Italy has adopted the National Biodiversity Strategy 2030

The Italian government has adopted the National Biodiversity Strategy 2030, a measure that defines guidelines for the conservation, protection, and promotion of our country’s biodiversity and ecosystems, which are home to a wealth of animal and plant species. The plan represents Italy’s contribution to the international goal to restore and protect all ecosystems on the planet by 2050, and will take place through a series of tangible actions on the territory.

To achieve this, the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security has set up an internal committee to manage the project, tasked with overseeing and promoting the relevant initiatives, acts, measures and technical/scientific documentation, before submitting them for review by Italy’s State-Regions Conference, the body that implements and updates the strategy. The latter will also be extensively verified in 2026 to confirm its configuration and possible adjustment on the basis of the goals achieved and the changing scenario.

Adopting a national strategy is a very important step for deploying actions to protect and develop our country’s biodiversity, as noted by the Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, who recently signed the decree defining the guidelines.

With one of the highest numbers of animal and plant species and range of habitats in Europe, Italy is a fully fledged hub of biodiversity: «With this measure we intend to ensure the highest level of protection», confirmed the minister, who also stressed the need to balance environmental protection with the needs of communities, and to promote a form of sustainability that would encompass environmental, social and economic aspects.

To allow discussions with stakeholders, consultations with environmentalist associations were held. Technical and scientific support for the project will be guaranteed by the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), with the involvement of organisations and universities. In this way, new areas to be protected, extended and connected to those already under protection will be identified.

For each economic sector, the most effective solutions will then be identified to achieve the goals needed to promote the sustainable development of territories, and to protect biodiversity. Lastly, the measure also aims to increase citizen and stakeholder awareness of environmental protection.

Italy's initiative is part of a wider European plan to promote biodiversity. By 2030, the European Commission intends to reach several important environmental and ecosystem milestones. These include:

• To increase biodiversity in Europe, as set out by the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
• To improve and extend the European network of protected areas, and to prepare an ambitious recovery plan for the continent’s environmental ecosystem.
• To allocate at least 25 per cent of farm land to organic agriculture, and to increase the dissemination of environmentally friendly farming practices.
• To protect at least 30 per cent of the land area of the European Union and one third of its seas.
• To reduce the risks and use of chemical pesticides by 50 per cent.
• To plant 3 billion new trees on the continent.
• To reinstate at least 25,000 kilometres of free-flowing rivers.
• To equip towns with at least 20,000 inhabitants with an ambitious urban green plan.
• To eliminate the use of chemical pesticides in sensitive areas.