Events and News

International Day of Forests 2023

Tuesday 21 March is International Day of Forests 2023. Date established by the UN to raise awareness of the invaluable value of all types of forests and the dangers of deforestation.

The value of hunting in Italy

The research entrusted by Federcaccia to Nomisma on hunting in Italy will be presented on 14 March. The Head of the ISPRA Wildlife Activities Coordination Service will participate in the round table.

The European wildcat: a thousand-year history written in the DNA

Using one of the largest DNA biobanks of the species available in Europe, ISPRA geneticists have reconstructed the complex evolutionary history of wild cat populations in the recent article published in the prestigious scientific journal Animals. The study, in addition to clarifying the evolutionary dynamics of the predator, also offers an invaluable support for identifying the correct management units of wildcats present in Europe and for planning adequate conservation actions on a continental scale.

First Global Author's Meeting for the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7)

A week of meetings of scientists and experts from all over the world, called by the United Nations Environment Agency (UNEP) to draw up the seventh edition of the report on the state and prospects of the global environment ( Global Environment Outlook, GEO-7).

5th Coastal Ecology Seminar

The seminar is an opportunity to take stock of the situation on management and knowledge activities related to coastal ecosystems. The seminar is expected to be attended by public and private representatives involved in the study and management of the coastal territory: Municipalities, Park Authorities, regional and national structures, supervisory bodies, local stakeholders. Numerous topics will be addressed: update on the management activities of the Venetian Lagoon; analysis of the anthropic impact on the nesting of aquatic birds in the Po Delta; the situation of cetaceans in the Upper Adriatic; the Anguilla Rescue Project.

ISPRA is also among the big names in international research that have won European projects for the conservation of Biodiversity

The kick-off meeting was held in Rome from 20 to 22 February which brought together the 14 partners (from 7 countries) involved in the ambitious Wolfness project: La Sapienza University, ISPRA, the Institute of Applied Ecology, the Edmund Mach Foundation and the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (Italy), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia); the Universities of Lunds and Gothenburg (Sweden); the CIBIO/InBIO (Portugal), the University of Leipzig; and the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Institute (Germany); the University of León, the Estacion Biologica de Donana (Spain); the University of Koc (Turkey).

World wildlife day 2023

Today 3 March, World Wildlife Day reminds us of the importance that wild fauna and flora have for the conservation of biodiversity

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, the World Day of Wild Fauna and Flora celebrates the signing of the Washington Convention (CITES) which, since 3 March 1973, has the purpose of regulating, monitoring and prohibiting trade in plant species and endangered animals. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the convention, it was decided to give importance to the theme of the partnership for conservation: collaboration, exchange of scientific data, common objectives for nature conservation.

ISPRA, within the scope of its institutional mandate, carries out activities of technical evaluation, study and monitoring of the dynamics of wild populations including migrations, conservation genetics, with the aim of conserving wildlife intended as protection and wildlife heritage management.

On the occasion of the World Day of Wild Fauna and Flora, a thematic section entitled “Fauna, Enviroment and Man" was published on the ISPRA portal with a series of documents useful for further study.

Gofree project

On February 22nd and 23rd at the Porto Conte Ricerche headquarters in Alghero and at the Port Museum in Porto Torres the researchers involved in the project Gofree "Introduction of the striped humpback shrimp (Plesionika edwardsii) fishing in Sardinia" they met the fishermen of the Alghero, Porto Torres and Castelsardo fleets. The project aims aims to introduce and incentivize the fishing of bathyal shrimp, also called hunchbacks  in the Sardinian seas, introducing innovative measures both in the fishing process, in order to favor fishing also at bathymetry not yet exploited

Natural trajectories

Dynamic balances in ecosystems and their alterations
As part of Science Thursday - Science live week by week on February 23, an ISPRA researcher will participate in the "Natural trajectories" webinar. The protection of biodiversity should not be understood as a static conservation of an immutable environment, but as a safeguard of natural evolutionary trajectories. Ecosystems live in a dynamic equilibrium, in which disturbances and related adaptations are the norm. The effects of a storm or a forest fire are easily reabsorbed if the episodes occur with a frequency and intensity compatible with the characteristics of the ecosystem.

Nature and fun: health for everyone, without exception

New inclusive proposals for city parks
The role of plants in people's health and well-being is also recognized by the scientific community. As part of the Myplant&Garden fair, which will take place in Milan from 22 to 24 February, the conference entitled "Nature and fun: health for all, no one excluded" will be held in which stakeholders from the world of business, knowledge, institutions will take part and from local politics to take stock of the green spaces in our cities.

Wild animals and food security: an urgent ethical issue

Some wild species, such as ungulates (wild boar, deer, fallow deer and roe deer) after a long period of risk of extinction are repopulating our country. This situation is creating some problems for animal husbandry and agriculture.
Finding a shared solution is urgent.
The purpose of the meeting is to understand the relationship between wild animals, humans, pets, safety in general and food safety in particular

Map of Nature among the StoryMaps of the EcoAtlas

From today among the stories of the ISPRA EcoAtlas also the StoryMap dedicated to Carta della Natura. 
The EcoAtlante is the tool that allows you to view data and maps on the environment in Italy. Through a simple form, which aims to combine the authority of scientific data with a type of narration that makes it easily understandable and memorable, typical of StoryMaps, it is illustrated how Carta della Natura contributes to the knowledge and ecological-environmental evaluation of the territory.

The Italian Association of Citizen Science was born

On February 17, at the Botanical Garden in Rome, the Italian Association of Citizen Science was born with headquarters at the Natural History Museum of Maremma in Grosseto. The Association is the result of a process launched in 2017 to which ISPRA and the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA) participated, whose key moments were the organisation of two National Conferences and the drafting of  “Guidelines for the development of a national Citizen Science strategy”.   

Citizen Science or “participatory science” is a growing reality involving volunteers and scientists in collaborative research activities based on scientific evidence with a scientific, social and educational value also guiding environmental policies.

CITES - Manual for biological sampling

On the ISPRA web site is available the first manual concerning Sampling manual of biological samples for genetic analyses on species concerning the Washington convention (CITES)

The manual was created thank to from the collaboration between ISPRA and the Carabinieri Forestali as part of a school-work alternation project and the ISPRA-MASE agreement for genetic analyzes in support of the Washington Convention.

Let's recover the nets lost at sea!!

The Strong Sea project and its staff thank the fishermen for their contribution in reporting missing fishing gear.
We are happy to meet them on 11 February in Castelsardo to show, with the videos made during the identification and removal of the fishing gear they reported, how important their contribution has been to the protection of the marine environment.

Documentary LIFE Falkon project

The lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small diurnal raptor of conservation priority at European level, whose populations are concentrated in the Mediterranean area. The species has undergone a consistent numerical decline during the 20th century. Currently, it shows an increasing trend, also thanks to the contribution of numerous LIFE projects dedicated to it. The project LIFE FALKON will provide increased nesting opportunities, including nest boxes and towers, promote favourable rural development and building renovation practices, and establish a network of conservationists focused on populations crucial for the species’ northward breeding expansion.

ISPRA is partner of the project.

IPBES announces the start of the first external review of the draft document: "Transformative change assessment"

The report aims to understand and identify factors in human society, including behavioural, social, cultural, economic, institutional, technical and technological dimensions, which could be used to bring about change aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Approved the 5th Report on the State of Natural Capital

The 5th Report on the State of Natural Capital has been definitively approved, the first since the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems entered the Constitution.
The document, sent by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and to the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Economy, provides elements to be considered in the implementation of the Plan for the Ecological Transition, the National Strategy for Biodiversity 2030, the National Plan Recovery and Resilience and in the governance action of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development.

Fauna in the city: old and new relationships between humans and animals

In Spoleto from 3 to 5 February 2023 Fauna 2023, the event dedicated to the environment will be held, now in its fifth edition. The program includes educational and excursion activities, guided tours to discover the Umbrian wildlife, and the conference "Fauna in the city: old and new relationships between men and animals" is scheduled for February 4th.

Parks as a management tool for wetlands protected by the RAMSAR Convention

On the anniversary of the RAMSAR treaty (of 1971) of February 2, which is celebrated every year all over the world with the World Wetlands Day, Sardinia organizes numerous events throughout the island. Sardinia, with currently 9 RAMSAR areas of international importance out of 57 areas identified in Italy and as much as 17% of the total national area, is one of the regions with the greatest quantity and extension of these important basins, mostly coastal, including the last born at the mouth of the Rio Posada.

World Wetlands Day: LIFE Streams Project

On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, ISPRA is presenting the LIFE Streams project whose main objective is the recovery and conservation of the native Mediterranean trout (Salmo cettii) through the planning and application of a series of coordinated actions leading to a valid for the entire species.

World Wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day is celebrated on 2 February each year to raise awareness of the important role these areas play for people and our planet. Wetlands, such as lagoons, are among the most productive environments in the world, characterized by a high biological diversity.

Campaign citizen science of Conceptu Maris

It is officially started the citizen science campaign of the Progetto Conceptu Maris, important activity that will allow people who love nature to give a relevant contribution to the protection of marine turtles and cetaceans. 
In order to know what are the necessary requisites to board the ferries together with Conceptu Maris biologists and participate in animal monitoring, visit the dedicated page on the project website and discover the 16 routes available throughout the Mediterranean basin. Your participation will be valuable for you and the environment

LIFE PERDIX Project of the month on the website of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security

The Italian Partridge (Perdix perdix italica) is now considered extinct in the wild. It is an endemic Italian bird, of medium size, sedentary and walker, closely linked to open rural environments and therefore very vulnerable. Only one strain of individuals with historical genetic makeup survived on a farm in northern Italy.

Biodiversity: let's make a difference day by day

G-Lab of the Golinelli Foundation for Eduiren organizes a cycle of webinars aimed at teachers and educators to explore issues related to the ecological transition and to promote good sustainable practices

Kick-off meeting of the projet LIFE-2021-SAP-NAT-NATURE TURTLENEST

The Kick-off meeting of the LIFE-2021-SAP-NAT-NATURE TURTLENEST project will be held on January 20 in Rome, at the Legambiente headquarters. The aim of the project is the conservation of Caretta caretta, in the western Mediterranean basin, from threats related to human disturbance in the nesting sites. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the project intends to improve the conservation status of Caretta caretta, thanks to the establishment of an international network, through the use of the best shared techniques and the use of a monitoring system

Montreal COP15: a turning point in biodiversity policies?

Organized by the University Forestry Students Association of Padua APS and with the patronage of the TESAF Department of the University of Padua, the seminar will talk about the objectives and challenges set through the agreement reached during the fifteenth Convention on biodiversity COP15 in Montreal

Wildlife and territories: understand and manage

The conference aims to explore a series of topics related to the management of wild boar in Italy, also with reference to the role played by wildlife-hunting companies. The cognitive framework on the presence of wild boar in Italy in the period 2015-2022 will be presented by ISPRA. Some interventions on sustainable, environmental and economic practices will follow

Value Nature. The role of Protected Areas for the protection and enhancement of Italy

Marevivo and WWF Italia are organizing the conference on the role of Protected Areas for the protection and enhancement of Italy on 12 January. The title of the meeting is in itself significant: our system of Marine Protected Areas and the Natura 2000 network at sea, fragmented and undervalued, is oppressed by management problems that have not been resolved for too long. The ISPRA president, Stefano Laporta will participate in the session dedicated to Marine Protected Areas.

Program

Live streaming

Publication of RETICULA n. 31/2022

The number 31 of RETICULA technical journal is now available online.

After 30 years from the enactment of the Habitats Directive (Dir. 92/43/EEC), 20 years from the publication of the guidelines Management of functional ecological connection areas for the construction of ecological networks at the local scale, as well as 10 years from the publication of the first issue of the journal RETICULA, this monographic issue represents a moment of stocktaking, not exhaustive, on initiatives implemented on the theme of connectivity in Italy as well as it wants to be a reflection on the prospects and actions to be put in place, also in order to achieve the objectives that the draft National Strategy for Biodiversity has set.

Reticula n. 31/2022