Events and News

"Protecting Blue Corridors”

ISPRA in International Research: Antarctic Orcas and the Global Map of Migration Corridors

Antarctica and the Global Network of Seas: ISPRA’s Contribution to the “Protecting Blue Corridors” Project

The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) further strengthens its prominent role in the international scientific community through its participation in the global Protecting Blue Corridors initiative, a leading network bringing together experts in marine science, conservation, technology and environmental policy to map the migration routes of marine mammals worldwide.

COP17: Italy Joins the Fungal Conservation Pledge

On 27 October 2026, Italy announced its commitment to the Fungal Conservation Pledge, an international initiative aimed at promoting the recognition and conservation of fungal diversity as part of biodiversity policies.

The announcement was made by Claudio Barbaro, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, during an event dedicated to the initiative, held on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia.

Rome, Volcanoes and Mammoths: The Transformations of the Ancient Appian Way

The Ancient Appian Way, one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological parks and, since a year ago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be at the heart of a guided trek led by researchers from ISPRA (the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research). The transformation of the landscape will be explored through the lenses of zoology, geology and urban planning, highlighting the many different perspectives through which the history of the Regina Viarum can be interpreted.

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Mammals 4.0: Behind the Scenes of Research – The Fourth Episode of DigitAP

The seventeenth edition of M’ammalia 2026 – Mammal Week kicks off on 23 October. This year’s theme is “Mammals 4.0: Behind the Scenes of Research”. The initiative provides an opportunity to showcase how technology and new methodologies are transforming the study, conservation and management of wildlife, and to launch the fourth episode in our documentary series dedicated to biodiversity monitoring. The series was produced with funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), as part of the DigitAP project, promoted and implemented by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), with the support of the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU. ISPRA played a leading role in the project’s scientific coordination.

The ocean sunfish in the Mediterranean: new insights into an enigmatic species

With its large, flattened body, the ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is one of the most distinctive and recognizable inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea. Encounters with this species are uncommon, but when it appears at the surface, it rarely goes unnoticed. Yet, despite its large size and wide distribution, many aspects of its ecology remain poorly understood, particularly in the Mediterranean.

A new study coordinated by ISPRA has sought to fill some of these knowledge gaps by bringing together the available scientific literature on the species, 14 years of ferry-based observations, and the latest environmental DNA (eDNA) data.

17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17)

Understanding and Studying Wildlife: ISPRA Meets Local Schools

ISPRA helps promote an environmental culture focused on sustainability by developing educational initiatives and materials, providing educators with methodological updates, and participating, within its areas of expertise, in projects addressing a wide range of environmental issues.

ISPRA’s programme of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainability (EAS) initiatives is aimed at schools of all levels. Drawing on the Institute’s scientific, technical and educational expertise, the programme seeks to foster environmental awareness and encourage sustainable choices and lifestyles among younger generations. Some multimedia educational programmes are available entirely online

The DigitAP Project Results Capture the Biodiversity of Italy’s Protected Areas

Millions of data records collected, state-of-the-art technologies and a shared digital infrastructure for the coordinated monitoring of biodiversity across Italy’s 24 National Parks and 31 Marine Protected Areas: the work carried out under the DigitAP project came to a close on 15 October at the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE).

The project was promoted and implemented by MASE with the support of ISPRA and funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

World Migratory Bird Day

ISPRA releases a documentary dedicated to bird monitoring

10 October 2026 marks World Migratory Bird Day. Birds are remarkable bioindicators: sensitive to changes in the landscape, their presence and population status provide valuable insights into environmental quality and the biodiversity richness of the ecosystems they inhabit and travel through.

To celebrate this day, we are releasing the third episode in our documentary series dedicated to biodiversity monitoring. The series was produced with funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) as part of the DigitAP project, promoted and implemented by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), with support from ISPRA and funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU. ISPRA played a leading role in providing scientific guidance for the project.

Set against the spectacular and complex landscape of the Cinque Terre National Park, this third episode shows how technological innovation is transforming field research. By installing acoustic recorders and using machine-learning-based software for species identification, researchers can continuously and non-invasively detect, track and analyse the presence of species across the territory. These methods improve the quality of the data collected and strengthen our ability to protect biodiversity in Italy’s national parks.

World Migratory Bird Day: “Every Sighting Counts”

Italy at the Heart of Migration Routes through Citizen Science and the AEWA Agreement

On the occasion of the autumn observance of World Migratory Bird Day, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and ISPRA invite citizens to become active participants in scientific research.

Saturday, October 10, 2026, marks the autumn observance of World Migratory Bird Day, the global campaign promoted by the United Nations environmental treaties CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) and AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds), together with Environment for the Americas (EFTA) and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP).

The official 2026 theme, “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” (“Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”), highlights the invaluable contribution of Citizen Science (public participation in scientific research). From observations in urban parks to wetland monitoring, data collected by enthusiasts, volunteers and birdwatchers around the world are transformed into essential scientific tools for protecting global biodiversity.

Following Seabird Routes for the Future of High Seas Protected Areas

A study of 13,000 seabirds in the Atlantic and Mediterranean provides scientific guidance for expanding protection to at least 30% of the planet’s marine surface by 2030

The expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is one of the cornerstones of international efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity caused by human activities. The global Kunming-Montreal Agreement aims to protect at least 30% of the world’s marine surface by 2030, an objective incorporated at the European level into the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and into the National Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

However, around 60% of the oceans consists of the High Seas: international waters extending beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast, which for a long time remained without effective shared protection. This gap was finally addressed with the entry into force, in early 2026, of the landmark UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), which finally provides a binding legal framework for establishing marine reserves in waters beyond national jurisdiction.

The Effective Use of Green and Blue Spaces to Promote Health and Well-Being: The Role of Stakeholders

A project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health’s National Complementary Plan: “Well-Designed and Well-Managed Green and Blue Spaces to Improve Health and Well-Being: Scientific Evidence and Green Prescriptions”

The PNC research project “The Effective Use of Green and Blue Spaces to Promote Health and Well-Being”, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, was launched in 2023 and will run through 2026.

On 7 October 2026 in Rome, at the ISPRA Conference Room, as part of the project’s events for disseminating its results, some of the outputs produced as part of the project will be presented.

Habitat is not just a home for humans, but a dwelling place for all species

The Selva del Lamone Nature Reserve: An Ecosystem Shaped by Volcanism

The excursion is organized by ISPRA as part of the 14th edition of Earth Science Week

This 6.5-km circular trail runs through the Selva del Lamone Regional Nature Reserve, following mule tracks that border volcanic outcrops colonized by vegetation.

The Reserve is an important biotope established on a basaltic lava flow belonging to the Vulsini Volcanic Complex, which was emplaced approximately 100,000 years ago, followed by cooling and subsequent fragmentation. This process gave rise to the frasfuni, a chaotic expanse of basaltic blocks, the most famous of which is known as Rosa Crepante.

Citizen Science at the Aniene Valley Nature Reserve

As part of the 2026 edition of Urban Nature, an initiative promoted by WWF to raise awareness of the importance, value and care of nature in urban areas, the National Biodiversity Network of ISPRA, in collaboration with the Insieme per l’Aniene Association, is organizing a meeting between experts and citizens on 3 October at the Aniene Valley Nature Reserve.

The initiative includes an approximately three-hour walk to discover the flora and fauna of the protected area, with particular attention to the characteristics of its ecosystems, including the riparian vegetation along the course of the Aniene River

National Nature Restoration Plan. ISPRA: New Opportunities for Territories, Communities and the Economy

“Not a Plan of Restrictions, but a major project for the country. Nature conservation must go hand in hand with development, supported by science, participation, and a strong alliance among institutions, local communities, businesses and citizens".

With these words, Maria Alessandra Gallone, President of ISPRA and the SNPA, expresses, on behalf of the Institute, her satisfaction at the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) giving the green light for the draft National Nature Restoration Plan to be submitted to the European Commission. ISPRA provided extensive technical and scientific support in preparing the Plan, working closely with MASE and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF), and in cooperation with the Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics (CREA).

This was a complex and wide-ranging team effort, launched in September 2025, involving the entire Institute. It supported the development of the Plan through scientific analyses, assessment of measures, identification of knowledge gaps, support for central and regional administrations, and dialogue with European institutions. The draft prepared for submission to the European Commission now includes 2,078 restoration measures, the outcome of a process that has been progressively strengthened through public consultation and dialogue with stakeholders.

“The National Nature Restoration Plan,” President Gallone continues, “represents a major opportunity for Italy. We must explain it and, above all, implement it for what it can genuinely become: not a set of restrictions imposed without consultation, but a project to regenerate our natural heritage and, at the same time, our territories, economies and communities. Restoring nature means investing in the future. Sustainability is meaningful when it integrates environmental, economic and social dimensions, placing people and their needs at the centre. The extensive work carried out by the Institute so far is certainly not an end point, but an ongoing process that continues today and into the future.”

For ISPRA, it will be essential for the implementation phase to continue following the same approach of dialogue and participation that accompanied the preparation of the Plan. The public consultation was followed by meetings with environmental organisations, representatives of the fisheries, agricultural and forestry sectors, hunting associations, stakeholders working in urban environments, and the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI).

“This,” Gallone continues, “is the approach we must continue to follow: a strong alliance for nature and sustainable development. The State, Regions, Municipalities, the National System for Environmental Protection, the scientific and research community, businesses, farmers, fishermen, associations and citizens must all play an active role in a shared process. The transition works when no one is left on the sidelines and when scientific knowledge becomes a practical tool to support decision-making".

This vision is further reinforced by the words of President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella on the occasion of Terra Madre, when he referred to biodiversity as an asset that protects human health and as a responsibility requiring public participation and institutional action. “President Mattarella’s words,” President Gallone concludes, “once again point us in a clear direction: the environment, biodiversity, people and development do not belong to separate worlds. They are all part of the same future. Nature restoration must not mean bringing territories to a standstill, but helping them evolve in a better way – making them safer, more attractive and capable of generating new economic opportunities and employment.”

ISPRA will continue to make its scientific expertise, data, platforms and knowledge of the territory available to MASE, MASAF and the institutional system as a whole, supporting the subsequent phases of the Plan within the scope of its responsibilities".

Documentary: "Marsican Brown Bear Population Estimate"

This documentary shines a spotlight on one of the rarest and most fascinating animals in Italy: the Marsican brown bear, a unique subspecies found nowhere else in the world and now at risk of extinction.

Through exclusive footage and first-hand testimonies from the field, we explore the life of this extraordinary bear, which has found its last refuge among the mountains of the central Apennines.

This is not merely the story of a species, but also a profound reflection on the delicate balance between humans and wildlife.

The Nature of the Democratic City

The meeting "The Nature of the Democratic City" will take place on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 9:30 AM in Room VI of the Department of Philosophy at Sapienza University.
The event will provide an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary reflection—spanning ecology, urban planning, and philosophy—on the relationships between humans, non-humans, and the environment within urban life in the Anthropocene.

29th International Conference on Bear Research and Management

Connecting science, practice and community engagement for human–bear coexistence

The 29th International Conference on Bear Research and Management will be held in Pescasseroli from 20 to 25 September 2026. This leading international event will take place in the heart of the Central Apennines, home to the Marsican brown bear, a critically endangered species.

New Study on the Genetic Diversity of the European Hedgehog in Italy

A new study published in the journal Mammalian Biology analyzes the genetic structure and evolutionary history of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Italy, integrating for the first time data from populations distributed across the entire Italian Peninsula, northeastern Italy, and the country’s main islands.

The research, coordinated by ISPRA researchers and conducted in collaboration with the National Research Council (CNR), IZS Sicilia, the NBCF in Palermo, the Universities of Rome La Sapienza and Sassari, and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, examined more than 200 samples, using genetic analysis to reconstruct the genetic relationships among the different populations.

Environmental training course: "Protect habitats and river species"

The training program, developed and implemented as part of the LIFE STREAMS project, aims to disseminate and promote a common, shared understanding regarding the proper management and conservation of Mediterranean trout populations and habitats, based on the guidelines developed within the project itself.

ISPRA’s first documentary series on biodiversity monitoring

Technology meets nature in the first documentary series on biodiversity monitoring that ISPRA will release on its YouTube channel. This initiative was developed as part of the DigitAP project—Digitization of Protected Areas—promoted and implemented by MASE with support from ISPRA and funded by the European Union (NextGenerationEU).
Terrestrial laser scanners, drones, camera traps, bioacoustics, genomics, and eDNA: we take you into the field to show you up close how we monitor our country's biodiversity.
Watch the preview trailer!

On September 21, ISPRA has published the first documentary in the series dedicated to estimating the Marsican brown bear population.

Energy Transition and Ecosystem Protection: Assessing the Impacts of Wind Energy, Biodiversity Monitoring, and Nature-Based Solutions for Solar Photovoltaics

The course, organized by the Emilia-Romagna Region – Protected Areas, Forests and Mountain Areas Development Department as part of the European LIFE NatConnect2030 project, is aimed at technical and administrative staff of public authorities, managers of protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, environmental professionals and consultants, and researchers.

The initiative will explore the application of the Appropriate Assessment (AA) procedure to wind energy projects, biodiversity monitoring, and the role of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in the design and management of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems. Particular attention will be given to ecosystem conservation and the protection of the Natura 2000 network.

Coesistenza Festival 2026

From 4 to 6 September 2026, the Coesistenza Festival will take place: three days of talks, performances, excursions, film screenings and workshops dedicated to coexistence between humans and nature.

On 4 September, ISPRA researchers Piero Genovesi and Andrea Monaco will take part in the scientific talks:

Wild Boars in the Spotlight: Between Forests, Countryside and Cities

Who Decides Who Stays?

Issue 42 of RETICULA is now online

Issue 42 of RETICULA is now available online, the ISPRA technical and scientific journal dedicated to ecological connectivity, green infrastructure, and spatial and landscape planning.

The editorial opens with a reflection on wind power repowering and the upgrading of already developed sites, identified as important steps in the energy transition process.

This issue also features an in-depth look at the path towards the National Ecological Network: from the 2003 APAT Guidelines on Ecological Networks in Italy’s Regions and Autonomous Provinces to ISPRA Report 423/2025, the article explores the evolution of ecological networks and their role in implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030.

MicoCosmo Festival 2026

The third edition of the MicoCosmo Festival—an Italian mycology event dedicated to giving a voice to the diverse facets of this world—will take place in Cevo (Brescia) from September 2 to 6.

The Meet Fungi project, of which ISPRA is a partner, will participate in the event to showcase its activities and objectives, promoting the monitoring of fungal biodiversity, the collection and sharing of mycological data, and the value of fungi for forest ecosystem conservation.

The LIFE REGROWTH Project Gets Underway to Restore the Venice Lagoon Ecosystem

The European LIFE REGROWTH project (Restoration of Habitat 1150 through the reintroduction of aquatic angiosperms in choked shallow waters of the central-southern basins of the Venice Lagoon) has officially launched. This major ecosystem restoration initiative aims to restore biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of the central-southern areas of the Venice Lagoon.*

ISPRA Conducts Cetacean Monitoring under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the LIFE MareNatura Project

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).

A New Key Area for Sperm Whales in the Aegean Sea

An important achievement resulting from ISPRA’s activities within the LIFE MARENATURA project, which dedicates one of its Work Packages to studying the habitat use of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).

In May 2026, aboard the research vessel Artina operated by Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC), ISPRA, with the support of the CIMA Research Foundation, coordinated a field campaign to deploy SPOT-365 satellite tags. Thanks to the outstanding joint efforts of the LIFE MARENATURA project partners, more than 80 hours of observation were carried out during just 10 days of surveys, leading to the sighting of three adult male sperm whales.

Beyond the coast: bottlenose dolphins follow the rhythm of the seasons in the Mediterranean

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.