This handbook is aimed at providing a standardised methodological guidance for the implementation of national monitoring programs of the Italian marine species and habitat types. According to the European guidelines, the assessments of species and habitat must be carried out at biogeographical scale, by compiling information on specific parameters. For each species and habitat listed in the Habitat Directive’s annexes, the conservation status needs to be assessed at scale of biogeographical region (the Mediterranean Marine Region), combining data on some parameters. "Range" (based on actual distribution), "Population", “Habitat for the species” and "Future Prospects" are the parameters for the species, whereas “Area”, “Range”, “Structure and Functions” and “Future Prospects” are those for the habitats.
