Events and News

Italicus second edition

The wolf in Italy, between conservation and coexistence

Two round tables dedicated to the most fascinating and controversial Italian predator, a day to get to know it, exploring together with experts, breeders, professionals and Associations the many aspects that involve conservation and coexistence.

Biodiversa 2025. Italy's parks tell their story

A trip in the Geoparks

An event that celebrates the beauty and value of Italian geodiversity, promoted by the Alta Murgia National Park Authority.
“The Journey to Geoparks” is the title of this second edition: between landscapes sculpted by time, biodiversity and ancient traditions, Biodiversa will take us on a journey through the history of the Earth, to discover wonderful places and the excellences they preserve. Three days of meetings, exhibitions, workshops and tastings to discover Italian Geoparks as places of protection, environmental education and sustainable development of local communities.

Discovering the residual vegetation of a Mediterranean forest in the heart of Rome! Citizen Science activities

The National Biodiversity Network of ISPRA is also this year a partner of the National Academy of Sciences known as the XL, the body that coordinates the initiatives of the territory of the Metropolitan City of Rome. On April 26, the Network promotes a Citizen Science activity at the Pineto Regional Urban Park that will lead participants to discover the residual vegetation of a Mediterranean forest in the heart of Rome. Participants will be accompanied by researchers from the Institute along a path of about 3 km during which the topics related to the importance of land management and the Natura 2000 Network, lichens as bioindicators and bioaccumulators for monitoring air quality will be discussed. The endemic species present along the path will be described up to the description of the residual vegetation typical of the Mediterranean environment and the species of avifauna present in the visited territory will be "listened to".

FLORACULT 2025

FLORACULT returns for its fourteenth edition from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April 2025.
The 2025 FLORACULT program includes workshops, installations, cultural and recreational experiences, meetings with internationally renowned researchers and artists, to delve into the most important issues related to the world of gardens, nature and the environment.
The theme of this edition is "cultivating wonder", an invitation to rediscover the beauty of nature and its inexhaustible ability to amaze us.
Also for this edition, ISPRA, the scientific partner of the event, will participate in FloraCult.

Aliens, Biodiversity, Sustainability

One of the biggest emergencies of recent years is the invasion of alien species that, as a result of globalization, enter new regions and ecosystems, upsetting the balance of the native species present, sometimes even replacing them. All this leads to a potential imbalance of the invaded ecosystem and to its potential degradation.

ISPRA’s ‘Nautilus’ Discovers Coral Forests Among the Submerged Mountains of the Mediterranean

The images returned by the ROV revealed breathtaking scenarios: extensive colonies of red coral (Corallium rubrum) up to 900 meters deep, dense forests of pen corals (Funiculina quadrangularis) between 100 and 140 meters, and a surprising benthic biodiversity, with the presence of black corals (Antipathes dichotoma, Leiopathes glaberrima), white corals (Madrepora oculata, Desmophyllum pertusum), sponges and banks of oysters and giant barnacles.

The big paradox: killing some Animals to save others

In recent decades, our relationship with animals has changed a lot. From a utilitarian attitude, we have developed a more empathetic bond, both with domestic and wild animals. This change, together with the cultural, emotional and cognitive factors that influence our way of seeing death, affects our judgment on interventions that involve the suppression of animals, even when the intent is to protect the species, as in the case of invasive species that threaten native ones.

II° National conference Citizen Science

Three days of presentations on the new horizons of Citizen Science in Italy, which will culminate in the “Citizen Science Day”, a participatory event open to all citizens.

The conference is made up of initiatives aimed at both specialists in the sector and the general public and will end with a final event, open to all with free admission. During the Citizen Science Day there will be moments of in-depth study, practical exercises, performances, activities to be carried out in the city on the themes connected to participatory science.

Comparison on the implementation of the National Guidelines for the conservation of Mediterranean trout and its habitat

On April 8, a meeting planned by the LIFE STREAMS Project will take place at the “Catasta Pollino” Center in Morano Calabro (CS), in the Pollino National Park Authority, to verify the implementation of the Guidelines for the conservation of Mediterranean trout and its habitat (Action C.5 – ISPRA Manuals and Guidelines 207/2024), in person or online.

ISPRA participation in Science Festival of Rome

From 8 to 13 April 2025, the Rome Science Festival returns to the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone with its 20th edition.
Bodies is the theme of this edition.

When we talk about bodies, our first thought goes to human bodies, with their features, shapes and functions. Bodies that, through changes and adaptations, are the result of a long biological and cultural evolution. Which in turn has also influenced the perception of the body itself, which changes depending on society and historical periods, and constitutes the foundation of social interactions and cultural dynamics, since it determines what is considered attractive or acceptable

Life Conceptu Maris and A Ship of Books for Barcelona

On April 5, the scientists of the Life Conceptu Maris project will depart from Civitavecchia for Barcelona. This time, in addition to the usual monitoring of cetaceans and turtles, there will also be moments of scientific dissemination on board. The occasion is the event La Nave dei Libri (The Ship of Books), which brings readers and writers on board, bringing them together. During the crossing on April 6, the Italian students on board and the five European school delegations of the Erasmus+ "Desibook" project from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey will have the opportunity to meet the researchers on the passenger deck and learn how to spot dolphins, whales and sea turtles, directly overlooking the sea.

Montagu’s harrier in Maremma

Results of the first year of the Project by the working group "Montagu’s harrier".
The Museum of Natural History of Maremma is organizing next 4 April a meeting to present the results of the first year of study on Montagu’s harrier (Cyrcus pygargus).
ISPRA researchers will participate at the event.

National conference "Protected Areas & Conservation”

As indicated by the United Nations in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), by 2030 we will have to effectively conserve at least 30% of the Planet, both on land and at sea, in addition to restoring degraded habitats and reducing human pressure on nature.

The challenge of creating new ecologically connected protected areas and managing them effectively has therefore begun and can only pass through sharing the most advanced data on the distribution of biodiversity and the most effective ways to conserve and restore it.

In this context, the National Conference “Protected Areas & Conservation” was born, with the aim of creating an exchange of knowledge and best practices on the conservation of biodiversity inside and outside protected areas to contribute at an Italian level to the objectives of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

City Nature Challenge 2025, ISPRA promotes Citizen Science activities in Rome

The 2025 edition of the City Nature Challenge (CNC) will be held from 25 to 28 April, an international competition between citizens of hundreds of cities around the world to document biodiversity and spread the culture of environmental protection.

In this context, ISPRA is promoting two Citizen Science activities in Rome.

Manual for the application of Appropriate Assessment procedures in marine sites

ISPRA as part of the activities included in the project LIFE SEA.NET “Urgent actions for the implementation of marine Natura 2000 Network”  has carried out the "Manual for the application of Appropriate Assessment procedures in marine sites", which illustrates the results of one of the research actions of the project, coordinated by Legambiente. The document provides technical indications to support the writers of the Impact Assessments, the evaluators and the management bodies of the Natura 2000 sites, proposing methodologies for characterization, impact assessment and identification of specific mitigation and compensation measures for marine-coastal habitats and for marine species of community interest potentially affected by the construction of works and interventions at sea.

Restoring nature in an intergenerational perspective: a dialogue between disciplines

On Thursday 27 March, LUMSA University is organizing the seminar "Restoring nature in an intergenerational perspective: a dialogue between disciplines" created for the PRIN Call 2022 PNRR "Restoring Nature for the Children of Italy" - RINASCI.

Prevention of the risk of electrocution of avifauna

The event, organized within the LIFE MILVUS project, analyzes the impact that electrocution determines on the conservation of threatened species, will present virtuous experiences developed in Italy and other European countries to mitigate the phenomenon and will be an opportunity to discuss possible measures to be adopted to intensify the efforts of knowledge and prevention in Italy.

Women Agriculture Sustainability

The conference, organized by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Waste Cycle of the Municipality of Rome and Noi Rete Donne, will be held on March 25 in the Protomoteca Capitolina hall. The conference will be attended by the General Director of ISPRA, Maria Siclari.

International Day of Forests 2025

The International Day of Forests is celebrated every 21 March and represents a fundamental moment to reflect on the importance of forests for our planet. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, the day aims to highlight the fundamental role that forests play not only in the provision of wood and non-wood products (berries, mushrooms, resins, etc.), but also in the provision of ecosystem services such as erosion control, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation and in providing livelihoods to hundreds of millions of people.
The theme of the 2025 is "Forests and Food", that highlights the crucial role of forests in food security and nutrition.
In addition to providing food, fuel, income and employment, forests support soil fertility, protect water resources and provide habitats for biodiversity. They are essential to the survival of forest-dependent communities, particularly indigenous peoples, and help mitigate climate change by storing carbon.

Science and Faith for the care of the Common Home

Inspired by the universal message of the Canticle of Creatures, the event, organized by the Courtyard of San Francesco with the scientific direction of Arpa Umbria and Safa, aims to explore the dialogue between science and faith as a fundamental tool for addressing the global challenges linked to climate change, the protection of biodiversity and the responsible management of natural resources.

Through a constructive discussion between scientific experts, institutional representatives and figures from the business world, the initiative aims to promote a shared and multidisciplinary approach, capable of combining scientific knowledge and ethical vision for a more sustainable future.

Municipal green plans: tools to bring nature back into our lives?

Bringing nature back into our lives: this is what the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 says. And since the lives of millions and millions of citizens are concentrated in cities and in the increasingly anthropized contexts of our territories, it is from the cities that we must start again to reverse the trend of the progressive degradation of ecosystems, including urban ones.
The new publication "Urban nature Plans: tools to bring nature back into our lives? - produced and published by Urban Area section - It therefore starts from the cities to reflect on a planning tool that is still not very widespread in Italy - the Municipal Green Plan - with the aim of understanding its contents, strategies and transformative potential for healthier, more inclusive and resilient territories. Torino, Vercelli, Bolzano, Padova, Rovigo, Parma, Bologna, Forlì, Livorno, Avellino: these are the 10 Green Plans analyzed.

Representatives of MASE, ANCI and ICLEI have been invited to the webinar and the program includes technical insights and a session dedicated to Municipalities.

Program

Peace with Nature: Research, Organizations and Institutions together

Thanks to its strategic position in the Mediterranean, its varied geomorphology and the extraordinary diversity of habitats, Italy is the European country with the greatest variety of living species and the highest rate of endemic species.

Furthermore, Italy is one of the few nations in the world to have established the defense of biodiversity as a fundamental principle in its Constitution. In February 2022, in fact, the Constitutional Law of 11 February 2022, no. 1 was approved by Parliament, which recognizes an express importance to the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems in the part dedicated to Fundamental Principles.

The contemporary challenges presented by the biodiversity crisis, which include efforts to address the direct factors that are at the root of the crisis itself, such as the destruction and degradation of habitats, the excessive extraction of biological resources, pollution, invasive alien species and climate change, transcend national borders.

"Teveremolluschifantastici...and where to find them" excursion on March 15th at the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa Regional Nature Reserve

On the occasion of the International Day of Action for Rivers, which is celebrated on March 14, ISPRA researchers will be in the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa Regional Nature Reserve as part of the participatory science project "Teveremolluschifantastici...e dove trovarli" to monitor the presence and distribution of native and alien molluscs in the Tiber River.

Nature restoration law and European, national and regional strategies for biodiversity conservation

The initiative will focus on the EU Regulation 2024/1991 on nature restoration, an innovative and unique regulation in the world, which is fundamental for the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. This regulation provides binding targets for the restoration of degraded ecosystems, both in protected areas and in agricultural and urban areas, contributing not only to the protection of biodiversity, but also to the fight against the climate crisis and the revitalization of rural areas.

The spring season of openings at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano starts again on March 15th

Guided tours will be held on weekends, until Sunday, June 15; visitors will be able to choose between three different tour routes: the historical-artistic one, the archaeological one and the naturalistic one, which - for this season - will concern the Campo di Rota itinerary.
ISPRA conducts, in collaboration with the Estate, research and monitoring activities of the fauna present in the area through the use of the most advanced techniques for studying animal species, from ringing of bird fauna to understand their migratory dynamics, to radiotelemetry to track the movements of animals, from photographic traps to detect the presence of different species remotely, to the use of thermal cameras that detect their presence in the total absence of light.

Course to recognize cetaceans and turtles

On the Life Conceptu Maris website there is a simple course available in four languages ​​to identify all the cetaceans and turtles of the Mediterranean Sea.

The course provides simple and interesting interactive videos that explain which species of cetaceans and turtles can be found in our seas, also giving useful indications to recognize them.

ISPRA is a partner of the Project.

First Forum on Biodiversity, Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services in the Po District

The Po River District Authority and the Foundation for Sustainable Development are organizing the First Forum on Biodiversity, Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services in the Po District on 12 and 13 March in Milano.

The Po River District Authority and the Foundation for Sustainable Development are collaborating on a research and development project for the valorization of biodiversity in the Po District, aimed at the implementation of territorial policies that combine biodiversity conservation and water protection, also in relation to ongoing climate changes

Man, nature and the climate crisis

The Eutopie project, dialogues between science and society for research on human beings was born from the need to create, within the university community, a space for reflection on scientific issues of great social relevance. Between March and June 2025, four monthly debate meetings will take place at the Sapienza University of Rome. Each appointment will see the participation of experts, through whose reports we will try to stimulate open discussion and dialogue with the public.

360° ornithology

The meeting, organized by MUSE of Trento, will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the fascinating world of birds that populate the Italian skies, the secrets revealed thanks to new technologies and the latest ornithological studies.

World Wildlife Day 2025

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 March (day of signing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), World Wildlife Day 2025 to celebrate and make aware public opinion on animals and wild plants of the world.

The international day 2025 “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet" explores how we can work together to make our current insufficient financial flows more effective and sustainable to build a resilient future for both people and the planet.

With over 1 million species estimated to be threatened with extinction, and facing the intensifying triple planetary crisis, innovative finance for wildlife conservation is more urgent than ever. More than half of the world’s GDP is dependent on nature, making biodiversity loss a significant threat to financial stability.

World Wildlife Day 2025 will serve as a platform for exchange and exploration of innovative financial solutions for wildlife conservation. It will showcase financial innovations, the challenges faced by civil society, governments, organisations, and the private sector, and the collaborative approaches needed to ensure sustainable funding for biodiversity.