News

Circular Economy and Critical Raw Materials: Lithium in Geothermal Brines

Lithium, essential for battery production—particularly for electric vehicles and electronic devices—is a critical material, as Italy is entirely dependent on foreign markets for supplies.

The presence of lithium was known in the pegmatites of Elba and Giglio, but the recent discovery of lithium in geothermal fluids in Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania highlights an opportunity for low-impact extraction.

Based on this premise, ARPA Toscana has organized a seminar on June 17th to explore the adoption of a circular economy model in the geothermal sector, together with Monia Monni, the Tuscany Region's Environment Councilor, ISPRA, the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources of the CNR (IGG-CNR Pisa), and Ricerca Sistema Energetico (R.S.E. S.p.A.).

ISPRA’s ‘Nautilus’ encounters a cow shark at 960 meters depth

During the oceanographic expedition of the PNRR MER project, thanks to a sophisticated ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), a real 'robotic vehicle' capable of diving and operating up to 2,000 meters deep, researchers have mapped ecosystems never studied before in the Mediterranean Sea, revealing extraordinary scenarios and new species in the coral and sponge forests that populate the abyss.

Upcoming ISPRA events

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

Rome, July 15, Sala del Refettorio Biblioteca della Camera dei Deputati Nilde Iotti, Via del Seminario 76
On July 15, the ISPRA Major Oceanographic Vessel will be presented at the Camera dei Deputati: 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 (MER) Project, the largest investment planned 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.

ISPRA presents the fourth report on hydrogeological instability in Italy: danger and risk indicators. Knowing the territory to prevent risks

Rome, July 30, Sala Polifunzionale della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, Via Santa Maria in Via 37 A
The fourth edition dedicated to this theme, updates the national landslide hazard map of the Hydrogeological Asset Plans – PAI, created by ISPRA through the harmonization and mosaicking of the areas delimited by the District Basin Authorities, and the risk indicators. The Report presents the ongoing activities that will lead to the updating of the hydraulic hazard and risk maps pursuant to the Floods Directive, scheduled for 2026. It also provides the reference framework on the state and changes of the Italian coasts and on avalanches.

Ecomafia 2025 - The stories and numbers of environmental crime in Italy

On Thursday, July 10, at 10:00 a.m., at the Sala del Refettorio of Palazzo San Macuto, the presentation of "Ecomafia 2025 - The stories and numbers of environmental crime in Italy" will take place. The ISPRA General Director Maria Siclari will participate in the conference.

CARG Summer School of Geological Survey and Cartography

Monteponi (Municipality of Iglesias), September 29 and October 4-10, 2025

The Summer School aims to disseminate the methodologies and criteria of geological surveying and cartography, conceptual organization of data and digital archiving system in accordance with the criteria of the CARG Project.

The School includes: one day of distance learning, days of field surveying in small groups followed by experts, frontal lessons and practical exercises.

Towards a new European plan for adaptation to climate change

Adaptation to climate change is now a structural priority for European policies. It is not just a matter of responding to more frequent extreme events, but of strengthening the capacity of territories, productive sectors and institutions to operate in conditions of increasing climate variability. In this context, the new European Climate Adaptation Plan (ECAP), scheduled for 2026, represents a strategic step to relaunch adaptive action in the Union. The emerging priorities are developed along three lines: intervention in the most vulnerable sectors (infrastructure, urban planning, agriculture), the promotion of an integrated approach to resilience, with nature-based solutions, the adoption of new policy tools and the integration of climate criteria in fiscal and financial policies.

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.

3D mapping of the SS Samuel J. Tilden wreck off the port of Bari

Complex 3D underwater photogrammetric survey operations of the wreck of the SS Samuel J. Tilden are underway in the waters off the port of Bari. The project is the result of a collaboration between ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), the Carabinieri Subacquei units of Rome and Pescara, the Naval Carabinieri Service of Manfredonia, and the University of Siena – Department of Historical Sciences (LAPE&T LAB).

Campi Flegrei: Pozzuoli is one of the urban areas with the highest geological hazard index in Europe

This is confirmed by the analysis carried out thanks to the Urban Geo-climate Footprint - UGF, the tool created by ISPRA in collaboration with EuroGeoSurveys that classifies cities from a geological and climatic point of view to help them face the challenges of the future.
The Urban Geo-climate Footprint analyzed is the "geological-climatic" "footprint" that acts on a given urban area, understood as the result of the combined action of four factors: geological structure, "deep" geological processes, "superficial" geological processes and exogenous processes.

Meetings on the V.I.A. - Episode n.10

June 29th is the "Little Prince Day", a day dedicated to one of the most read and loved books of all time, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. We mentioned it in the tenth episode of the podcast "Incontri sulla V.I.A." where we talk about technology and the environment.

National Mineral Exploration Program Approved. Investigations Begin Across Italy

There are 14 research projects included in the National Program for General Mineral Exploration just approved by the Interministerial Committee for Ecological Transition (CITE), distributed throughout the national territory, in key regions such as Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Liguria, Toscana, Lazio, Campania, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Marche and Sardegna, to which is added the national mapping of the deposits of extractive waste foreseen by the PNRR URBES project.

The program, whose implementation was entrusted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT) to the Geological Service of Italy of ISPRA, involves 15 operational units and over 400 specialists, with an investment of 3.5 million euros dedicated to the first phase of investigation of natural deposits.

The approval of the PNE marks a strategic return for Italy to the valorization of its mineral resources, in a modern, sustainable perspective and in line with European priorities. The objective is to build an updated picture of the national mineral potential, integrating historical information with a new exploration campaign, more than 30 years after the last public investment in the sector. The program also aims to provide preliminary indications to Italian and foreign investors on the availability of raw materials present in the country.

The investigation activities will focus on the most promising areas, selected by a team of experts among the top Italian specialists in mineral deposits. The focus will be directed in particular to numerous Critical and Strategic Raw Materials identified by the European Commission, including: lithium, boron, graphite, copper, manganese, fluorite, barite, feldspar, antimony, tungsten, titanium, bismuth, arsenic, magnesium, rare earths and platinum group metals. The focus also extends to other minerals of interest to the national industry, such as zeolites and industrial minerals.

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.

“Watch Out for These Four!”: Eyes on the Sea to Spot Invasive Alien Species

The ISPRA/CNR-IRBIM Campaign Restarts

The mapping of lionfish (Pterois miles) sightings in the Mediterranean, updated in March 2025, reports 1,840 records from various countries around the basin. The species is also spreading in Italian waters, with the Ionian Sea confirmed as one of the most vulnerable areas.

Today, fishermen, divers, and anyone who has seen or caught a lionfish or one of three other potentially dangerous tropical species — the silver-cheeked toadfish, the dusky spinefoot, and the marbled spinefoot — are once again invited to support the “Watch Out for These Four!” alert campaign, aimed at informing the public about the presence of these invasive species in our seas.

The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and the Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies of the National Research Council in Ancona (CNR-IRBIM), in collaboration with the AlienFish project, are relaunching the “Watch Out for These Four!” campaign. The initiative includes practical guidelines for identifying the species, preventing accidents, and contributing to monitoring their spread, encouraging citizens to document sightings with photos or videos and submit them via the provided link.

Alternatively, reports can be sent via WhatsApp to +39 320 4365210 or through the Facebook groups Oddfish and Fauna Marina Mediterranea, in collaboration with the AlienFish project, using the hashtag #Attenti4.

Just a few weeks ago, the scientific journal Mediterranean Marine Science published a study — conducted by CNR-IRBIM and ISPRA — offering an updated and in-depth overview of the lionfish’s distribution in the Mediterranean Sea.

International Day of the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean is a sea of ​​wonders, history, culture and beauty to be protected and enhanced: a heritage that is celebrated on July 8 through the International Day that bears its name. With the MER (Marine Ecosystem Restoration) Project of the PNRR, ISPRA is building a laboratory to map, restore and protect one of the richest - and most fragile - marine ecosystems on our planet with the aim of safeguarding its biodiversity and handing it over to future generations. The MER Project, the largest project on the sea within the "National Recovery and Resilience Plan", sees the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security as the titular administration and ISPRA as the sole implementing body. The project includes 37 lines of activity, to be carried out by June 30, 2026, throughout the national territory divided into three pillars: the restoration and protection of the seabed, the strengthening of marine and coastal observation systems and the mapping of coastal and marine habitats of conservation interest.

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.

Towards a sustainable future. Simplifying the energy transition: new permitting tools for agrivoltaics and photovoltaics

The conference "Towards a sustainable future. Simplifying the energy transition: new permitting tools for agrivoltaics and photovoltaics" is organized by RENAEL together with ISPRA to stimulate a debate on the topic of permitting in the photovoltaic and agrivoltaic sectors, for aspects related to environmental impact.

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.

PNRR MER - Mapping of Seamounts in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea

Geophysical prospecting and sampling of small portions of sediment are underway for the mapping and topographic reconstruction of the underwater mountains, the subject of the PNRR-MER project. The surveys are preparatory to identifying areas where ROV dives can be carried out, to characterize the fauna present at great depths.

ISPRA and Sapienza University of Rome together on the oceanographic vessel NG SURVEYOR of NextGeosolution, to study the underwater seamounts of the Italian seas

The recent geophysical campaign conducted by ISPRA within the PNRR-MER project, SEAMOUNT Intervention (A14) has revealed the presence of unique morphological structures off the coast of Pantelleria, in the Strait of Sicily. The geophysical surveys, conducted using advanced technologies such as the multibeam echo sounder and the sub-bottom profiler, have allowed to identify "pockmarks", sub-circular depressions that extend for about 1 km at the base of the seamount "Pantelleria SW", at a depth of about 300 meters

Summer-Fall School 2025 "Environmental Research and Monitoring Laboratories – Environment and Health"

ISCHIA – October 6-10 Kingdom of Nettuno Marine Protected Area – ISCHIA

ROME - December 1-5 ISPRA National Laboratory Center - ROME

The Summer-Autumn School aims to train experts who know how to navigate the different analytical methodologies to be used in monitoring the main environmental matrices, from sampling to laboratory analysis. The topics covered range from chemical, biological, ecotoxicological and geological analysis to environmental metrology, certification and accreditation of laboratories. In-depth study of the phenomena of bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants; study of air quality; application of the One Health approach

ISPRA, NGI and the GEOMME Partnership – Synergies and Opportunities for Sustainable Landslide Mitigation and Management

EEA Report on European bathing water quality: most of them are safe

According to the latest European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season over 85% of monitored locations met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing water quality standards, while 96% of all officially identified bathing waters in the EU met the minimum quality standards. 

Tarquinia Salt Pans, a Treasure Chest of Biodiversity and Geodiversity

The reportage made during an excursion organized by ISPRA, in collaboration with the Carabinieri of the Biodiversity Protection Unit of Rome, tells the story of a place of great charm. The Tarquinia Salt Marshes Nature Reserve is a hypersaline wetland, one of the few remaining in the Tyrrhenian Sea, whose extension represents different geological-environmental aspects. The salt marsh is recognized as a site of community importance (SCI) and a special protection area (ZPS).

Establishment of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP): a historic step for the health of the planet

June 20, 2025, Punta del Este, Uruguay

A decisive step in global environmental governance has been taken with the official establishment of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP). This new panel, now the third global science pillar alongside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), is dedicated to the responsible management of chemicals and waste and the prevention of pollution.

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.

Water Summit 2025

Resource of the future and impact on businesses

2025 is a crucial year to try to move from a state of permanent water crisis in our country to one of prevention of damage caused by climate change.

During Water Summit, a snapshot will be drawn of what is being done in the territory thanks to the National Plan for Infrastructure Interventions and for the Safety of the Water Sector.

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.

CARG Summer School of Geological Survey and Cartography

The Summer School aims to disseminate the methodologies and criteria of geological surveying and cartography, conceptual organization of data and digital archiving system in accordance with the criteria of the CARG Project. The School includes: one day of distance learning, days of field surveying in small groups followed by experts, frontal lessons and practical exercises. The School is aimed at geologists with surveying skills (graduates, PhD students, PhDs, freelancers, officials of institutions) interested in deepening the methodologies of field collection and archiving of geological data according to the criteria established for the Geological Map of Italy - CARG Project.

ISPRA calculates forest fires: in 2024 Italy will burn less than in the previous 5 years

16 out of 20 regions affected

Online Ecosystems and forest fires in Italy

During 2024, Italy was affected by forest fires covering a total area of ​​514 km2 (almost half the area of ​​the municipality of Rome Capitale). Of these, 20% (about 103 km2 - an area almost comparable to the size of Lake Bolsena) were composed of forest ecosystems. 46% of the burned forests were evergreen broadleaf trees, such as holm oaks and Mediterranean scrub, 37% deciduous broadleaf forests (which lose their leaves in the cold season and regain them in spring) and 14% coniferous forests.

The fires that occurred in Italy in 2024 were less serious in terms of the extension of the areas affected compared to previous years; the overall extension of the areas affected by fire in 2024 is in fact equal to approximately 2/3 of the average value calculated in the period 2018-2023. The total surface area burned in Italy in 2024 is higher only than that burned in 2018 and 2019, but decidedly lower than all the years between 2020 and 2023. The numbers are significantly lower than in 2023 both for the total surfaces burned (-52%), and for the forest surfaces burned (-34%).

Two days of presentation of PCTO at the ISPRA headquarters in Rome

On May 21 and 30, two important days dedicated to the presentation of the Paths for Transversal Skills and Orientation (PCTO) activated in the 2024/2025 school year were held at the conference room of the ISPRA headquarters in Rome. The days represented an opportunity for discussion, sharing and valorization of the results achieved, as well as a moment to listen to the testimonies and recognize the commitment and skills developed among the participants through these growth and learning paths.