Events and News

Prenestini Bioblitz – Mapping the Biodiversity of the Monte Guadagnolo SAC

As part of the initiative “25 Years Together for Biodiversity” promoted by the Museo Civico Naturalistico dei Monti Prenestini on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of its activities, the bioblitz “Discovering the Biodiversity of the Monti Prenestini” will begin on June 6, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude at 6:00 p.m. on the following day.

Green&Blue Festival 2026

The Green&Blue Festival 2026 will be held in Milan from June 4 to 6, 2026, at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. The event, focusing on sustainability and climate, will include three days of meetings, performances, and discussions with international experts.

The theme chosen for this edition is "We focusing on everyone's active role in building a sustainable world".

European Day of Parks 2026

Healthy ecosystems do not exist in isolation: they thrive only when ecological connections are active — biological corridors, connected habitats, and landscapes that allow species to move, adapt, and flourish.

These connections often extend beyond the boundaries of any single Protected Area. To nurture nature, we must think beyond borders, restore links, build ecological networks, and create partnerships that bring together people, communities, and nature.

For this reason, the slogan of the 2026 Parks Day is “United by Nature.”

The European Day of Parks, celebrated on May 24, is a commemorative day dedicated to protected areas throughout Europe, established in 1999 by the EUROPARC Federation

World Biodiversity Day 2026

May 22 is World Biodiversity Day, established by the United Nations to celebrate biodiversity—the richness of life at the level of ecosystems, species, and genes—on our planet.

The date of May 22 was chosen by the United Nations in 2000 to commemorate the official adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which took place in Nairobi on May 22, 1992.

The Convention on Biological Diversity pursues three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of these genetic resources, especially in cases of economic exploitation.

World Bee Day 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.

The new issue of RETICULA, ISPRA’s technical-scientific journal, is now online

The issue 41 of RETICULA, the technical-scientific journal published by ISPRA and dedicated to ecological connectivity and green infrastructure in land-use and landscape planning, is now available online.

The editorial of the new issue focuses on Mediterranean wetlands, essential ecosystems for biodiversity and climate regulation, highlighting their strategic role as Nature-based Solutions.

The contamination of the seabed of the Orbetello Lagoon and its relationships with biota

The RELOAD Project (ISPRA – Regione Toscana) and prospects for the environmental protection of the lagoon

On May 15, in Orbetello, ISPRA is organizing a study day entitled: “The contamination of the seabed of the Orbetello Lagoon and its relationships with biota – The RELOAD Project (ISPRA – Regione Toscana) and prospects for the environmental protection of the lagoon.”

The initiative aims to present the results of the RELOAD project, funded by Regione Toscana, and focused on defining reference values (pursuant to Director’s Decree 08.06.2016). These parameters are essential for a possible redefinition of the boundaries of the SIN (Site of National Interest) of the Orbetello Lagoon and for identifying the seabed areas considered most critical.

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

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.

Four Years of Monitoring Wild Pollinators in the Vesuvius National Park

On the occasion of World Bee Day and the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Vesuvius National Park is promoting the conference–excursion “Four Years of Monitoring Wild Pollinators in the Vesuvius National Park,” scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, between Ottaviano and Ercolano.

The conference will represent an important opportunity to present the results of four years of monitoring pollinator biodiversity within the territory of the Vesuvius National Park through the BeeVesuvius project.

World Migratory Bird Day 2026

Saturday, May 9th, is World Migratory Bird Day. The theme for 2026, "Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!", emphasizes the importance of citizen science for migratory bird conservation.

Focusing on individual contributions, citizen science, and public bird monitoring initiatives, the 2026 campaign will celebrate the millions of bird enthusiasts worldwide who, through every recorded observation, contribute to the collection of data and knowledge critical to policy decisions and bird conservation.

Short Film “Wild Diary”

The short film “Wild Diary” produced at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano during the residential workshop organized by the Pianeta Mare Film Festival, with the scientific support of ISPRA, received two special jury awards: the Institut Français Award and the Lago Film Festival Award. The video, created by the two young filmmakers Angelica Brachetti and Paola Cainiello, aimed to portray the behind-the-scenes activities of wildlife monitoring carried out by ISPRA on behalf of the Estate, providing the scientific data necessary for wildlife management, with particular reference to ungulates.

Protection of pollinators, tools and practices: what actions are possible?

The initiative, through the involvement of representatives from institutional, production, environmental, and research sectors, aims—starting from the results of LIFE BEEadapt and the instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) currently in place to support pollinators—to foster debate on the dissemination of good practices and on the synergies that can be developed to implement actions of interest for the protection of pollinators.

Wolf, ISPRA and SNPA President Gallone: “An alliance is urgently needed to stop illegality and conflicts”

ISPRA and SNPA President Maria Alessandra Gallone:
“As already reiterated in recent days, the reckless act of indiscriminately killing animals such as the wolf — a symbolic species of Italian biodiversity — risks undermining the results achieved over the past decades in terms of its protection and conservation.

It is necessary to establish as soon as possible a discussion forum that represents a concrete alliance with all stakeholders who live and work in these areas, responsibly and fairly supporting primary production while ensuring the safety of areas of extraordinary ecological value. This path will be essential to reduce existing conflicts and decisively combat illegality, which threatens not only a protected species but the entire wildlife heritage of these territories, including grazing livestock activities.”

Final conference “LIFE STREAMS Project: Safeguarding the Mediterranean trout and its habitat”

The Mediterranean trout, a native species at critical risk of extinction, is a symbol of freshwater conservation in the Apennines and Sardinia. Its protection is essential for biodiversity, which is threatened by climate change and hybridization with non-native trout.

The LIFE STREAMS project has worked on the recovery and conservation of native populations through monitoring and management, strengthening their numbers and genetic integrity. It also represents a key component of the APE – Appennino Parco d’Europa strategy, launched in the 1990s to support the then-emerging network of protected areas.

ISPRA and the National Biodiversity Network take part in the City Nature Challenge in Turin

The City Nature Challenge 2026 is back

ISPRA’s participation

From April 24 to 27, 2026, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) returns—an international event that invites citizens to observe and document plants and animals in urban areas, contributing to the collection of data useful for scientific research and the management of urban biodiversity.

The CNC combines the practicality of technology with the beauty of nature: thanks to the digital platform  iNaturalist,, which can be downloaded for free on computers or smartphones, users can record the GPS coordinates of their sightings and identify the observed animal or plant species by uploading a photograph.

Each year, participating cities compete to record the highest number of nature observations: citizens can contribute independently or by taking part in the various local initiatives organized in participating cities.

Public Consultation Launched on the National Nature Restoration Plan

From April 23 to June 9, 2026, it will be possible to participate in the public consultation on the National Nature Restoration Plan.

The initiative, promoted by the Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (MASE), in collaboration with the Ministero dell'Agricoltura, della Sovranità Alimentare e delle Foreste (MASAF), aims to actively involve citizens, trade associations, and stakeholders in defining strategies to restore Italian ecosystems.

The Plan represents the tool through which Italy will implement the Nature Restoration Regulation: restoring terrestrial, freshwater, marine, urban, river, agricultural, and forest ecosystems, as well as pollinator populations, means protecting ourselves from hydrogeological instability and climate change, improving the quality of the air we breathe, ensuring food security, and safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.

This is not only about environmental protection, but also a long-term strategy that, up to 2050, will set the course for a more resilient country.

All comments received will be reviewed by MASE, ensuring that the final Plan is participatory and widely shared.

Former wild animals in the city

We are increasingly hearing about the presence—often described as “invasions”—of wild animals in urban areas, both non-native and native species. Even animals that once lived undisturbed in their natural ecosystems have begun to move deeper into and settle within cities, driven by the reduction of available natural habitats and changes in behavior related to food searching. We have invited experts in the field who will offer insights and points for reflection on this phenomenon.

ISPRA in the Villaggio per la Terra

The event, organized by Fondazione Earth Day Italy to celebrate the 56th Earth Day of the United Nations, will take place in Rome from April 16 to 19.

Four days of celebration open to everyone, featuring over 600 free events and 250 participating organizations. The evocative setting of Villa Borghese will be transformed into a vibrant stage for sports, cultural, and artistic activities. More than thirty sports will be available to try, along with workshops offered by the country’s leading research institutes, and 17 themed areas dedicated to the goals of the 2030 Agenda, animated by dozens of organizations.

There will also be concerts, live events, talks, and DJ sets between the Galoppatoio di Villa Borghese and the Terrazza del Pincio, where a green crafts market will also be set up.

ISPRA participates in the Rome Science Festival 2026

ISPRA in the Festival Impatta Disrupt

The Innovability Festival

The event officially celebrates the United Nations World Innovation Day, as part of the broader framework of Italian Earth Day celebrations.

The aim of the initiative is to create an interdisciplinary think tank where scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and innovation stakeholders can engage in dialogue to achieve the “green renaissance” called for by the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The Impatta Disrupt Festival is also designed as an accredited training module at major national and international academic institutions.

The entire program is recognized as a training module by the Environmental Specialization School of ISPRA, and each session is organized in collaboration with a university that acknowledges its scientific and educational value by including it among its official seminars.

Partnerships have been developed with Sapienza University of Rome, CREST - Centre for Research and Engineering in Space Technologies, LUMSA University, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, University of Tuscia, and IUL Telematic University.

National Conference on Wildlife Recovery

The event stems from the increasingly urgent need to initiate a structured national discussion on the role and management of wildlife rescue centers (CRFS/CRAS). In recent years, the sector has been affected by significant regulatory changes introduced by Legislative Decrees 134/2022, 135/2022, and 136/2022, which are redefining the responsibilities, operating procedures, and organizational models related to wild animal rescue and recovery activities.

The conference will provide an opportunity for industry professionals, central, regional, and local institutions, and other stakeholders to meet and engage in dialogue, with the aim of analyzing the current state of the system and identifying shared perspectives for the future.

On the wings of conservation: satellite monitoring of Isidoro for the future of the Golden Eagle

Within the framework of the LIFE Abilas project on the reintroduction of the Bonelli’s Eagle in Sardinia, ISPRA is conducting research on the ecological interaction between the Golden Eagle and the Bonelli’s Eagle in the Mediterranean. The aim is to identify possible differences in dispersal strategies, spatial distribution, and potential overlap areas between the two species, in order to develop the most effective conservation strategies.

In Sicily, where a thriving population of Bonelli’s Eagle is present, on July 15, 2025, the first Golden Eagle chick, Isidoro, was tagged (equipped with a GSM/GPS satellite transmitter) at a historic site within the Parco regionale dei Nebrodi. Continuously monitored thanks to a webcam providing real-time images, on August 18, 2025, at around 1:00 PM, it left the nest.

PNNR MER: Seamounts and deep species

In the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, at over 2,000 meters below the surface, seamounts reveal a world that until recently we were unable to see. Thanks to a Work Class ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)—used as part of the PNRR MER project—a true “robotic vehicle,” research by ISPRA is able to enter these environments and closely observe the species that inhabit them: fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and cartilaginous fish.

In extreme conditions, life finds surprising solutions, such as large eyes, wide mouths, large body sizes, or long fins used like a tripod, creating shapes and behaviors that tell the story of the strength of these mysterious ecosystems.

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.

Estimate of the Marsican brown bear population: second phase of genetic monitoring completed

At the beginning of March, the second meeting on the genetic monitoring of the Marsican brown bear was held in Rome, with strong institutional participation. The meeting was part of the PNRR DigitAP Project, coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security with technical support from ISPRA.

Around one hundred participants—including representatives from Regions, National Parks, public bodies, the Carabinieri Forestali, associations, and universities involved in the project dedicated to estimating the Apennine population of the Marsican brown bear—took part in the second update meeting on the results of genetic analyses, which conclude “phase two” of the project.

Winter School "Green blue spaces for urban and planetary health"

ARPA Emilia-Romagna, in collaboration with Fondazione Flaminia and Alma Tu, is promoting the "Green & Blue Space for Urban and Planetary Health" course from March 16 to 30, 2026. Participation is free and online, for a total of 30 hours.
Topics covered include: Urban and Planetary Health, Pollution, Climate Change, and Vulnerability, Green and Blue Areas as Nature-Based Solutions, "Allying" Plants and Problematic Species, Co-benefits for Mental Health, Aging, and Chronic Diseases, and Participatory Design for Healthy and Resilient Cities.

EcoAtl@ante: the StoryMap “The Washington Convention (CITES) and Forensic Genetics” is now online

The Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known by the acronym CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), is an international agreement established in 1973 in Washington, D.C.

Its main objective is to ensure that the international trade of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species involved.

The new EcoAtl@anteStoryMap presents data and information on the distribution of samples analyzed for CITES, covering the period from 1995 to the present.

The Conservation Genetics Unit of ISPRA carries out genetic analyses to verify legal captive breeding through biomolecular testing. Over the years, highly efficient analytical protocols have been developed and specifically tailored for each CITES species subjected to biomolecular analyses. ISPRA manages a biobank containing over 20,000 biological samples belonging to approximately 200 different species of birds, reptiles, and mammals.

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.