Cnr, Marevivo Foundation and the National Biodiversity Future Center marked World Biodiversity Day with a special initiative at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano. During the event, Marevivo presented President Sergio Mattarella with the \u201cCharter for the Protection of Marine Biodiversity\u201d, reaffirming the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding Italy\u2019s natural heritage.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”50″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”5\/6″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]On Friday 22 May, Marevivo Foundation, the National Research Council (CNR) and the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) marked World Biodiversity Day in Rome with a special event held at the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano.<\/p>\n
The occasion also celebrated the 40th anniversary of Marevivo and was organised in two parts: an outdoor itinerary in which researchers from the participating institutions, students involved in the European citizen science campaign Plastic Pirates – Go Europe!<\/i> led by CNR, volunteers and experts presented videos, panels, exhibitions and installations dedicated to biodiversity to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and the guests in attendance; followed by a panel discussion in the Salone dei Trofei.<\/p>\n
The panel, held in the presence of Minister for Universities and Research Anna Maria Bernini, brought together representatives of the organisations involved to explore the themes of biodiversity protection and environmental knowledge. Speakers included Marevivo President Rosalba Giugni, CNR President Andrea Lenzi, NBFC President Luigi Fiorentino, with a greeting from Anton Dohrn Zoological Station President Roberto Bassi. The discussion was moderated by journalist Riccardo Luna.<\/p>\n
The initiative echoed the principles enshrined in Article 9 of the Italian Constitution, which recognises the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems as fundamental values of the Republic, reaffirming the need for collective responsibility towards the country\u2019s natural heritage.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_gallery css=”” type=”flickity_static_height_style” images=”61647,61621,61635,61639,61623,61625,61627,61629,61633,61631,61637,61641,61643,61659,61657,61655,61653″ flickity_spacing=”default” flickity_controls=”pagination” flickity_overflow=”hidden” flickity_wrap_around=”wrap” flickity_box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” onclick=”link_image” flickity_img_height=”300″][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\u201cIt is a great honour, on the occasion of our 40th anniversary, to share Marevivo\u2019s mission with the Head of State, whom we deeply respect and thank for his valuable institutional commitment,\u201d said Rosalba Giugni, President of Marevivo. \u201cWe firmly believe that environmental education is a cornerstone in shaping active citizens, because we cannot protect what we do not know. Every young person can become a guardian of the sea, and the future of the ocean is being written today – in classrooms and in everyday choices. Research, education, participation, regulation and care are the key words guiding our path. The sea gave us life. It is now our responsibility to educate for its future and protect life on this planet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe protection of biodiversity, reaffirmed in recent days through the renewal of the agreement between CNR and the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, represents both a collective responsibility and a fundamental priority in our daily work as researchers,\u201d said Andrea Lenzi, President of CNR. \u201cI am especially pleased to see so many students here today taking part in our projects. Their active involvement is essential in promoting an increasingly strong culture of respect and sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Luigi Fiorentino, President of NBFC, stated that \u201ctoday\u2019s challenge is to move from environmental protection towards a true culture of biodiversity, where restoring nature is not seen as a cost, but as an act of civic responsibility and a necessary driver of a different model of development. In this perspective, NBFC\u2019s goal is to ensure that biodiversity protection and restoration move beyond being viewed as technical operations and become a shared ambition and common practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The outdoor programme was preceded by a performance of the Italian national anthem, sung for the occasion by tenor Valerio Rossi Albertini, researcher at CNR and member of Marevivo\u2019s Scientific Committee.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][nectar_cta btn_style=”material” heading_tag=”span” link_type=”regular” text_color=”#095C9C” text_color_hover=”#5DB4C9″ alignment=”left” alignment_tablet=”default” alignment_phone=”default” display=”block” display_tablet=”inherit” display_phone=”inherit” link_text=”READ THE CHARTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY” url=”https:\/\/marevivo.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Carta_Biodiv-_Marevivo-1-scaled.jpg”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n
The \u201cCharter for the Protection of Marine Biodiversity\u201d aims to foster a new culture of nature and the sea, reaffirming the central role of environmental education in schools and promoting regulatory tools such as Law No. 60 of 2022, known as the \u201cSalvaMare\u201d Law. A strategic role is also attributed to Italy\u2019s 32 Marine Protected Areas, seen not only as sites of conservation, but as hubs for scientific research, outreach and education, capable of engaging young marine biologists, researchers and science communicators in a shared path of knowledge and protection.<\/p>\n
As a symbol of sustainability and biodiversity, Rosalba Giugni also presented the Head of State with a scarf created for Marevivo by Maestro Claudio Cutuli<\/strong>, crafted from nettle yarn \u2014 a low environmental impact fiber \u2014 using natural pigments and treated with Posidonia oceanica, an endemic species of the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” centered_text=”true” desktop_text_alignment=”center” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/6″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”]