Castelporziano, together with the CNR and NBFC, ISPRA, Roma Tre University, and the Italian Academy of Sciences (known as the XL), are among the main scientific partners of the Film Lab. Cultural partners also include WWF, Lipu, Legambiente, and Institut Français Italia.

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.