The Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto, has signed the decree adopting the National Biodiversity Strategy by 2030.
“The adoption of the National Biodiversity Strategy by 2030 is a very important step for the deployment of actions to protect and develop the biodiversity of our country – the Minister said – Italy has a precious natural treasure, a heritage that has been bestowed upon us, and it’s our duty to protect and enhance it. […] With a high number of animal and plant species and a range of habitats among the highest in Europe, Italy can rightfully be considered a biodiversity hub. With this measure, we intend to ensure the highest level of protection, as it’s an important asset and growth value of our country. […] Ecological protection needs must, however, harmonize with the needs and lives of communities, in view of a sustainability that is certainly environmental but inevitably also social and economic. The broad participation in the strategy emphasizes how biodiversity protection must be combined with the country’s activities and also focus on the younger generation, who are more sensitive to the demands of Nature, of which they will be the future keepers.”
The development of a National Biodiversity Strategy falls within the commitments made by Italy upon ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio de Janeiro 1992) through Law No. 124 of February 14, 1994. Article 6 of the CBD stipulates that each contracting Party, depending on its specific conditions and needs, shall develop national strategies, plans, and programs aimed at ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It shall also integrate conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as far as possible and appropriate, into relevant plans, programs, and policies.
The Strategy will be subject to a thorough and shared review of its validity and possible adjustment in 2026. The Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security has also established a Management Committee, which must submit initiatives, acts, provisions, and technical-scientific documents to the scrutiny of the State-Regions Conference (the political decision-making body for the implementation and updating of the Strategy). The Committee consists of Delegates from the Ministries, and is chaired by a representative of the Ministry of Environment.
Finally, to facilitate dialogue with stakeholders, a Consultation Table has been established with environmental associations, while technical-scientific support is provided by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), involving other Research Entities, Scientific Societies, and Universities. Participation in the Committee is voluntary, without new or increased costs borne by public finances.
This is certainly good news, but let’s remember that Italy has not achieved the goals already set for the period 2011-2020, declared by the UN as the “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.” We hope that this time, the strategy will concretely act to protect life on the planet.
