Events and News

The article "Scientists’warning on invasive alien species" among the most quoted in the world in the period 2020-2021

An article that raised the alarm of the global scientific community on the impacts caused by invasive alien species, published in 2020 by leading international experts on the subject including an ISPRA researcher, was among the most quoted scientific publications in the world in the period 2020- 2021

Plant 6.6 million trees by 2024 in the 14 Italian metropolitan cities

Projects worth 330 million euros are expected
Plant 6.6 million trees by 2024 in the 14 Italian metropolitan cities - 1,268 municipalities where more than 21 million inhabitants live - to combat air pollution and climate change. This is the objective of the measure "Protection and enhancement of urban and extra-urban green" of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (M2C4 3.1). The overall budget is 330 million euros. The notice was published on the website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

Publication of the Position Paper: "Urban and periurban green infrastructures" of ASvis

Published the Position Paper "Urban and peri-urban green infrastructures" coordinated by ISPRA within the Working Group on Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) of ASviS - Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development. The document aims to take stock of the policies in place in terms of urban forestation and the increase of greenery in the city and on the tools to enhance the environmental benefits

The wolf: resource or threat?

The recent article published in the prestigious scientific journal Scientific Reports, produced by a team of 14 researchers from all over Europe and coordinated by the geneticists of the ISPRA Conservation Genetics Area, provides very useful biomolecular tools to identify, at European level, the different populations of wolves and jackals but also possible hybrids between wolves, jackals and dogs. The study offers invaluable support for planning adequate conservation actions that take into account the particular dynamics of expansion of wild canids, currently underway at European level.

International Day of Forests

"Sustainable Forests, Production and Consumption" is the theme of the International Day of Forests 2022. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. 

Forests cover a third of the earth's mass, performing vital functions around the world. About 1.6 billion people, including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures, depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicine, fuel, food and shelter.

Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, home to over 80% of terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects. Yet despite all these immense ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate.

Opened call for paper for the monographic number RETICULA 2022

The call for papers for the RETICULA monograph 2022 is now open and will have as topic "1992-2022: thirty years of implementation of the Habitat Directive - A focus on commitments for the protection of ecological connectivity".

Computing ship strikes and near miss events of fin whales along the main ferry routes in the Pelagos Sanctuary and adjacent west area, in summer

In the Mediterranean, collisions with large ships are considered among the main threats to the fin whale, a species considered vulnerable by the IUCN red lists for the risk of extinction in the Mediterranean.

Since 2007, a network of various entities coordinated by ISPRA (FLT Med Net),  has been studying the impacts of maritime traffic along the main sea routes in the Mediterranean, collecting data on collision or near miss events.

Final conference PonDerat project

On 17 and 18 March, live streaming, the final conference of PonDerat, a Life project co-financed by the European Union, of which ISPRA is an associated beneficiary, will be held, which aims to improve the conservation status of species and habitats. of the Ponziana Islands. In particular, the actions carried out aimed at the protection of some species of seabirds, such as the Greater Shearwater and the Lesser Shearwater (our albatrosses), seriously threatened by the predation of the Black Rat on chicks.

Final meeting of the project LIFE SE POSSO "Posidonia...and not only"

A conference talk show to talk about marine governance, Posidonia oceanica meadows to be protected and recovered, anthropogenic impacts on these protected habitats, good practices to be replicated in the Mediterranean, transparency and participation in the protection of our marine natural capital. Marine forests, blue carbon and Citizen science will also be discussed. European and national institutional authorities will participate, the main Stakeholders involved in the project, the research projects with which Life SEPOSSO has carried out a wide and heterogeneous networking activity.

The event will be moderate by Fabio Gallo of Linea Blu Tv show.

Program

Streaming live channel YouTube ISPRA 

Further information: https://lifeseposso.eu/

Geneva biodiversity conference

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will hold three meetings concurrently in the last 2 weeks of March, to talk about the state of health of flora and fauna in the planet and in order to achieve a draft program to be finalized during the second part of the UN conference on biodiversity. 

Protected areas and African swine fever

The appearance of African swine fever in Italy has led to restrictive measures to limit its spread. All outdoor activities, from hiking to mountain biking, have been prohibited in the area declared infected. A real lockdown for the protected areas concerned. How will the epidemic evolve? What management scenarios are opening up for protected areas?
Federparchi and ISPRA discuss it on 10 March with a webinar dedicated to these issues.

Bonelli's eagle in Sardegna, last specimens arriving

In September the concluion of the project
The arrival in Sardegna of the last group of Bonelli's eagles is expected in May 2022 thanks to the AQUILAaLIFE project. This year the release area will be in the municipality of Montresta in the province of Oristano, where a special large aviary is ready. As in previous years, the chicks will be constantly monitored and "trained" for life in the wild during the period they spend inside the aviary before being released. Once released, they will be monitored thanks to special GPS transmitters, so that they can intervene in case of need and at the same time better identify the habitats and sites suitable for this species in Sardegna.

World Wildlife Day VIII edition

World Wildlife Day on 3 March 
The  World Wildlife was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. The focus this year is on "the recovery of key species for the restoration of ecosystems". ISPRA has been involved for years in research projects aimed at promoting the conservation of some threatened or endangered animal species, following the Europena Straegy for the Biodiversity 2030 .  

Here some activities carried out by ISPRA, in the recent years, on this topic.

Presentation of the EcoAtl@nte

Finally a unique single point of access to Italian environmental data, also accompanied by stories, photos and interactive maps: ISPRA presents the EcoAtlante, the journey into the Italian environment that allows you to discover and share the highly topical issues that affect our country today .

An absolute news: the possibility of creating customized national and local maps with data, trends and SNPA percentages from the various themes.

During the presentation, the operation and the different ways of sharing maps and data will be illustrated.

Come and compose your map!

Program

EcoAtl@nte

Program

Press release (ita) 

Video EcoAtl@nte

Interview with Michele Munafò

World Seagrass Day

Underwater seagrass beds are valuable ecosystems for the oceans. They produce enormous quantities of oxygen and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, provide food and shelter for many species and protect the beaches. Unfortunately they are strongly threatened by anthropogenic impacts and it is essential to improve the conservation and monitoring of these ecosystems around the world.

What is the impact of plastics on sea turtles?

ISPRA researchers have explained during the tv show Geo the impact of plastic on sea turtles and presented the publication “Marine Litter: looking forward a new world” e il fumetto "Carrie. A brave turtle in a changing world".

The protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystem included in the Italian Costitution

The Italian parliament has definitively approved the bill amending two articles of the Constitution, 9 and 41
Article 9 is part of the "fundamental" articles of the Constitution. It already contained the protection of the landscape heritage and the historical and artistic heritage of the Nation, with the reform the Republic also attributes the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems and explicitly specifies a principle of protection for animals.
The amendment to Article 41, on the other hand, states that health and the environment are paradigms to be protected by the economy, as well as safety, freedom and human dignity. And the same amended article also states how institutions, through laws, programs and controls, can orient public and private economic initiative not only towards social but also towards environmental purposes.

"The inclusion in the Constitution of the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems represents the culmination of a path that stems from the sensitivity of citizens and gives strength to these issues, qualifying them as fundamental assets. A strong signal, a challenge for all of us and a greater responsibility that will allow us to carry out more effective protection actions for health and quality of life, definitively establishing that the environment is a right for everyone, as the President of the Republic has often declared "declared Stefano Laporta, president of ISPRA and SNPA

Conservation of aquatic ecosystems, spatial planning and involvement: a strategy for the protection of biodiversity

On the occasion of the World Wetlands Day, Legambiente presents the Report on Aquatic Ecosystems with a map of 15 best practices, citing a series of successful projects in the management of wetlands and aquatic ecosystems throughout the Peninsula: from the protection of the Mediterranean trout, at the visitor center on the otter in the Gran Paradiso National Park, monitoring the pink flamingo in the Gran Sasso National Park, up to the census in Sicily of the wetlands of the Mediterranean islands, just to name a few.

World Wetlands day

On February 2, World Wetlands Day to increase awareness on the important role that these areas have for the people and the Plante. The wetland, such as lagoons, are between the environment most productive, with an high level of biological diversity.

Also this year the LIFE Lagoon Refresh project continues its restoration actions in an area of ​​the northern lagoon of Venice to re-establish the saline gradient and improve the quality and conservation status of the lagoon habitats and the species that live there.

The project Life Lagoon Refresh - Coastal lagoon habitat (1150*) and species recovery by restoring the salt gradient increasing fresh water input started in September 2017 and will end in 5 years.

To date, the project is moving towards an end, the concrete actions are completed, while the reed bed transplantation and monitoring activities are still in progress. The monitoring results show a change in the project area: the saline gradient, the key objective of the project, has been restored; flora and fauna are responding to the change in salinity. ISPRA and the University of Venice continue to collect data to verify if the objectives of the project have been achieved.

15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15): a new Strategic Plan to combat the loss of Biodiversity

Two years late, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) will be held this year in Kunming-China, the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol of Cartagena on Biosafety (COP-MOP10) and the 4th meeting of the Conference of the Parties which serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya-ABS Protocol (COP-MOP4).

Published in the ‘Biodiversity and Conservation’ scientific journal the article ‘Cetacean sensitivity and threats analysis to assess effectiveness of protection measures: an example of integrated approach for cetacean conservation in the Bonifacio Bouches.’

The study investigated the effectiveness of spatial protection measures for conserving cetacean species in the Bonifacio Bouches. Cetaceans are highly mobile and eclectic species, which interact with the environment and the human activities in a complex way. To preserve their environment, a primary tool is the establishment of marine protected areas in key sites of high ecological value. 

Biodiversity in movement

The first meeting of the year of "Museum meeting to talk of  fauna" organized by Science Museum of Trento will focus on the study of migration birds in Italy

Third scientific conference LIFE Perdix

The third conference of the LIFE Perdix project will be held on January 18 and will be dedicated not only to analyze the situation of the project actions, but will also be enriched by the valuable contributions from those who have already had similar experiences of reintroduction and environmental improvement.

Publication of RETICULA n. 28/2021 - monographic number

The number 28 of RETICULA technical journal on Nature-Based Solutions and territory: take care of Nature with Nature is available online.

Project LIFE CONCEPTU Maris "CONservation of CEtaceans and Pelagic sea TUrtles in Med: Managing Actions for their Recovery In Sustainability"

The LIFE CONCEPTU Maris project, formulated more than a year ago, started on 10 January, based on the awareness that the Mediterranean Sea is undergoing serious changes due to growing anthropogenic pressures.
On this front, cetaceans and pelagic sea turtles, among the most charismatic and important species of our seas, risk a lot in terms of conservation.

Presentation Dossier Stop Pesticides 2021

On 17 december Legambiente will present the dossier concerning the presence of pesticides in food and on good agricultural practices.

Healthy and resilient forests between conservation and sustainable use

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, the workshop "Healthy and resilient forests between conservation and sustainable use" takes place on 16 December 2021 at the Circeo National Park headquarters.

ISPRA publication “Marine Litter: looking forward a new world"

As part of the INDICIT I and II Projects, Ispra has produced the publication "Marine Litter: looking forward a new world", the result of a selection of photographic material collected in over four years of project activity together with an environmental awareness comic.

Open ecological transition. Where is the Italian environment going?

A country covered almost 40% by forests, more than Germany and Switzerland, and which has seen protected areas of land and sea grow up to 20% of the national territory. Greenhouse gas emissions, which have decreased by 19% in the last 30 years, are reduced, as are the main sources of air pollution. However, ozone, the situation of large urban centers and the Po Valley are worrying. Progress also for the circular economy: the economy uses less and less natural resources, separate waste collection continues to increase and landfill is increasingly reduced. On the other hand, the situation for land consumption is worsening: 60 square kilometers still lost every year or 15 hectares a day.
ISPRA presented the Open Ecological Transition report on 13 December which allows us to interpret the changes that have occurred in recent years in the aspects of the Italian environment.
It is a clear synthesis of the many dynamics that determine the Italian ecological transition, which immediately brings the most important aspects of each problem or phenomenon to the attention of society, highlighting the critical issues but also the results already achieved or achievable.The document is divided into three parts: The Italian environment at a glance, Natural systems, Human systems, for a total of 12 chapters and 66 items.

Press release (ita)

Open ecological transition

Video

Photo gallery

PNRR: MiTE-ISPRA protocol signed for the restoration of the seabed and marine habitats

400 million euros for interventions in favor of the sustainable blue economy
With the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the MiTE and ISPRA, the M2C4-3.5 investment of the PNRR "Restoration and protection of the seabed and marine habitats" can be carried out, which will allow to the Country to strengthen the observation capacities of marine ecosystems and implement a recovery and restoration campaign of marine habitats degraded by anthropogenic pressure.