UPDATE ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE ITALIAN MARINE HABITATS AND SPECIES LISTED IN THE EU HABITATS DIRECTIVE (92/43/EEC)

AGGIORNAMENTO SULLO STATO DI CONSERVAZIONE DEGLI HABITAT E DELLE SPECIE MARINE ITALIANE INSERITE NELLA DIRETTIVA HABITAT (92/43/CEE)

Abstract

Under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), a cornerstone of European nature conservation, EU Member States are required to submit a national report every six years, contributing to a comprehensive European assessment of habitats and species of community interest. This study details the work undertaken in Italy to compile the fifth national report on marine habitats and species for the 2019-2024 period. Led by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), in collaboration with 30 experts from the Italian Society of Marine Biology (SIBM), this work updates the conservation status of 8 habitats and 19 species using standardised reporting formats adopted across Europe. By comparing current findings with those from the previous reporting cycle, we identified short-term changes in the conservation status of marine biodiversity, as well as persistent methodological limitations, thereby highlighting critical elements for improving the accuracy and effectiveness of future assessments.