Project APINCITTA'
The APINCITTA’ biomonitoring project uses the Apis mellifera (honey bee) as an environmental indicator.
Promoted, financed and coordinated by the Carabinieri Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Unit Command (CUFA), it sees the presence of ISPRA, other national institutions (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, CREA and IZSLT and the Italian Beekeeping Federation association.
Started in 2023, the deadline is scheduled for 2026. The project includes 60 apiaries, distributed across the national territory and located mainly at the headquarters and facilities of the forestry carabinieri.
The main contribution of ISPRA is aimed at the interpretation of the quality of the environment and the determination of the level of coverage of species of nectariferous and/or pollen-bearing interest in the territories surrounding the site of the project apiaries.
With respect to the quality of the environment, three significant environmental pressure factors for pollinators were selected, such as the level of concentration of pesticides in surface and underground waters, the air pollutants considered most harmful to ecosystems and land consumption, referred to the reduction of natural surfaces capable of ensuring ecosystem services