The Integrated Information System for Reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive in Italy
Every six years, pursuant to Article 17 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), all Member States are required to prepare a national report on the conservation status of species and habitats of Community interest in order to assess the effectiveness of the conservation measures adopted. In Italy, ISPRA—commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE)—coordinates the reporting process, ensuring the involvement of regions, autonomous provinces, the scientific community, and other sector experts. Key elements of the process include updating distribution maps and gathering the information necessary to complete the reporting forms.
This document describes the process adopted by Italy for the fifth reporting cycle of the Habitats Directive (2019–2024) and presents, in particular, two online systems developed by ISPRA: dhREPORTmap and dhREPORTdb. These tools have enabled the standardization of data collection and management procedures, ensuring methodological consistency and fostering collaboration among the various stakeholders involved. The guidelines also outline the organizational and procedural framework that supported national reporting, highlighting the main solutions adopted, the innovations introduced, and potential avenues for future development. The experience gained has helped consolidate the national information base, improve data quality and comparability, and leverage available local and scientific knowledge. These elements represent a significant step forward toward more transparent, collaborative, and effective management of the information required to fulfill the reporting obligations set out in the Habitats Directive.
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