Events and News

Protection and enhancement of industrial and archaeological-mining heritage

Friday 20 December 2024 from 09:00 will be held at the ICCD - Central Institute for the Catalog and Documentation (MiC, Ministry of Culture), in Rome, in via di San Michele 18,the conference "Protection and Enhancement of Industrial and Archaeo-Mineral Heritage".

Innovation and transformation in landslide risk management in Italy

The aim of the event is to verify the state of knowledge in the characterization and perimeter of landslide phenomena, over 20 years after the promulgation of the laws establishing the hydrogeological management plans (PAI). These plans, initially focused on the knowledge and delimitation of the areas at risk, have seen a regulatory evolution that has refined the fields of application, as highlighted by the Prime Ministerial Decree of 8 May 2015. However, the lack of uniform criteria in the definition of landslide risk remains a critical point. More than a quarter of a century after the founding laws, there is a need to review the methodological approaches that led to the current cognitive framework in light of scientific advances, regional inhomogeneities, innovative technologies, climate changes and new legislation.

Technical visit of the Korea Environment Corporation to ISPRA

On 17 December 2024, a technical visit took place at the ISPRA headquarters by a delegation from the Korea Environment Corporation (South Korea), composed of the Director of the Soil and Groundwater Department and officials from his staff. The delegation met the Director of the Geological Survey of Italy, Dr. Marco Amanti, and other ISPRA experts for a discussion on the management of contaminated sites.

The Korea Environment Corporation is an organization that operates under the supervision of the Korean Ministry of the Environment, with the mandate to promote environmental health and develop projects to combat pollution and climate change. Every year, the organization analyzes the policies adopted at an international level regarding the management of contaminated sites; for 2024, Italy has been identified as the subject of in-depth analysis.

"Report the landslide" and the IdroGEO national platform for knowledge of the territory

The event, organized by ANCI, the Liguria Region and ISPRA, is an opportunity to discuss with the Municipalities on the prevention of hydrogeological risk. Knowledge and updating of information on landslides are fundamental to effective risk prevention and management policies. The use of ISPRA operational tools will be explored in depth to support risk mitigation policies, territorial planning, planning of soil protection interventions and infrastructure design, with the aim of increasing community resilience and awareness. of citizens on local risks.

Geology accessible to all

CARG project: geological maps, 3D subsoil models and databases in one click

Making geology accessible to all is the objective of the new tools of the CARG project presented on 9 December at the Rome headquarters of ISPRA

CARG Gate is a new and single access point to all geological and geothematic maps, subsoil sheets, related explanatory notes and databases, produced in the CARG Project, freely downloadable and reusable.

Geo-IT3D  is a viewer for browsing and querying 3D geological models available on the national territory, with harmonized and freely downloadable data.

These new tools will help ensure the sharing and reuse of strategic data and provide the knowledge of our territory necessary to effectively respond to future challenges in terms of geological hazards, water, mineral and renewable energy resources, citizen safety and infrastructure.

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ASITA conference 2024

ASITA 2024 will be held in Padova from 9 to 13 December and will be a great opportunity to highlight the contribution that Geomatics can provide in various application and research fields to public and private entities and to bring the world of research and the Academy into dialogue with that of professions, businesses and institutions in order to listen to their needs and adequately direct their efforts.

Raw materials and geomaterials: critical issues and industrial applications

On 9 and 10 December 2024, the Workshop "Raw Materials and Geomaterials: critical issues and industrial applications" will be held in hybrid form, organized by the Italian Society of Mineralogy and Petrology (SIMP) and the national Group Georesources, Environment, Cultural Heritage (GABeC) in agreement and cooperation with the National Council of Geologists (CNG) and with the patronage of Assorisorse and SIMP.

Proposals for soil protection

World Soil Day is celebrated on 5 December, this year dedicated to the theme "Taking care of soils: measuring, monitoring, managing". The focus is on the importance of collecting accurate information and data to understand the characteristics of soils and support their sustainable management, topics particularly close to the soil activities of environmental agencies.

From land to Earth. The soil between climate changes and new lifestyles

The event will be an opportunity to start a debate between representatives of the sector and reflect on the importance of soil, its role in combating ongoing climate change and the objectives to be achieved to protect and preserve it.

World Soil Day

Taking care of the soil: measuring, monitoring, managing is the theme chosen for the 2024 edition of World Soil Day
The Day aims to raise public awareness of the importance and relationship between soil and water in the creation of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

The aim of the 2024 Day is to highlight the importance of accurate soil data and information to understand its characteristics and support informed decision-making on sustainable soil management for food security.

This year's celebration is particularly significant as it is the tenth global celebration and, hosted by Thailand, the first celebration outside FAO headquarters, coinciding with the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention of Nations Unite on the Fight against Desertification (UNCCD) to be held from 2 to 16 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Screening of the documentary “Cities Under Pressure” in Brussels

An analysis of the impact of geology and climate change on cities
On 4 December, at the Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels, an exclusive screening of the documentary Cities Under Pressure was held, an analysis of the impact of urban geology and climate change on European cities. The event saw the participation of European exponents from the world of geology, important European organizations working on the sustainability of urban environments and numerous young secondary school students, the future inhabitants and users of our cities.

Cultivating the Future: Science, Policy and Innovation for the Health and Fertility of Italian Soils

EJP SOIL final conference
In conjunction with World Soil Day, CREA, in collaboration with the European soil research program EJP SOIL, the national soil coordination Soil Hub and National Rural Network, presents the final national event of the EJP SOIL program. The event, entitled "Cultivating the Future: Science, Policy and Innovation for the Health and Fertility of Italian Soils", represents an important opportunity to promote collaboration between researchers, politicians and professionals in the agricultural sector, such as producer organisations, agronomists, consultants, technicians and agricultural entrepreneurs. The objective is to provide knowledge and concrete operational tools to improve soil management and raise public awareness of the importance of soil health and fertility, as well as sustainable agricultural practices.

Presentation of the Report “Land consumption, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services” - 2024 Edition

Today, at the ISPRA headquarters in Rome, the 2024 edition of the Report "Land consumption, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services" has been presented by the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), which ensures the monitoring activities of the territory and land consumption.

The loss of ecosystem services linked to land consumption is not only an environmental problem, but also an economic one: in 2023 the reduction of the "sponge effect", i.e. the ability of the soil to absorb and retain water and regulate the hydrological cycle, according to estimates, it costs the country over 400 million euros per year. An "expensive soil" that comes alongside the other costs caused by the loss of ecosystem services due to the decrease in habitat quality, the loss of agricultural production, carbon storage or climate regulation.

Overall, land consumption still remains too high, although with a slight decrease compared to the previous year and continues to advance at the rate of approximately 20 hectares per day, covering new 72.5 km2 (a surface area as large as all the buildings in Turin , Bologna and Florence). A lower growth compared to last year's figure, but which is still above the ten-year average of 68.7 km2 (2012-2022) and only partially compensated by the restoration of natural areas (just over 8 km2, due in largely to the recovery of construction site areas).

On the occasion of the presentation of the Report, the winning images of the 2024 Photo Contest "One shot to tell the story of change" will be presented.

Program

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Summary

Regional data

Main data at regional, provincial and municipality level

Minerale resources and mining activities of Kazakhstan

The Foundation of Geologists of Tuscany, in collaboration with the Embassy of Kazakhstan and the Consulate of Kazakhstan for Tuscany, are organizing the event in the form of a workshop, in which personalities and stakeholders from the mining and Kazakh economy, to illustrate the activities that have allowed this country to become the leading economy in Central Asia, one of the most important countries for energy supply to Europe, a strategic partner of Italy

The products of the GeoSciences IR infrastructure: geological data accessible to all

Thematic webinars to collect feedback on GeoSciences IR products

With the aim of collecting feedback on the products being created as part of the GeoSciences IR project, 10 thematic webinars were organized aimed at potential end users of the infrastructure, from Regional Geological Services to stakeholders up to professional geologists.

ISPRA protagonist of the Italy-China Week of Science, Technology and Innovation

The 13th edition of the Italy-China Week of Science, Technology and Innovation begins today (26-28 November – Naples, Venice) to discuss the value of science and technology in tackling the great challenges of our time. The event takes place as part of the Italy-China bilateral scientific and technological cooperation program and is promoted by the Governments of the two countries through the Ministry of University and Research of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic Popular Chinese. The program is coordinated, for Italy, by the Idis-Città della Scienza Foundation in collaboration with the National Research Council.

The forgotten soil: challenges and opportunities for rural and forestry areas

The event aims to start a dialogue on the topic of the abandonment of marginal lands and the progressive expansion of forest areas. Our objective is to evaluate together with experts the socio-economic and environmental implications of this phenomenon and discuss possible innovative strategies for the sustainable management of territorial resources.

What will be the GeoSciencesIR's contribution to strategies for addressing the environmental challenges of the future?

GeoSciencesIR will be the first national research infrastructure entirely dedicated to geology and will represent a "bridge" between the scientific community and those who work in the area on a daily basis. But what exactly will it contain? What will be the added value? What are the main themes and innovations?

The ISPRA documentary protagonist of the Allumiere event "Female geology. Female scientists on the move"

Saturday 30 November and Saturday 14 December 2024, MAK Museo di Allumiere
Two days dedicated to scientific reading geology for women | Scientists on the move
1st Reading | Mary Anning. An unusual life carved in stone
2nd Reading | Mary Anning. Strange creatures, those with gigantic bones from the Lyme coast.
During both events the ISPRA video documentary filmed during the scientific trekking organized on the occasion of the national mining day 2024 in the Allumiere Monti della Tolfa archaeological geomining park will be screened.

Climalab and Meteolab 2024: focus om soil and climate

The 2024 edition of Climalab (Friday 8 November) and Meteolab (Saturday 9 November) at Forte di Bard will be dedicated to the theme of soil and climate. The study of the interactions between these two elements is fundamental to understanding the complex mechanisms that regulate our planet. The soil, in fact, is not just a simple support for vegetation, but a living and dynamic system that directly affects the climate; in turn, the climate contributes to shaping the evolution and characteristics of the soil.

Thirty years since the 1994 Piemonte flood: a look at the past, the present, the future

On the night between 5 and 6 November 1994, a terrible flood hit the provinces of Cuneo, Asti and Alessandria, on the Tanaro, and the area of ​​Vercelli on the Po. Following this event, an important research activity was started in Piedmont between public bodies responsible for land management, the academic world and professionals to define guidelines for geological studies and to produce rules for the prevention of geo-hydrological risk. The conference is organized by the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Turin, by ARPA Piemonte, by the Italian Society of Environmental Geology (SIGEA) -APS, by CNR IRPI of Turin and by the Regional Order of Geologists of Pemontet and will see the contribution from the Piemonte Region, ISPRA and the Po River Basin Authority with the patronage of the CNG and the various local administrations.

Conference expert Team “Water & Land” dell'IMPEL Network

The conference of the IMPEL Network expert team "Water & Land" will be held in Venice from 29 to 31 October.
The conference, co-organised by ISPRA, opened with speeches from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Director of ARPA Veneto and the Vice Rector of Ca' Foscari University. Various interventions, in person or online, also from the European Commission, in particular from DG Environment

Mining activities in the Mediterranean basin: State of the Art

The Sardegna Mining Association, in collaboration with the Order of Engineers of the Province of Cagliari, the Order of Geologists of Sardegna and the Order of Industrial Experts of Cagliari, is organizing the symposium "Mining activities in the Mediterranean basin: State of the Art". The new European legislation on critical raw materials, recently implemented by the Italian government and parliament.

Mining landscapes of medieval Italy

In the first part of the conference, starting from the Tuscan case, the Italian regional frameworks relating to the study of the exploitation of mineral resources in the Middle Ages will be presented and discussed.
The second part of the conference will be dedicated, however, to a comparison of the best strategies for the protection and valorisation of Tuscan mining landscapes.

International Day for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction

The International Day for Natural Disaster Risk Reduction, known worldwide as the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, is celebrated on October 13.
The day was born at the behest of the United Nations General Assembly in 1989.
The objective of establishing this day is to send an important signal to the Governments of all the countries of the world as well as to international organizations and the global population, to reflect on the increasing frequency and consistency with which natural disasters occur.

Among the institutional tasks of ISPRA there is the collection, processing and dissemination of maps and data on hydrogeological instability referring to the entire national territory, making them available to the country for risk prevention and mitigation.
In particular, ISPRA in collaboration with the Regions and Autonomous Provinces, creates the Inventory of Landslide Phenomena in Italy, in which, to date, over 634,000 landslides have been recorded, representing 2/3 of those in Europe.

XII edition of Planet Earth Week: the National Geosciences Festival

Two itineraries in the Lazio Maremma area: geology, archeology and nature
On the occasion of the XII edition of Planet Earth Week (6-13 October 2024) ISPRA is proposing two scientific treks in the Etruscan-Roman city of Vulci, the Fiora river and the Montalto Marina beach.

ISPRA participates in the CIRAN Project

Is there a sustainable mining activity? A lot of work is being done in Europe to make this possible and ISPRA has also been participating in this effort since 2023 with the CIRAN project (CrItical RAw materials extraction in enviroNmentally protected areas - HORIZON-CL4-2022-RESILIENCE-01-03).

Coordinated by INTRAW (International Raw Materials Observatory) in collaboration with the European Geological Services, CIRAN is working to find solutions between low impact environmental alternatives, sustainability strategies and social acceptability in order to identify protocols and guidelines that make the cultivation of those rare and strategic materials indispensable for Europe to complete the energy transition and to deal with the supply problems resulting from the current geopolitical situation.

Photo contest "Land consumption in Italy 2024"

A shot to tell the story of the change

On the occasion of the presentation of the 2024 edition of the report "Land consumption, territorial dynamics and ecosystem services" ISPRA wants to involve professionals and amateurs from the world of landscape photography and street photography to witness the effect of land consumption on the territory, of such as new construction sites, buildings, new infrastructures and industrial warehouses, logistics and large-scale retail trade, have changed and continue to profoundly change the layout of the landscape.

3rd RaStEM Workshop: a support tool for the design of hydrogeological risk mitigation interventions

RaStEM - Standardized Representation of Mitigation Effects - is a web gis tool developed by ISPRA with the dual purpose of guiding designers to a clear and homogeneous representation of the significant elements of a hydrogeological risk mitigation intervention and supporting them in the drafting of projects consistent with the criteria established by current legislation (DPCM 09/27/2021) for their financing by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE).

World Geodiversity Day

Excursion to discover the geology and geodiversity of Monte Vettore
The third "World Geodiversity Day" will be celebrated on Sunday 6 October, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2021. Geodiversity is also considered the "silent partner of biodiversity" as it is the set of geological-geomorphological characteristics and phenomena that accompany and sometimes, they influence the development of life on earth. Geodiversity Day is a global celebration aimed at promoting its many aspects and importance for society.