News

Venice, ISPRA enlists new "guardians" for the lagoon

Nine new stations measuring sea level, waves and weather conditions have been installed for the monitoring and prediction of extreme events and high water in Venice

Monitor sea level, weather conditions and waves in the lagoons of Venice and Marano Grado to predict extreme events and support coastal risk management, with precise and accurate data, also in relation to the operation of the Mose system. It is with this objective that Ispra will strengthen its meteorological-marine monitoring system by expanding its tide gauge network in the Venice Lagoon and the Upper Adriatic as part of the MER (Marine Ecosystem Restoration) project financed by the PNRR.

The contract involves the installation, to be completed by June 2025, of 9 new stations for monitoring sea level and meteorological conditions in the lagoons of Venice and Marano Grado, thus strengthening the meteorological-marine observation system already present and providing additional essential data for monitoring and predicting extreme events.
Particular attention will be dedicated to the monitoring of waves in the lagoon environment - a parameter currently little paid attention to by existing observation systems - but essential for the analysis and modeling of the hydrodynamic and morphological conditions in lagoon environments, functional to the understanding of the ongoing dynamics and the design of environmental protection and restoration interventions.

Energy independence: new geopolitical scenarios and tools for businesses. The role of Italian industrial plant engineering

The National Association of Industrial Plant Engineering is organizing the 49th ANIMP National Conference on 20 and 21 June on the theme: "Energy independence: new geopolitical scenarios and tools for businesses. The role of Italian industrial plant engineering".

The objective of the Conference is to analyze the situation and positioning of the Italian plant engineering industry, starting from the geopolitical and market scenarios (20 June afternoon), outlined at the opening of the proceedings by ISPI, and the programmatic measures at an institutional/governmental level.

Survey on the promotion of marine sciences and our relationship with the sea

The European association EuroGOOS, which brings together 48 bodies that manage monitoring networks for the collection of data relating to the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of seas and oceans and of which ISPRA is also a member, has launched a survey to survey the various Ocean Literacy initiatives.

Study Day 30th Anniversary of the UNCCD Convention

June 17th is the Day against Desertification and Drought, "United for the Earth". Our legacy. Our Future” is the theme chosen for 2024 and highlights the future of land management: our most precious resource for ensuring the stability and prosperity of billions of people around the world.

June 17, 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the only legally binding international treaty on land management and drought; one of the three Rio Conventions together with climate change and biodiversity.

Kick-off meeting of the Aces project

The kick-off meeting of the Aces project - Water, climate and health: from the environmental protection of resources, to access to water, to safe use, with the Abruzzo Region as leader, will be held on 12 June in Pescara.
The project is financed by the Ministry of Health as part of the National Complementary Plan (Pnc) to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Pnrr) and sees the participation as operational units of ISPRA, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Izs of Abruzzo and Molise, Ars Toscana

Sea Essence International Festival

Sea Essence International Festival, the international festival dedicated to the protection and valorization of the sea and its essence, will be held in Marciana Marina from 28 to 30 June.
This year's edition is dedicated to the theme of "Connections" in all its forms: cultural, environmental, economic and social.

Desertification and Drought Day 2024

Desertification, land degradation and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with more than 40% of all land surface in the world already considered degraded.

A healthy land not only provides us with nearly 95% of our food, but much more: it clothes and shelters us, provides us with jobs and livelihoods, and protects us from worsening droughts, floods, and fires. Yet, every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy soil is degraded, totaling 100 million hectares each year.

The Desertification and Drought Day  it is celebrated every year on June 17th, “United for the Earth. Our legacy. Our Future” is the theme chosen for 2024 and highlights the future of land management: our most precious resource for ensuring the stability and prosperity of billions of people around the world.

June 17, 2024 will also mark the 30th anniversary of the Bonn-based United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the only legally binding international treaty on land management and drought; one of the three Rio Conventions together with climate change and biodiversity.

Desertification and Drought Day has the following objectives:

• Promote public awareness of problems related to desertification, land degradation and drought
• Present human-driven solutions to prevent desertification and reverse drought intensification
• Strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Dealing with complexity. From the conservation of large carnivores to the loss of biodiversity: exploring the tools for effective communication

Explore tools for effective communication

As part of the communication initiatives of the LIFE WolfAlps EU project, the project partners of the Lombardy Region and the Alpi Marittime protected areas are organizing an international workshop to be held in Milan on 12 June at Palazzo Lombardia, with the aim of improving our collective understanding and communication strategies related to large carnivores.

Evolution of policies for the protection of biodiversity and innovation in business strategies

In recent years, research has highlighted the role of biodiversity and the protection of natural capital in generating fundamental functions for the well-being of ecosystems and people. According to the World Economic Forum (2023) almost 50% of the global economy is threatened by the loss of biodiversity and 79% of threatened species are endangered due to the impacts generated by economic activity.

Landscapes and Geological Heritage, Cultural Heritage and Intangible Heritage

The Italian Society of Environmental Geology (SIGEA) – APS and the Regional Order of Geologists of Puglia in collaboration with the Municipality of Salve (LE) organizes the National Conference "Landscapes and Geological Heritage, Cultural Heritage and Intangible Heritage". The topics addressed will be: land management for the protection of geological heritage; geological heritage of natural and anthropic hypogea; geological landscapes and their evolution; landscapes and different artistic expressions; geological landscapes and food and wine routes.

ISPRA documentary "The House of Sand"

Do you know the Kentish Plover? Do you know that you might encounter it on the beach this summer? Unfortunately, it is currently among the most threatened coastal nesting species. Most breeding populations in Europe are declining, sometimes dramatically as in Italy, due to disturbance from human activities, predation by invasive species, and habitat loss and degradation. The documentary "The House of Sand" describes the monitoring and scientific research activities carried out by ISPRA in collaboration with local ringers, the local associations of the National Committee for the Conservation of the Kentish Plover and the General Command of the Carabinieri.

33rd Plenary Meeting of the Network of the Heads of European Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA)

The event will take place at the ‘Spazio Europa’, operated by the Office of the European Parliament in Italy and by the Representation in Italy of the European Commission.
The theme for the meeting in Rome will be to shed light on the roles and functions of the European nature conservation agencies in supporting governments in the sciencebased, effective and efficient implementation of the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the relevant nature restoration initiatives in Europe.

Biodiversity, green communities, animal protection

The conference is organized as part of the Administrative, Environmental and Public Health Law curriculum of the PhD in Public, Comparative and International Law.

World Oceans Day: Know, Understand, Coexist

On the occasion of World Oceans Day (WOD) the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology organizes the event "World Oceans Day: Knowing, Understanding, Living"

The event will take place in Palermo, Rome and Lerici and will have a science and art format to guide participants in an experience capable of sparking connections with the natural environment, allowing them to learn more about the ocean and understand how to actively contribute to its conservation.

World Environment Day 2024

World Environment Day has been celebrated since 1972 and represents the United Nations' main vehicle for encouraging global awareness and action for the environment.

The 2024 day, hosted by Saudi Arabia, focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience with the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.

According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, up to 40% of the planet's land is degraded, directly affecting half the world's population and threatening about half of global GDP ($44 trillion). The number and duration of droughts have increased by 29% since 2000: without urgent action, droughts could affect more than three-quarters of the world's population by 2050.

Land restoration is a key pillar of the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world that is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, from 2 to 13 December 2024.

UNCDD country report 2022 Italy 

Consultation open for the document "The environmental challenge for sustainable finance. Methodologies, information and environmental indicators"

Public consultation on the technical document is open until August 31st in order to receive feedback and considerations from stakeholders.
The objective of the technical document is to make available an operational tool to provide methodological support and guidance for environmental sustainability reporting, in compliance with the new European standards.

Hydrological measurement in the Italian Northeast

Hydrological measurement has taken on ever greater importance in activities and studies in ever more extensive fields, from climate research to applications in the environmental field. For these reasons, the Venetian Section of the Italian Hydrotechnical Association and the Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection of the Veneto Region - ARPAV, deemed it appropriate to organize a Study Day on the topic of "Hydrological measurement in the Northeast" aimed at deepening knowledge and the evolution prospects gained in this field, divided into three sessions.

On 28 and 29 May the RAMOGEPol anti-pollution exercise took place off the coast of Viareggio

Organized by MASE as part of the RAMOGE agreement with France and the Principality of Monaco. Pollution in the sea will be simulated with natural substances; involved satellites, drones, air-naval vehicles.

The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has organized an international anti-pollution exercise called RAMOGEPol “Versiliana 2024” off the coast of May 28 and 29, as part of the RAMOGE agreement between Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco. of Viareggio, in close collaboration with the Ramoge Secretariat and the Coast Guard.

The goal is to test with organization, coordination and readiness to respond to pollution. For this reason, numerous national and international actors will be involved and the most advanced technologies and response means will be used: satellites, drones, ships, planes and helicopters specialized in anti-pollution activities, for a total of twenty-two means.

Biodiversa. The Italy of Parks tells its story

Biodiversa is a national event to celebrate the richness of Italian protected areas. From 21 to 23 June the Gravina in Puglia neighborhood will host a program of meetings, activities and experiences dedicated to nature and its valorization.
The event is promoted by the Alta Murgia National Park on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its establishment (10 March 2004), organized in collaboration with Federparchi and with the support of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, ISPRA, the Region Puglia, Lazio Region and Municipality of Gravina. The event will also see the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-Food Unit Command of the Carabinieri and the General Command of the Port Authority Corps present in the exhibition area.

On 21 June, the ISPRA President, Stefano Laporta, is expected to participate in the session "Towards the States General of Protected Areas".

On 22 June, ISPRA researchers will participate in the round table "Parks and ISPRA: sharing actions and data to achieve the objectives of the 2030 biodiversity strategies".

Further information

30 years of URP: information and communication to citizens between listening and participation

“30 years of URP. Information and communication to citizens between listening and participation" is the training event that will be held in Rome next Monday 27 May, in the Conference Room of the National Research Council. On this occasion, the results of the "30 years of Urp" study by the Sapienza University of Rome will be presented.

Adaptation actions to the impacts of climate change

The Aula Meridiana of the University of Genoa hosts the launch event of the Academy "Adaptation actions to the impacts of climate change", developed within the ONE-STOP-SHOP ACADEMY Action envisaged in the Genoa Action Plan adaptation plan 2050.

The Academy aims to strengthen skills on cross-sectoral issues regarding climate change and the value of adaptation in the urban context. The objective is to develop in participants an in-depth understanding and technical-operational skills regarding the measures to be adopted to reduce and compensate for the negative impacts of climate change, which are significant for social, environmental and governance aspects.

Drought: too little water or too thirsty?

The webinar will be held on 5 June, the date on which World Environment Day is celebrated, and will have the participation of sector experts offering a multidisciplinary overview of the drought problem.

This year's theme is "Desertification, Drought and Land Restoration", a topic of crucial importance given the growing climate and environmental crisis. Celebrating this day reminds us that the health of our planet depends on our daily choices and actions, and that each of us has a role to play in protecting the environment.

Green Book 2024 presentation

The Green Book is the reference monograph for the urban waste sector in Italy. The 2024 edition offers an overview of the regulatory and tariff aspects, up to the needs of the sector, and includes an updated examination of the tender documentation. A specific focus is dedicated to the topic of critical raw materials and actions to encourage the circularity of resources.

Agriculture, biodiversity and sustainable development: scenarios and virtuous paths

Over time, agricultural activity has determined the modification of natural ecosystems, transforming and reorganizing them into systems in which the balance between natural elements is different from the original one, precisely due to the impact of human activities on the environment. The 2030 Agenda through the SDGs promotes, in particular, a transformative change in economies and societies by promoting a new approach at a global level that better integrates the protection of biodiversity with government policies.

Urban Geo-climate Footprint selected among the finalists of the Color PA Award of the PA Forum 2024

Produced by ISPRA in collaboration with EuroGeoSurveys, Urban Geo-climate Footprint is the tool that classifies cities from a geological and climatic point of view to help them face the challenges of the future.
It allows you to measure, through the so-called UGF INDEX, the geological complexity of a city, and consequently evaluate the benefits that it could have in the event of impact mitigation. The classification of cities from this point of view can allow comparison between cities with similar characteristics and therefore encourage the exchange of good practices for solving geological-climatic problems.

Water4All Day in Water World Forum of Bali

The event on 22 May which will be held at the European partnership pavilion at the Water World Forum in Bali is dedicated to the presentation of Water4All's activities. Water4all is the EU's largest partnership for water: it contributes significantly to sustainable water management efforts and supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as stepping up efforts to achieve the Green Goals Deal.

CARG project: geological cartography towards the future

As part of the cycle of in-depth online seminars "Caffè di Geologica" on Friday 24 May at 4.00 pm an ISPRA researcher will talk about the "CARG Project: geological cartography towards the future".

The meeting of the subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in Nairobi

Four ISPRA experts participate in the negotiations

15 months after the historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF for short) in December 2022 at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), attention is now focused on its actual implementation. Establishing a path towards achieving the 23 goals for 2030 and the four strategic goals for 2050 of the GBF is the only way to achieve the global vision of a world that, as the text of the CBD requires, «lives in harmony with nature" by 2050.

Extreme water events and indigenous populations

How can knowledge support climate adaptation measures?

On the occasion of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, the Water4All pavilion hosts on 20 May 2024 the collateral event organized as part of the SD-WISHEES project, of which ISPRA is a partner, dedicated to the theme of extreme water events and their impact on cultural and natural heritage. The project partners will discuss with experts from the populations of the areas affected by erosion, floods or drought on innovation paths useful for climate adaptation and on the topic of removing investment barriers in this sector.

Earth! Challenges, innovations and prospects

The Congress of Italian geologists organized by the National Council of Geologists will be held in Palermo from 23 to 25 May.
The main objective of the congress is to highlight the centrality of new contemporary challenges relating to geo-resources, the environment, energy, climate change, infrastructure, risk planning and management and training.