Events and News

Ancient Forests and Old Trees: a Treasure of Nature, Life, and Culture

Old-growth forests are unique ecosystems, characterized by high structural and functional heterogeneity, with features that develop over decades and centuries. They are therefore of exceptional and irreplaceable importance, being forests where human disturbance is absent or negligible, and which host a truly unique flora and fauna. Moreover, they represent valuable carbon reservoirs and are essential for studying the impacts of climate change in areas where human influence is minimal

Published EEA Report Europe's Environment 2025

Despite significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, the overall state of the environment in Europe is not good, particularly with regard to nature, which continues to suffer from degradation, overexploitation, and biodiversity loss, as well as from the acceleration of climate change, which poses an urgent challenge.

These are the conclusions of the Report Europe's Environment  2025, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report provides the most comprehensive analysis of the current state and outlook for the environment, climate, and sustainability on the continent, based on data from 38 countries. The outlook for most environmental trends is alarming and poses serious risks to economic prosperity, security, and quality of life in Europe.

Bees, Pollinators, Pollen, and Biodiversity

ISPRA researchers will explain the ecological role of pollinating insects and pollen, as well as the Pollnet network. There will be a focus on the life of honeybees, with insights into the social habits of these insects. Fruit, food, pollinators, and biodiversity are connected by a bond that should never be forgotten, as it underpins our survival. Organic Honey Tasting.

Recommended: from age 5 and up.

The European Researchers' Night 205

This year, ISPRA is participating in the European Researchers' Night, along with other public research institutions and universities.
The initiative, which will take place across Europe on September 26 and 27, will be an opportunity to introduce citizens to the world of scientific research and discover the activities and results of public research on current topics.

The National Biodiversity Network and the role of citizen science in monitoring riparian vegetation – The RiVe project

Synchronous e-learning course

As part of the activities of the National Biodiversity Network and the RiVe (Riparian Vegetation) Project, ISPRA is promoting the training course "The National Biodiversity Network and the Role of Citizen Science in Monitoring Riparian Vegetation – The RiVe Project."

City, volcanoes, and mammoths: the metamorphoses of the ancient Appian Way

The Appian Way, one of the world's most fascinating archaeological parks, will be the narrative center of a trek led by university professors and researchers from ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research). The changing landscape will be explored with the help of zoology, geology, and urban planning to explore the multiple perspectives through which the history of the Regina Viarum can be interpreted.

Pastoralism and Mountain Livestock Farming between Globalization and the Return of Large Carnivores

The conference aims to provide information and interpretive tools to understand the importance of pastoralism and livestock farming for humankind, in the past, present, and future. This has always been in a close — and often conflictual — relationship with the presence of large carnivores, while also taking into account what this entails today, in a globalized world that has changed dramatically in recent decades and is still evolving.

Restoration Economy: Businesses Leading the Redevelopment of Territories

The event aims to shed light on the crucial role that businesses can play in the transition towards a nature-positive economy, by integrating biodiversity and natural capital into corporate strategies and reporting systems.

Discussions will cover international initiatives that are carrying out major ecosystem restoration projects through collaboration between public and private actors, as well as ways to access funding to take action in support of nature.

ISPRA inaugurates the sixth edition of the Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology and Biology in marine and island environments

A laboratory for students, PhD candidates, graduates, and young researchers that combines advanced training, interdisciplinary research, and policies for the protection of marine resources.

The sixth edition of the Summer School of Geomorphology, Ecology, and Biology in Marine and Island Environments was officially opened in the presence of the Mayor of Procida, the Director General of ISPRA, Maria Siclari, the Director of the Regno di Nettuno Marine Protected Area, the Director of ARPA Campania, Stefano Sorvino, the representative of the Italian Geological Society, Fabiano Gamberi, the Director of the Vivara State Nature Reserve, Nicola Scotto di Carlo, and Giordano Giorgi, Head of the ISPRA National Center for Environmental Characterization and Coastal Protection, Marine Climatology, and Operational Oceanography. The event is promoted by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Chieti-Pescara.

As per tradition, the aim of the event is to provide advanced training, hands-on field experience, and opportunities for exchange between young researchers and professors from different institutions.

The 6th Report on the State of Natural Capital has been approved

The sixth Report on the State of Natural Capital has been definitively approved and submitted to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy. The Report contains useful information for the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, providing an integrated annual report, both physical and monetary, on Natural Capital and promoting environmental accounting at the national level.

The purpose of the report is to highlight the role of Italian Natural Capital in the country's socioeconomic system, developing conceptual frameworks, improving knowledge, and refining models for measuring Natural Capital and the impacts of policies on it.

European toolkit for nature protection

The European Commission has developed practical support for teachers to guide students in their discovery of nature: biodiversity, species, habitats, ecosystems, and Europe's natural heritage.

The European Toolkit for Nature Protection is aimed at students aged 13 to 16 throughout the European Union and can be used in schools and non-formal educational settings, such as history museums or environmental education centers.

ISPRA joins the LIFE MAPPER Project

Guidelines for MAPping, ProtEcting, and Restoring Marine Ecosystems

LIFE MAPPER initiative seeks to consolidate current knowledge and best practices in marine habitat mapping and restoration

For the first time in Sicily, a Golden Eagle chick from a natural nest has been “tagged” for scientific purposes

The study of the interactions between the Bonelli’s Eagle and the Golden Eagle becomes a reality in Sicily and Sardinia thanks to satellite GPS transmitters placed on the raptors. A webcam, installed near the nest in the Nebrodi Park and constantly monitored by researchers, provides live streaming of the chick’s extraordinary life, publicly accessible online.

ISPRA is conducting research on the ecological interaction between the Golden Eagle and the Bonelli’s Eagle in the Mediterranean, within the framework of the LIFE Abilas project on the reintroduction of the Bonelli’s Eagle in Sardinia. The results of this study will make it possible to highlight possible differences in dispersal strategies and spatial distribution, as well as the potential areas of overlap between the two species, in order to develop the best conservation strategies.

Observe and report the flora and fauna around you even on holiday!

Participate in the "Biodiversity in Pose" initiative of the ISPRA National Biodiversity Network, dedicated to collecting and sharing observations of fauna, flora, and the natural environment made by citizens.

"Biodiversity in Posa" offers anyone interested the opportunity, through its connection to the iNaturalist app, to share reports of nature images taken by both professionals and amateurs with the Network at any time, thus providing a data entry channel.

Monk seal: good practices to recognize her

Best practices to follow if you spot a seal

If you spot a monk seal, it's important to immediately reduce any potential disturbance caused by human proximity.
If you're on a boat, reduce speed to a minimum and maintain a distance of 50 meters, without obstructing the animal's path and avoiding loud noises and shouting that could cause significant stress.
It's essential to immediately alert the Port Authority (call 1530).

To support scientific research, reporting and describing the sighting will be extremely helpful to ISPRA researchers by emailing focamonaca@isprambiente.it and/or sending a message to the Ispra Monk Seal Facebook page. Please also contact the Marine Protected Area closest to the sighting location to expedite the reporting process.

COP 15 on the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands

Four Italian wetlands have been recognized as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The Conference of the Parties (COP15 Ramsar) is currently underway at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to develop a new strategy for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The theme chosen for COP15 is "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future." The conference highlights the essential role that wetlands play in sustaining biodiversity, supporting climate resilience and water security, and thus supporting economic development and human well-being.

European pond turtle - Monitoring an endangered species

ISPRA monitors the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano (Rome), a protected area of great value for its biodiversity. The European pond turtle is a native species classified as "critically endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Italian vertebrates (2022). Its population has drastically declined in Italy due to the degradation and disappearance of suitable aquatic habitats and competition with invasive alien species, such as the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).

The monk seal in the seas of Campania

What to do in case of sighting?
The event is organized as part of the Life Sea.Net Project coordinated by Legambiente. The ISPRA researchers together with the staff of the Marine Protected Area Regno di Nettuno and Punta Campanella will share curiosities about the monk seal and illustrate the best practices to follow in case of sighting of specimens in our seas.

ISPRA’s new oceanographic vessel: up to 4000 meters deep to overcome the challenge of climate change

On July 15, the ISPRA Major Oceanographic Vessel will be presented at the Chamber of Deputies: not just a new research infrastructure, but the concrete symbol of a collective commitment to the sea, to science, to future generations. The vessel represents one of the key interventions of the Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project (MER), the largest investment envisaged by the PNRR for the protection of the marine environment: 400 million euros intended to protect and restore fragile ecosystems, starting with those that are submerged, invisible and mostly unknown. A project of great national scope, with ISPRA as the implementing body and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security as the titular administration.

Alien species in our seas

The Mediterranean Sea's biodiversity is constantly evolving, colonized by species expanding their ranges and arriving through natural corridors, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, and by non-native or alien species introduced by human activities or arriving through artificial corridors such as the Suez Canal. Some of these species can also pose a threat to human health, being toxic to eat or poisonous upon contact.

To help marine life recognize new species that can potentially be observed and fished in our seas, including those that pose a threat to human health, a brochure has been created, an updated version of the 2021 edition.

Any reports sent to researchers will also help monitor the distribution and spread of these species in our waters.

NbS Italy Hub Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the NbS Italy Hub will be dedicated to territorial regeneration through Nature-based Solutions, with a special focus on the urban environment. The event will bring together different perspectives — from designers, entrepreneurs, researchers and public administrations — to explore how NbS can contribute to addressing major urban challenges, including climate change, air quality, economic and territorial regeneration, development of a production chain and a labor market linked to NbS, as well as the definition of specific regulations and standards.

Involving local communities in safeguarding ecosystems

Workshops and Citizen Science activities dedicated to local biodiversity

The National Biodiversity Network, in collaboration with the Castelli Romani Regional Park and the Naturalistic Civic Museum of Monti Prenestini, are promoting an event dedicated to the involvement of local communities in the protection of ecosystems. The initiative is divided into two days, the first includes a workshop in which the role of the Naturalistic Museum in the protection of biodiversity will be presented, the monitoring activities of species and habitats connected to the Natura 2000 Network and the initiative "Natural Path of the Parks" which also includes the area of ​​the Prenestini mountains. The results of some studies conducted at a local level on flora and fauna, the European Regulation on the restoration of Nature and the activities of the National Biodiversity Network will be presented. The second day includes a Citizen Science activity with a field trip.

The initiative represents an opportunity for scientific study and awareness, aimed at both local administrators and citizens, with the aim of promoting shared and responsible participation in the conservation of natural heritage.

Understanding and studying fauna: ISPRA meets local schools

As part of the 2024/25 Environmental Education and Sustainability Initiatives Program, more than 80 students from two schools in the province of Bologna were able to experience first-hand what it means to study fauna for the purposes of its management and conservation, participating in activities that simulate the monitoring and field recognition of terrestrial mammals, and exploring conservation genetics laboratories to discover how the study of DNA can contribute to understanding and safeguarding wild populations.

Conservation of Mediterranean Trout and its Habitat: Roadmap towards a National Action Plan

The Round Table includes a discussion with the bodies responsible for implementing the conservation measures for the Mediterranean Trout included in the Guidelines published in the ISPRA Manuals and Guidelines series (MLG 207/2024) in order to outline any critical issues in their implementation and define a road map for their implementation and a policy recommendation document to reach a National Plan for the management and conservation of the species and its habitat. In addition to the bodies responsible for implementing the guidelines, representatives of scientific, environmental and fishing associations, stakeholders and experts are invited to the meeting.

ISPRA and pollinators in "La Fuori Festival" - Science and Arts Festival

ISPRA is present with a stand on pollinators at La Fuori Festival, the Institute's researchers will explain how pollination works. It will be possible to watch videos and images to learn how to recognize bees, wasps and hornets and discover where they live.
It will be shown how a hive is made and how bees live inside the hive.

The good use of green and blue spaces for the promotion of health and well-being: the role of stakeholders

The territorial events for the dissemination of the PNRR-PNC project “The good use of Green and Blue spaces for the promotion of health and well-being”, funded by the Ministry of Health, continue. The next one will be held on June 19 in Rome, at the Forma Spazi Congress Center in via Cavour, where the activities concluded and those in progress will be presented, with the aim of continuing the dialogue with all the institutional actors involved and the interested stakeholders who have accompanied the activities since the first steps of the project.

Communicating ecology with science: the Pescasseroli Charter journey at the Montefiascone Integral Ecology Festival

In view of the next edition of the European Night of Researchers, which will take place on September 26 and 27 in various Italian and foreign cities, NET - scieNcE together, in collaboration with Stampa Romana and the Rocca dei Papi Association, continues its commitment to training and dissemination on the crucial themes of Italian science and research. On June 19 and 20, as part of the Festival of Integral Ecology that will take place in Montefiascone (VT) from June 19 to 22, two training days dedicated to science will be held.

The new video of the JoNeF project – “Joint Network for wild Fungi”, promoted and coordinated by ISPRA, to be launched at the IMPEL Nature Protection Expert Team meeting

We are pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the new video dedicated to JoNeF – Joint Network for wild Fungi, a project promoted and coordinated by ISPRA within the European IMPEL network. The video will be officially launched on 20 June 2025 during the Nature Protection Expert Team meeting.

Through field footage, interviews, and testimonials, the video shares JoNeF’s vision, the collaboration among experts and institutions from 19 European countries, and the joint commitment to placing fungi at the heart of nature conservation policies. It highlights the essential role of fungi in ecosystem health and the need for their full integration into environmental legal frameworks.

Press tour of the Life SeaNet project on the island of Montecristo

ISPRA participated today in the Press Tour of the Life Sea.Net project, which took place at the Site of Community Interest of the Island of Montecristo. During the tour, journalists were able to visit the site, learn more about topics regarding the management of Natura 2000 Sites and some of the activities carried out within the project.

The project Life Sea.Net coordinated by Legambiente and which benefits from the participation of ISPRA as the main scientific partner, it aims to improve the management of the marine sites of the Natura 2000 Network and to increase knowledge of the Network and its role in the conservation of marine biodiversity. To provide concrete contributions to improving management, ISPRA has created some operational tools during the project that are part of a real "toolkit" : Handbooks for monitoring species and habitats of Community interest (EU Directives 92/43/EEC and 09/147/CE) in Italy: marine environment and Manual for the application of Appropriate Assessment procedures in marine sites

Restoration Nature between Sustainability and Economy

Is it enough to protect Nature or do we really need the Nature Restoration Law? Our species has caused enormous damage to Natural Capital, using it beyond its possibilities and significantly altering 75% of the land and 66% of the seas. According to the IUCN, in the next 30 years we could lose half a million to a million species, with catastrophic consequences at the ecosystem level. So how should we proceed?