Events and News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Traveler: Danger or Resource?

The Contribution of Bioethics to Regenerative Tourism

The role of the conscious traveler can constitute a sort of "public good." We create connections between the health of people, places, crops, animals, and knowledge.

ISPRA researcher Andrea Monaco will participate in the meeting with a presentation entitled "Inform yourself, think, travel. For sustainable and alien-free tourism, data on invasive species."

“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.

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.

"Un Solo Mare" Festival

From 11 to 15 February 2026, the first edition of Un Solo Mare will take place at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone. This new festival, produced by the Fondazione Musica per Roma, aims to celebrate the sea as a shared heritage and an irreplaceable resource.

The Festival was created out of the need to establish a space for dialogue dedicated to the 70% of the planet’s surface and 90% of its biosphere that regulates the climate, sustains life, nourishes us, and produces half of the oxygen we breathe.

Marine biodiversity and conservation, climate change and adaptation, marine exploration and technologies, the blue economy and sustainable development, and Mediterranean governance will be the major themes at the heart of the Festival.

ISPRA is organizing “The Deep Colors of the Mediterranean”, an immersive journey into the depths of the sea through images and videos collected by ISPRA. A conference-show designed for lower and upper secondary schools, aimed at discovering hidden ecosystems, understanding their fragility, and closely observing life in the deep sea.

On 11 February, the “Blue Economy between Italy and the Mediterranean” conference will feature the participation of ISPRA Director General, Maria Siclari.

ISPRA is organizing also the following conferences:

Questa è una spiaggia ecologica e tu ne fai parte!

Mare nostrum: scopriamo insieme il Mar Mediterraneo

I colori profondi del Mediterraneo

Banquette alla riscossa

Dentro i laboratori del mare. Collegamento con navi oceanografiche e basi artiche

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.

IPBES publishes a report on the links between business and biodiversity

On the occasion of the 12th plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, held in Manchester from 2 to 8 February 2026, the global methodological report “Business and Biodiversity: Methodological Assessment of the Impact and Dependency of Business on Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions to People” was adopted. On the same occasion, the plenary also approved the Summary for Policymakers of the report.

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day, celebrated on 2 February, marks the signing in 1971 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and aims to raise global awareness of the crucial importance of wetlands for people and for our planet.

The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres” The Convention is the only international environmental treaty specifically focused on these ecosystems which, in addition to hosting and conserving a rich biological diversity of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, provide substantial water and food resources and play a fundamental role in mitigating climate change.

World Wetlands Day and the 50th anniversary of Italy’s ratification of the Ramsar Convention

On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, established by the United Nations in 1997, Italy will mark a major double milestone on 2 February: World Wetlands Day and the 50th anniversary of Italy’s ratification of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.

The theme chosen for World Wetlands Day 2026, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” aims to highlight the contribution of local communities and traditional knowledge to sustainable management practices and ecosystem restoration. This integrated approach, bringing together science, culture, and territory, is essential to counter the global decline of wetlands and to strengthen the resilience of natural systems.

The Nature Restoration Law: technical evidence for the drafting of the national restoration plan

The meeting will provide an opportunity for dialogue between European and Italian experiences, with the aim of promoting the exchange of good practices and critical reflections on the operational and knowledge-related challenges that lie ahead in the coming years.

The morning will be structured into two sessions. In the first session, the meeting will host (online) speakers from several European countries, who will share their approaches and strategies for drafting their National Restoration Plans. The discussion will focus on how each country is addressing key challenges—such as setting measurable targets, integrating biodiversity and climate objectives, ensuring effective governance, and engaging stakeholders. This comparative perspective will help highlight the diversity of national contexts and the overarching European vision underpinning the Nature Restoration Regulation.

The second session will be dedicated to the Italian context. Speakers involved in the preparation of the Italian National Restoration Plan will discuss the critical issues and opportunities of the ongoing process.

Natural Map: the map of the Umbria region is available

As part of the work on the creation of Italy’s Nature Map, the update of the habitat map and the related ecological-environmental assessments for the Umbria region is now available on the ISPRA website.

The products were developed by ISPRA following the methodological review and the update of the Legend.

The updated map includes 111 different habitat types and 48,534 ecotopes.

The cartography can be viewed on the ISPRA Geoportal or requested free of charge in shapefile format through the dedicated online form.

WOLFNETxT project conference

"Research, Experiences, Best Practices. National Parks and the Wolf in Italy"

WOLFNExT is a network of National Parks that looks to the future of the wolf in Italy in light of the significant ecological changes that have driven the species' expansion into areas where it had disappeared for decades. These changes often create new interfaces, requiring appropriate and increasingly advanced operational capabilities. Last but not least, they suggest adaptive solutions and effective communication with various stakeholders.

MEET-FUNGI: the project and the 2026 initiatives dedicated to fungal biodiversity officially kick off

On 31 January 2026, the launch event of the MEET-FUNGI project will take place in Valle Camonica (Lombardy). The project is coordinated by Federparchi, with the support of Fondazione Cariplo, and involves ISPRA as a partner alongside MicoCosmo and the Valle Camonica Mountain Community.

Following the launch event, a structured programme of outreach and training initiatives will begin and continue throughout 2026. These activities will include mycological excursions, workshops, and awareness-raising initiatives, open to the public and aimed at a broad and diverse audience.

The census of overwintering waterbirds celebrates its first 60 years

Coordinated in Italy by ISPRA, the Wetlands International project promotes the counting of waterbirds around mid-January across the entire European territory.

From 6 to 25 January 2026, surveys of overwintering waterbirds are being carried out in more than 2,000 Italian wetlands as part of the International Waterbird Census (IWC) project. The project is coordinated by ISPRA and relies on a network of over 500 expert surveyors and around 1,500 collaborators distributed throughout the country. With more than 30 years of continuous activity across the entire national territory, the IWC surveys represent one of Italy’s longest-running research projects, and certainly the leading one in terms of geographical coverage and regularity.

The 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the IWC censuses.

The first phase of genetic monitoring of the Marsican brown bear has been completed

Analysis of over eight hundred hair samples collected in the area of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park to estimate population size

The first phase of genetic monitoring of the Marsican brown bear has been successfully completed, with the aim of estimating as accurately as possible the population size of one of Europe’s rarest mammals. The activity took place within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, where 854 hair samples were collected and will now be analyzed by specialized laboratories.

To obtain these samples, “scent traps” were set up to attract bears to rubbing posts and around berry patches—environments where they find fruit to feed on. Thanks to more than four hundred installations, genetic material was collected for biomolecular analyses, which will make it possible to estimate both the size of the population and the species’ distribution range, in historically occupied areas as well as in zones of more recent colonization.

2026 Calendar of the National Biodiversity Network

The 2026 calendar of the National Biodiversity Network is illustrated with drawings and photographs created as part of educational activities and citizen science initiatives promoted by the Network.

ISPRA project for schools: “Botanical iconography as a tool for knowledge and environmental awareness.”

“Biodiversity in Pose” project: a citizen science initiative aimed at reporting the presence of plant and animal species across the national territory.

Download the calendar in pdf 

The Red Sea mullet has established itself in Lampedusa

Fishermen on the island are increasingly catching specimens of this alien species, which arrived in the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Initially observed only in deep waters, it has recently also been found along the coastal belt—an indication that suggests a stable establishment in the area, as has already occurred with other alien species such as the brown rabbitfish and the cornetfish.
ISPRA is closely monitoring the evolution of the phenomenon in order to assess interactions with native species and potential impacts on the ecosystem.
The collaboration of fishermen is crucial, as they provide valuable information to the scientific community

The European project Life Sea.Net concluded

A toolkit featuring operational tools to support managing authorities in the governance of protected areas has been presented.
The Italian marine Natura 2000 network can become the cornerstone of a new model of sea governance: effective, coordinated, participatory, and capable of protecting biodiversity, strengthening local economies, and making coastal communities more resilient.

Protecting migratory marine species such as the Mediterranean monk seal and the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) will now be easier thanks to cooperation among transboundary states, as will identifying the most appropriate management solutions and defining suitable measures for the conservation of sensitive habitats or species, in coordination with national and international administrations. But that is not all. It will also be easier to promote participatory and shared processes to expand the Natura 2000 Network—an extraordinary tool for biodiversity protection and a driver of the Blue Economy. Protected areas, in fact, stabilize ecosystems, ensuring natural resources for sustainable activities and fostering innovation, circular economy practices, and integrated territorial management.

ISPRA–Nebrodi Park Agreement for Biodiversity Monitoring

ISPRA and the Nebrodi Park Authority have signed a three-year agreement for the development of joint activities focused on monitoring, studying, and conserving biodiversity within the territory of the Nebrodi Park.

The collaboration combines ISPRA’s scientific expertise with the institutional and management role of the Park Authority and focuses on two key components of the Park’s ecosystems: mycological diversity, with particular reference to macrofungi, and the faunal component, especially avifauna of conservation interest.

Activities related to mycological biodiversity are carried out within a dedicated Network coordinated by ISPRA and include field surveys, the collection of ecological data using standardized protocols, validation of information through the Fungi Information System (SIF), and the preservation of specimens in the ISPRA database. The results will contribute to expanding and making more consistent the knowledge of the Park’s fungal diversity.

Final event LIFE SEA.NET project

The final conference of the Life Sea.Net Project, of which ISPRA is the main scientific partner, will be held on Wednesday, December 17, at Palazzo Falletti, Via Panisperna 207, in the Throne Room.

Project partners, institutional actors, and stakeholders will discuss the role of the Natura 2000 Network in protecting biodiversity and developing a sustainable blue economy.

The conference is divided into two sessions: the first will present the project's actions, the main results achieved, and the operational tools developed to support the management of Natura 2000 sites; the second will illustrate the management methods of the Natura 2000 Network and its role in achieving EU objectives.

The two sessions will conclude with a roundtable discussion on future prospects for marine protected areas.

Program

Project web site 

Presented Global Environment Outlook 7: A future we choose

The Executive Summary of the seventh edition of UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) was presented today in Nairobi, where the seventh United Nations General Assembly for the Environment (UNEA-7) is underway.

GEO-7, UNEP's flagship document, assesses the state of the environment at the global, regional, and national levels, highlighting interconnected crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, pollution, and waste. The report integrates scientific data, forecasting scenarios, and socioeconomic analyses, proposing solutions based on the circular economy, energy transition, and sustainable food systems.

287 scientists from various disciplines from 82 countries participated in the drafting process, supported by over 800 reviewers to ensure scientific accuracy. Twelve Italian authors are among the authors, including three young scientists who participated in GEO-7 as fellows.

ISPRA partner of the SEALIFE Project

Strengthening cooperation to develop joint solutions for the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal in the program area

As part of the European Territorial Cooperation Programme Interreg Greece-Italy 2021/2027, SEALIFE, a cross-border project dedicated to the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), one of the world's most endangered mammal species, is launched. The initiative aims to develop innovative strategies for the conservation of the monk seal in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas.