News

Lead and hunting ammunition. Two paths destined to separate

Nationally renowned speakers will present data, research and scientific evidence that explain all the problems of lead poisoning which, every year in Europe alone, causes the death of over 2,300,000 birds.
An extensive review will be dedicated to the use of non-toxic alternative lead ammunition which has been in use for decades in some European countries and regions. In the afternoon, the most significant stages of the multi-year ecotoxicological research, undertaken in 1995, on the muddy sediments of the Po Delta, in the places of lead contamination, will be illustrated.

Flying over the Dancalia - When geology amazes us

On the occasion of the conference "The contribution of Italian geologists in the exploration of the Afar" organized by ISPRA in collaboration with the Italian Geological Society and the Italian Geographical Society on 7 June 2024 in Rome, the reportage created with 4K aerial images of this region where it is possible to admire an incredible variety of natural landscapes, originating from geological processes that have been ongoing for millions of years. The conference was a day of in-depth study on the role played by the Italian scientific community, and in particular by geologists, in the exploration of the Dancalia region (East Africa).

Water Festival 2024

Utilitalia, the Federation of water, environment and energy companies, will organize the 2024 edition of the Water Festival in Florence from 24 to 26 September. The event will offer three days of reflections with political representatives, national and international sector experts, as well as events and demonstrations that will involve the city of Florence to reflect on the importance of this resource.

XXVIII National Congress of the Italian Chemical Society

Raw materials, point of convergence between different sciences
The XXVIII congress of the Italian Chemical Society took place in Milan. In the Chemistry&Society session, ISPRA activity in the sector of critical and strategic raw materials was presented, which has attracted great interest from the Italian Chemical Society. ENEA, CNR and State Police also participated in the session. The meeting can be the prelude to a collaboration for a desirable and necessary sharing of knowledge on a topic that is the basis of our entire development model

Landslides and floods: ISPRA's activities

On 27 August 2024, the provinces of Caserta, Benevento and Avellino were hit by strong storms that caused landslides and rivers of mud in various locations. Irpinia was particularly affected where in San Felice Cancello the streets of the hilly hamlet of Talanico were invaded by a river of mud and debris.

Among the institutional tasks of ISPRA 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, has realized 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.
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Every three years ISPRA publishes the Report on hydrogeological instability in Italy which constitutes the official reference framework on the hydrogeological hazard and risk for our country.

The data tell us that the 94% of Italian municipalities are at risk from landslides, floods or coastal erosion, 1.3 million inhabitants are at risk of landslides and 6.8 million inhabitants at risk of floods (ISPRA Report, 2021). We are working on the 2024 edition which will be published early next year.

All data is published on the national IdroGEO platform, an easy tool to use, even with smartphones, to promote greater awareness of the risks affecting one's territory and informed decisions on where to buy one's home or locate new economic activities.

In situ monitoring of landslides is essential to deepen knowledge of landslide phenomena, evaluate the evolution of ongoing phenomena (forecast), support the design of stabilization works and verify their effectiveness over time, correctly plan the territory, activate procedures to alert the population.

In 2021, ISPRA created the National Registry of in situ landslide monitoring systems in order to survey the monitoring networks on the national territory. It is managed in collaboration with Regions, Autonomous Provinces and ARPA and contains information on location, managing entity, monitoring purpose (cognitive/alert), system status (active/decommissioned/under construction), type of acquisition (manual/ continuously), type of monitoring instrumentation.

IdroGEO: check if your area is at risk of instability

Over 2 million buildings and more than 727 thousand businesses in highly dangerous areas

There are more than 2 million and 115 thousand Italian buildings which, together with the 727 thousand companies, are located in the areas most exposed to hydrogeological risk. Of the latter, over 84 thousand fall in areas with high and very high landslide danger, with over 220 thousand workers exposed to risk; more than 640 thousand companies are located in areas at risk for floods in the average scenario.

A new legislative instrument for nature conservation in Europe: the Nature Restoration Regulation

On 18 August 2024 the "Nature Restoration law" officially came into force, the EU law on the Restoration of Nature which for the first time establishes a roadmap for the protection and above all the restoration of degraded areas

PNRR WED – Complete mapping of the italian coast and coastal habitats launch of the WebGis platform – Cloud

The PNRR MER project is an ambitious initiative that aims to map the entire Italian coast in detail, both the emerged and submerged parts. The project's coverage area extends up to 800 meters landward and up to 50 meters depth at sea, including the boundaries of marine protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.

A crucial element of the project is the development of a WebGIS – Cloud platform, currently in beta version, which allows access to the collected data and real-time monitoring of mapping activities.

Publication of RETICULA n. 35/2024

Issue n.35 of RETICULA technical journal is now available online.

This issue hosts an interesting article on a methodology for monitoring riparian areas, important elements of an ecological network at a local scale, through remote sensing and citizen science approaches, developed in 2020 and currently being validated for the Italian environment. Furthermore, the “Carta della Natura del comune di Campobasso: Carta degli habitat alla scala 1:5,000” is presented, which represents an example of application of the “Carta della Natura” project at a local scale within a medium-small city context. Another contribution addresses the issue of ecological connectivity within the new European Agricultural Programming and finally, an article describing the conservation actions favoring the Marsican brown bear within the Regional Nature Reserve/WWF Oasis “Gole del Sagittario”.

The editorial, edited by Matteo Guccione, presents the lights and shadows of the application of Artificial Intelligence in managing urban greenery.

The ReticulaNews section collects numerous news reported by the magazine users and the Editorial Board

Eco - Festival of Sustainable Mobility and Smart Cities

ECO, the Festival of Sustainable Mobility and Intelligent Cities which, after the first edition last year in Padova it will be held in Rome to analyze the state of the art of the ecological transition, will take place on 17 and 18 September at the Roman Aquarium in terms of transport of people and goods in Italy

The ecological beach

The activity is part of the "ISPRA Program of environmental and sustainability education initiatives" to bring students closer to nature and the environment. The educational actions aim to discover the natural elements characteristic of Mediterranean beaches, including the Banquettes, and to knowledge of the Ecological Beach model, with active involvement in the sustainable management of beaches, also through Citizen Science approaches

Marine alien species - CapSenHAR project

The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea is constantly evolving, colonized by expanding species that arrive through natural corridors, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, and by non-indigenous or alien species that are introduced through anthropogenic activities such as maritime traffic, aquaculture and the aquarium hobby or which arrive through artificial corridors such as the Suez Canal. The success of new species may be favored by climate change and/or altered environmental conditions. Some of these may become invasive and pose a threat to the environment, cause damage to the economy or represent a danger to human health.

Ideal habitat for the plover

The plover Charadrius alexandrinus is a small cosmopolitan wader that prefers the shores of the sea and lakes, estuaries, salt marshes and brackish lagoons for reproduction. Its ideal habitat is the area at the foot of the dune, the use of beaches by man and coastal erosion have significantly reduced it.

The plover is currently among the most threatened coastal nesting species: most of the breeding populations in Europe have decreased, sometimes drastically as in Italy, due to the disturbance caused by human activities, predation by invasive species, the loss and of habitat degradation.

The European Night of Researchers returns on 27 and 28 September: the edition 2024 of NET - scieNcE Together

The edition 2024 of the European Night of Researchers is dedicated to Maria Skłodowska Curie, a pioneer in the field of radioactivity.

A journey into science that celebrates the first person in history to win two Nobel Prizes through workshops, events and shows organized in Italy and abroad by twelve national research bodies and universities with the NET - scieNcE Together project.
The researchers from the main public research bodies and universities in our country that make up the NET network will conduct workshops, in-person and virtual tours, games and experiments, interactive conferences to bring adults and children closer to science. During the appointments, in fact, participants will have the opportunity to interact directly with male and female scientists, participate in interactive experiments and attend live scientific demonstrations, making science a fun and engaging experience for everyone, from children to adults.

Further information; https://www.scienzainsieme.it/

Press release NET – scieNcE Together

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Pantelleria - Volcanic island between past and future

ISPRA Geological Service of Italy is carrying out the survey of the 1:25,000 geological sheet of the island of Pantelleria. In this video, in addition to the beauty of the island, its volcanic history and the difficulties that geologists have to face to create this important geological map emerge. By also interviewing the Director of the Pantelleria National Park, the strategic value that this map also has for the purposes of planning and protection of a unique territory in the world emerges.

PNRR MER - Integral mapping of the Italian coast and coastal habitats. Intervention A16-A18 and coastline

The PNRR MER project aims to fully map the Italian coast, both the emerged and submerged parts. The area covered includes the coast up to 800 meters towards land and up to 50 meters deep at sea, extending to the borders of marine protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.

The mapping of coastal habitats is carried out via aerial flights equipped with Topographic LiDAR sensors, which create a 3D "digital atlas" of the Italian coast. This survey, which covers 7,500 km of coastline, will provide useful data for the analysis and protection of species and habitats.

The detection takes place with a specific Topographic LiDAR sensor mounted on an aircraft, flying at an average altitude of 2,800 meters. The images collected will be used to model the coast and support habitat protection and coastal defense strategies. The campaign is already underway in several regions of Liguria, Toscana, Lazio and Campania and the data will be available starting from autumn 2024.

The project aims to strengthen the monitoring of Italian marine and coastal ecosystems, providing detailed information on the morphology of the coast and supporting decisions for the protection of coastal infrastructure.

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Forest fires: from January to July 2024 in line with the average since 2006. More serious episodes in Sicilia and Sardegna, forest cover is saved in Vieste

From 1 January 2024 to the last update available from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) on 30 July, 615 fires were detected on a national scale, covering a total area of ​​221 km2. The estimates produced by ISPRA highlight that the wooded areas affected by fire, for the first 8 months of 2024, are 40 km2 of forest surface (i.e., 18% of the total).

The trend in the area affected by forest fires in 2024, up to now, does not differ significantly from the average trend in the period 2006-2023.

Drones for environmental protection, videos of SNPA test

In recent months, several joint test of ISPRA and Arpa/Appa personnel have been held on the use of drones in the field of environmental protection.

The use of remotely piloted aircraft systems for environmental monitoring is an already widespread reality within the National Environmental Protection System. In this context, work is being done to standardize the operating procedures, with the aim of defining a common standard, also through the development of common guidelines for the National Environmental Protection System.

LIFE Conceptu Maris - LIFE project of the month on the MASE website

IFE Conceptu Maris: CONservation of CEtaceans and Pelagic sea TUrtles in Med: Managing Actions for their Recovery In Sustainability”

With their movements in the open sea in the Mediterranean, cetaceans and sea turtles find themselves dealing with a growing number of threats, including plastic pollution, maritime traffic and commercial fishing.

ISPRA with MASE at the Rimini Meeting

From 20 to 25 August ISPRA will be present at the Rimini Meeting (Rimini Fair) with a stand inside the Ministry of the Environment Square (Pavilion A3). The event, now in its 45th edition, has the title "If we are not looking for the essential, then what are we looking for?" and will be full of round tables, exhibitions, shows, cultural, sporting and children's initiatives. It will also be broadcast live on multiple digital channels and in multiple languages. The program, presented on Monday 15 July at the Embassy of the Holy See in Italy, can be consulted on the Meeting Rimini website

On August 23, the Ministry of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin will be present at the event.

Brochure

Program

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Marine alien species - CapSenHAR project

The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea is constantly evolving, colonized by expanding species that arrive through natural corridors, such as the Strait of Gibraltar, and by non-indigenous or alien species that are introduced through anthropogenic activities such as maritime traffic, aquaculture and the aquarium hobby or which arrive through artificial corridors such as the Suez Canal. The success of new species may be favored by climate change and/or altered environmental conditions. Some of these may become invasive and pose a threat to the environment, cause damage to the economy or represent a danger to human health.

PNRR MER: ISPRA launches sea ghostbusters to capture ghost nets and save marine flora and fauna

Description
There is a silent and often invisible threat that lurks among the waves: these are the so-called "Ghost Nets", the "ghost nets" used for fishing that are abandoned or lost at sea and represent one of the most insidious forms of pollution marine. As part of the project MER (Marine Ecosystem Restoration) financed by the PNRR, ISPRA has started the procedures to clean the water from this equipment in 20 sites along the Italian coasts of Liguria, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Sicily, Puglia, Marche , Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. The plan, which includes the removal, collection, transport, disposal and recycling of "ghost nets" will continue until 30 June 2026.

The invisible threat
ISPRA data shows that 86.5% of waste at sea is linked to fishing and aquaculture activities and 94% of these are abandoned nets, some even kilometers long. The “Ghost Nets” are extremely dangerous: the Posidonia oceanica meadows are damaged due to the physical effect of the shading and mechanical abrasion of the seabed which kills and tears the plants, many species are suffocated due to the excessive accumulation of sediments. Animal species also suffer damage because fishing gear lost at sea continues to catch millions of fish, mammals, turtles, large cetaceans and even birds in a non-selective and indiscriminate way, without human control, thus also affecting threatened and at-risk species . Once trapped by the ghost nets, they are unable to move, dying from starvation, infections and lacerations. It is estimated that ghost nets alone catch around 5% of the world's marketable fish.
As if this were not enough, the nets represent a new source of pollution: if once, in fact, they were made with hemp or cotton, today synthetic fiber deriving from plastic is the main material used, which takes hundreds of years to decompose . The nets suffocated much of the fauna present, not to mention the corals, which were seriously damaged. Furthermore, due to their adherence to the rocks, the fishing nets close every possible refuge for the fish, which are thus forced to move. They then contribute significantly to pollution from microplastics which, with their load of contaminants, can be ingested by marine organisms and enter the food web, reaching humans

The “Ghostbusters of the Seas”
This is why the Institute has already started monitoring activities to precisely identify the critical sites for the removal of these objects and preserve the local flora and fauna: a procedure that will involve a team of "Ghostbusters of the seas": highly specialized divers and wire-guided underwater robots (ROVs) with mechanical arms to cut, manipulate and remove nets at depths greater than 40 meters in compliance with a rigorous safety plan. This is not a simple cleaning, but a precise and meticulous intervention, similar to the restoration of a painting, which carefully evaluates the conditions of each site to minimize damage to animal and plant communities and maximize the recycling of recovered plastic. A fundamental step for cleaner and more sustainable seas, free from the threats of ghost nets and protected in their biodiversity.

ISPRA presented Gemma

The ISPRA General Director, Maria Siclari, and the President Stefano Laporta on Tele Ambiente presented GeMMA, the geological mining database which collects and harmonizes the data relating to all the deposits.

The database, updated as part of the PNRR GeoSciencesIR project, represents the starting point for the development of the national mining program, imposed by the EU Critical Raw Materials Act Regulation and entrusted to ISPRA.

More than 400 nests of Caretta Caretta marine turtle in Italy

To date more than 400 nests of Caretta Caretta marine turtles have been observed in Italy, mainly in Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Apulia Region. The activities of beach patrolling looking for traces and turtle nests are going on by hundreds of volunteers. Once identified, the nests are made safe to be protected against damages. These activities require significant time and efforts but are well rewarded by the great emotion aroused with the hatching of eggs. Life TURTLENEST Project of which ISPRA is a partner has signed more than 100 Memoranda of Understanding with administrations and protected areas interested in the adoption of indications provided by Legambiente, project coordinator, for a responsible management of beaches as potential nesting areas.

The memorandum of understanding between ISPRA and ENEA has been renewed for another 4 years

The President of ISPRA Stefano Laporta and the President of ENEA Gilberto Dialuce signed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding already stipulated in 2019, lasting four years.

Among the joint activities carried out with the previous Protocol, the Pulvirus project, whose objective was to deepen the link between air pollution and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaboration on circular economy issues, with the updating of the Strategy National on the circular economy in support of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and with the "Facciamo circolare" communication campaign financed by the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy.

With the protocol signed today, the collaboration will continue, in particular, for the adoption of on the issues of sustainability and environmental protection, for the purposes of the energy transition, the environmental transition and the circular economy.

ISPRA in RemTech Expo 2024

From 18 to 20 September the XVIII Edition of RemTech Expo will be held in Ferrara, the Environmental Technological Hub specialized in the themes of restoration, regeneration and sustainable development of territories. This year too ISPRA will participate in numerous meetings.
There are ten segments that make up the event: REMTECH and REMTECH EUROPE remediation of contaminated sites, COAST coastal protection, ports, sustainability, ESONDA hydrogeological instability, floods, landslides, CLIMETECH climate change, mitigation, adaptation, GEOSISM seismic risk, prevention, reconstruction , INERTIA sustainable works materials, circular economy, RIGENERACITY urban regeneration, CHEMTECH innovative and sustainable chemical industry and FIRE prevention-innovation-research, fire prevention and safety of the Italian Cultural Heritage - and a special HUTTE segment dedicated to the themes of sustainability and integral well-being.

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Beached Posidonia, sustainable methods for active management

The national workshop on the topic of management of beached Posidonia oceanica entitled will be held on Wednesday 24 July 2024 at the headquarters of the Cilento Vallo Diano and Alburni National Park in Castellabate. “Beached Posidonia, sustainable methods for active management”. Participating in the event are the beneficiaries of the LIFE SeaForest project "Posidonia meadows as carbon sinks of the Mediterranean", but also public institutions, scientific research and the business world, which in various capacities have developed experiences on this topic.

Observe and report the flora and fauna around you even on holiday!

let's participate in the "Biodiversity in pose" initiative of the ISPRA National Biodiversity Network dedicated to the collection and sharing of observations on fauna, flora and the natural environment made by citizens

“Biodiversity in pose” offers the possibility, thanks to the connection with the iNaturalist APP, to anyone interested and at any time, to share reports with the Network through images of nature created at both a professional and amateur level, thus constituting a channel of input for the data.

Urban Nature 2024: the celebration of Nature in the city

Let's explore the Aniene Valley Nature Reserve
The ISPRA National Biodiversity Network is a partner of the edition 2024 of Urban Nature, the initiative promoted by the WWF to spread the value and care of nature in the city. There are several events scheduled for 28 and 29 September organized in various Italian cities by the partners participating in the initiative.

The project PNRR MER in the Italian Tv channel TG1

The Director General of ISPRA, Maria Siclari, was a guest this morning on TG1 to talk about the activities of the MER - Marine Ecosystem Restoration Project.

MER is the largest project on the sea as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which sees ISPRA as the implementing body and the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security as the administration in charge of the 400 million Euro financing for 2022- 2026. The MER provides for interventions for the restoration and protection of the seabed and marine habitats, the strengthening of the national observation system of marine and coastal ecosystems and the mapping of coastal and marine habitats of conservation interest in Italian waters with the acquisition of a new naval oceanographic unit, equipped with highly technological equipment capable of probing the seabed up to 4000 m and very high resolution acoustic instrumentation.

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