Events and News

Ecce Microforeste, ISPRA participates at the Sapienza University project

The "Ecce Microforeste" workshop on eco-pedagogical microforests will be held on Monday 5 February.
ISPRA participates in the Ecce Microforeste Project on the eco-pedagogical microforests of La Sapienza University with monitoring and support activities in citizen science and citizen engagement actions. ISPRA researchers will be present at the event with scientific contributions and practical experiences. Entrance is free.

The large Italian mammals between reintroductions and spontaneous returns: rereading history, scrutinizing the future

In Italy, most large mammal species are expanding or have recolonized much of the range from which they disappeared in the first half of the twentieth century. On this technical day, the GLAMM - Group for Large Mammals Conservation and Management - aims to reconstruct the history of these returns, through an analysis of the introduction interventions carried out in Italy and the factors that favored the recolonisations or spontaneous expansions. An opportunity to make a critical analysis of what has been done, recompose often fragmented pieces of information, critically identify knowledge gaps and address the challenges for the future with a multidisciplinary approach.

World Wetlands Day 2024

The World Wetland Day next 2 February 

celebrates the signing in 1971 of the International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as “marshes, marshes, peat bogs or reservoirs, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with stagnant or flowing water, fresh, brackish or salt, including expanses of marine water whose depth, during low tide, does not exceed six metres". The Convention is the only international treaty on the environment that deals with these particular ecosystems which, in addition to hosting and conserving a rich biological diversity of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates, guarantee huge resources of water and food and play a fundamental role in mitigating climate change.

The integrity of these environments is threatened by human activities.

The topic chosen for the 2024 Day is "Wetlands and human well-being".

On Radio3 Scienza an interview with the Responsible of the ISPRA wildlife coordination service

On  Radio3 Scienza of 30 January the Responsible of the ISPRA wildlife coordination service provides data on the situation of wolves in Europe and Italy, what damage  they cause and how we can intervene to mitigate their impacts. It also clarifies what would change if the proposal to change the protection status of the wolf put forward by the European Commission were passed.

The Strong Sea project in Civitavecchia

The aim of the project is to protect and improve the conservation status of protected habitats of Posidonia oceanica meadows and Coralligenous reefs damaged by the presence of Abandoned, Lost or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). The event will be an opportunity to present to the local population and stakeholders the actions already undertaken in the Gulf of Asinara to face this important challenge. The morning program proposes a series of interventions aimed at deepening not only the objectives of the project but also the replicability actions planned in Corsica and Tuscany; a round table will also be held in the afternoon which will involve researchers and experts from the local maritime and fishing sectors

Will ISPRA researchers be able to replicate the project along the seabed of Civitavecchia affected by the same threat?

Program

Photo gallery

Cetaceans, Maritime Traffic, and Management Tools in the Strait of Gibraltar. Proposals for a Challenging yet Not Impossible Coexistence

The transboundary area of the Strait of Gibraltar is home to seven protected cetacean species and stands as one of the world's marine areas most threatened by high-intensity maritime traffic.

The lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) in the area of Parmigiano Reggiano

The European Commission recently reported research conducted by ISPRA as a case study for the use of birds as indicators of biodiversity in intensified agricultural systems.

Position paper “Green infrastructures in cities ten years after the law on urban green spaces"

On 19 December, the Position paper "Green infrastructures in cities ten years after the law on urban green spaces" was released, developed by the ASviS working group on Goal 11 "Sustainable cities and communities".
Ten years after the approval of law n.10 "Regulations for the development of urban green spaces", a "profound turning point" is needed in Italian policies for greenery and biodiversity. Despite the spread of awareness of the importance of urban greenery among local administrations, there has not in fact been an increase in green areas, nor has adequate urban planning been adopted to protect the natural heritage.

Presentation of an integrated management plan for the conservation of Emys orbicularis

The Plan aims to improve the conservation status of Emys orbicularis in Italy and Slovenia - maintaining the genetic diversity of existing populations - and at promoting a cross-border management model for the species. The Plan will be adopted by the Natura 2000 Sites involved in the Project.

Presentation of the Dossier "Stop pesticides on the dish 2023"

Stop pesticides on the dish is the annual report that Legambiente prepares to take stock of the situation on pesticides present in the foods that arrive on the tables of Italians every day. An overview which, again this year, has returned a picture of light and shadow. To clarify the current situation and identify paths through which to reduce the use of pesticides, experts, representatives from the world of research, university professors and doctors were involved in drafting the report.

Po Delta Biodiversity Observatory. Report 2023

The Po Delta Biodiversity Observatory will be held on 15 December in Cannevié. Two ISPRA researchers will participate in the seminar with speeches on the Life Perdix Project and on the monitoring of colonial birds in Punte Alberete, Valli di Argenta and Valli di Comacchio.

Environmental training course "Green and blue infrastructures for more sustainable and resilient cities"

ISPRA will organize and promote the training course Green and blue infrastructures for more sustainable and resilient cities.
The course has as its main training objectives the acquisition of data and scientific evidence on the environmental and health benefits of nature in the city, to encourage the definition of tools capable of integrating the value of ecosystem services of urban and peri-urban green areas into local planning , in policies to combat climate change and health prevention.

Nature Map published: document to support the drafting of technical specifications for the realization and updating of regional habitat maps

On the SNPA website is on-line the technical publication " Carta della Natura: documento a supporto della redazione di capitolati tecnici per la realizzazione e l’aggiornamento delle carte degli habitat regionali".
This publication was realized to facilitate and set up, on common technical bases and operational proposals, the participation of ARPA/APPA and/or Regions interested in the creation and updating of the Nature Map in their respective territories.

Feeding the future: challenges and prospects in sustainable food production

35th Plant Medicine Forum: challenges and prospects in sustainable food production
How to produce food sustainably? This is the question that the 35th Plant Medicine Forum will focus on, an event dedicated to the protection of plants and the entire world of agricultural and agri-food production.

The reintroduction of the Italian grey partridge in the Mezzano Valley: progress, results and prospects

Seventh Community Forum

On 12 December in Ferrara, the results achieved in the last years of activity of the Life Perdix Project will be presented and the Code of voluntary conduct will be signed by numerous local agricultural companies that intend to commit themselves in the future to the protection of the Italian grey partridge, applying a series of good practices for the protection of its natural habitat.

Flamingomania – The pink flamingo festival

“Flamingomania – The pink flamingo festival” is the first Italian event that has the iconic pink-winged bird as its absolute protagonist and symbol. Co-protagonist of the event is the Tuscan lagoon of Orbetello, with the WWF oases and the regional and state nature reserve.

Ecosystem monitoring: a new generation of indicators for biodiversity

Organized by ARPA Basilicata in collaboration with ISPRA and the University of Bologna, the event is an opportunity to talk about biodiversity monitoring, especially in the Val d'Agri area.

The EU's green choices between information and perception

An event on journalism and the environment will be held on 6 December at the Sapienza University of Rome, to conclude the Bejour module "Becoming a Journalist in Europe: a bridge between traditional and new media".

IMPEL Network's JoNeF project welcomes European members to Italy

On 29, 30 November and 1 December 2023, ISPRA hosted the working group of international members of the IMPEL project called JoNeF (Joint Network for wild Fungi) in hybrid modality, with two meetings and a site visit.

Wildlife in the city: know it to respect it

The conference "Wildlife in the city: knowing it to respect it" will be held on November 27th at the Perugia headquarters of ARPA Umbria. In the session "Protecting Biodiversity also means..." the participation of an ISPRA researcher is expected with the speech " The ecosystem services of green and blue areas for healthier and more resilient cities".

Green General States

The "Green General States" are an opportunity for discussion and study to take stock of the state of Rome's green heritage, on the interventions implemented and on the future prospects of its evaluation and regeneration within the framework of the environmental challenges that await the city.

1° National Conference Citizen Science Italy

The first steps of the National Network

In recent years, Citizen Science (or participatory science) has seen a flourishing of projects, initiatives and networks at a global level. In Europe some countries have equipped themselves with national networks, with the aim of promoting coordination between projects and creating opportunities for exchange between society and the scientific world.

The city tree

National Tree Day is celebrated on 21 November, established as a national anniversary with a law of the Republic which came into force in February 2013. The objective of this celebration is to enhance the importance of the arboreal heritage and to remember the fundamental role played by woods and forests.

21 November - World Tree Day

ISPRA will participate in World Tree Day as part of the citizen science project on urban microforests organized by La Sapienza University.
For the occasion, it would be faced the Let's Circular campaign and the tree as the natural symbol par excellence of the "circular" model that regenerates life.

The Directory of the implementation status of the Park Plans in National Parks has been updated to 08/31/2023

The Park Plan is the instrument with which the Park Authority pursues "the protection of natural and environmental as well as traditional historical, cultural and anthropological values".

The Repertoire through maps, diagrams and official documents produced by the Competent Bodies (State, Regions, Park Bodies) as well as the contents of the Determination of 14 March 2023, n. 32 of the Court of Auditors "DETERMINATION AND REPORT ON THE RESULT OF THE CONTROL ON THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE 23 NATIONAL PARK ENTITIES" referring to the year 2021, allows us to understand the current state of the Planning of the Plans of the 25 National Parks currently established.

For each National Park it is possible to identify the exact point of the plan process and the most recent official act.

Conference Water & Nature

The Water & Nature conference will be held on November 16th in the Aula Magna of the Rectorate of the University of Florence.
The meeting will be attended by the Responsible of the Area for the conservation and management of flora, vegetation and forests, habitats and soil ecosystems and for the sustainable use of ISPRA agroforestry resources with a speech on the "Decline of Nature, climate change and water emergency: the importance of interconnections to address a triple socio-ecological crisis".

Fungi in the city. Mycological exhibition

Opening: November 11th 9.30am - 11.30am
Exhibition: November 11th 11.30am - 5.00pm - November 12th: 10.00am - 5.00pm

The launch of the Network for the study of mycological diversity of ISPRA (Ndm) and the "Fungi in the city" mycological exhibition set up at the Botanical Garden of Rome will be held on 11 November 2023.

Italicus. The wolf in the Belpaese, between conservation and coexistence

A thematic conference dedicated to the most fascinating and controversial Italian predator, a day to know him, get in deep into the many aspects involving conservation and coexistence together with experts, professionals and associations.

On the side of the planet

Nature is our lifeline, but it is deteriorating. The EU and its countries are working on a regulation that for the first time will set binding targets for the restoration of ecosystems, habitats and species. What does the Nature Restoration Law approved (with a narrow majority) by the European Parliament provide? Will it really cause an increase in unemployment in various areas or will it be an added value rather than a cost.

Metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) for the detection of non-indigenous species in the context of Marine Strategy Framework Directive monitoring programs

As part of the three-year agreement 2021-2023 between the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, ISPRA and ARPA Lead partner for the implementation of Legislative Decree 190/2010 which transposes the European Framework Directive on Marine Strategy (Directive 2008/56 /EC), ISPRA in collaboration with the CoNISMa-UO Polytechnic University of Marche, the Edmund Mach Foundation and the ARPA has developed an environmental DNA metabarcoding protocol for the detection of non-indigenous species and the analysis of biodiversity, such as integrative and support tool for the traditional monitoring already foreseen for the Marine Strategy.
The adopted protocol allowed the investigation of a wide spectrum of taxonomic groups, from Chromista to Chordata. The results obtained will be presented and discussed during the Workshop, highlighting the critical issues and potential of the methodology, as well as the prospects for their future use.