Descrizione 1
Roberta Capogrossi, Lucilla Laureti
The indicator, based on data processed within the Carta della Natura project, shows the distribution of Ecological Value across 16 Italian regions, providing a representation categorized into different classes. Ecological Value is understood as a synonym for natural significance and is calculated—starting from the regional habitat maps—for each mapped polygon, excluding those referring to built enviroments and fully urbanized areas.
This indicator offers an overview of the environmental mosaic within various regional contexts, highlighting high-value areas, including their protection status. The analysis presents the percentage of protected areas in each region and the composition of protected and unprotected zones in terms of Ecological Value. The protected areas system (EUAP areas, Natura 2000 sites, and Ramsar areas) covers, on average, less than 24% of the territory in the 16 examined regions, exceeding 30% only in Abruzzo, Campania, and Valle d’Aosta. A strong correlation is observed between protected areas and territories classified with the highest Ecological Value, covering an average of 49.4%. However, significant portions remain outside protected areas, varying from region to region, which suggests potential new areas for conservation.
The indicator describes the distribution of Ecological Value (VE) according to the analyses produced within the national Carta della Natura project. VE provides a measure of ecological and environmental quality; for details on the calculation methods and the set of indicators used, refer to the methodology section. The indicator presents a regional-scale representation categorized into five classes (very low, low, medium, high, and very high), with an additional category, "not evaluated," referring to built environments excluded from VE assessments.
For each region, a map displays the distribution of VE classes along with the boundaries of protected areas (EUAP, Natura 2000 sites, and Ramsar areas). Two summary charts accompany the map:
- A bar chart showing the percentage of protected and non-protected land within the region, as well as the proportion of high and very high VE areas that are protected or not.
- A comparison chart displaying the percentage distribution of VE classes across the entire region, contrasting protected and non-protected portions.
Additionally, information is provided on habitats associated with high and very high VE classes, including the number of habitats fully contained within these classes and details on their protected vs. unprotected surface areas.
The base maps were produced by ISPRA between 2009 and 2022 (each region's most recent update year is specified).
By analyzing the spatial distribution of VE classes at the regional scale, this indicator facilitates insights into the environmental mosaic and natural value of different areas. It examines the percentage of high and very high VE areas that are already protected versus those that remain unprotected, offering guidance for identifying new conservation areas, supporting national and regional territorial planning, and informing biodiversity conservation strategies aligned with sustainable development goals.
The Framework Law on Protected Natural Areas (Law No. 394/91) serves as the institutional foundation for the Carta della Natura national project. Article 3 of this law defines its objectives as follows:
"It identifies the state of the natural environment in Italy, highlighting its natural values and territorial vulnerability profiles."
The Carta della Natura project, conceived under Law 394/91 to support the protected areas system, can serve as a technical tool in relation to the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. This strategy requires to increase the surface area of protected lands, setting a 30% target, and requires environmental protection considerations to be integrated into all planning processes, following a governance model primarily based on environmental sustainability principles.
Descrizione 2
ISPRA, 2009. Il progetto Carta della Natura alla scala 1:50.000. Linee guida per la cartografia e la valutazione degli habitat., Manuale n.48/2009. (https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/carta-della-natura/cdn-manuale.pdf).
The main limitations of this indicator include:
- Lack of full national coverage (only 16 out of 20 regions have been completed).
- Wide temporal range of map development (2009–2022), which may affect data consistency.
Completing national coverage for the 4 missing regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Calabria); updating the first maps produced (to date, the maps of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Molise have been updated, and Liguria, Umbria and Apulia are being updated).
Qualificazione dati
ISPRA data - Nature Map Information System (https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/servizi/sistema-carta-della-natura/index) ISTAT data for regional administrative boundaries from the 2011 census (https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/104317#accordions) MITE's Geoportal map data for EUAP areas, Natura 2000 Network, and Ramsar areas (2017 and 2021 updates) (MITE's National Geoportal).
Regional (16/20)
2009-2022
Qualificazione indicatore
The indicator is based on the Ecological Value Index (VE), calculated for each region as part of the Carta della Natura national project. The VE represents natural value and is determined for each polygon (biotope) in habitat maps created at 1:50,000 / 1:25,000 scale.
Built environments are excluded from the calculation.
The evaluation is topological (biotope-specific), rather than typological (based solely on habitat type).
Biotopes of the same habitat type may have different VE values due to ecological variations.
The VE is derived from a set of indicators, selected based on:
Relevance at the regional scale
Data availability and uniformity nationwide
These indicators consider:
Habitats & protected areas under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives
Biodiversity richness (species suitability and range)
Landscape ecology parameters
A specific algorithm aggregates these indicators to calculate the final VE score.
The VE scores are divided into five classes (very low, low, medium, high, very high), plus a "not evaluated" class (built-up areas).
The data is organized in a Geographic Information System (GIS), from which the necessary territorial analyses are extracted.
Protected area boundaries (EUAP sites, Natura 2000 sites, and Ramsar areas) are obtained from the MiTE geoportal.
Regional boundaries are derived from ISTAT's administrative census.
For each region, the analysis includes:
A thematic map, displaying the VE distribution and protected area boundaries.
Two summary bar charts:
First chart: Percentage of protected vs. unprotected land and the share of high/very high VE areas that are protected vs. unprotected.
Second chart: Percentage distribution of VE classes across the entire region, the protected areas, and the unprotected areas.
Although the indicator does not cover the entire national territory, it encompasses 74.2% of Italy’s surface, including northern, central, and southern regions, as well as the islands.
Alongside positive aspects, there are also conservation concerns. In 8 out of 16 regions, areas with high or very high Ecological Value (VE) exceed 30% of the total territory. In 5 regions, areas with low, very low, or non-evaluated VE account for 60% or more of the territory.
A strong correlation emerges between protected areas and high VE zones, with an average coverage of 49.4% across the 16 regions analyzed.
However, the indicator also highlights the presence of high VE areas outside protected zones, sometimes within low natural value or artificial contexts.
The total protected area reaches or exceeds 30% of the regional territory in only 3 regions (Abruzzo, Campania, and Valle d’Aosta) among the 16 examined.
Since 30% is the target set by the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, many regions still have room for intervention to expand protected areas and meet conservation objectives.
Not definable.
Dati
Table 1: Number of habitats whose area totally falls into the ‘high’ and ‘very high’ Ecological Value classes and relative percentage of protection
ISPRA Nature Chart Information System
The reference year of the data for each region is made explicit in the relevant figure
Figure 1: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Abruzzo Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Abruzzo Region
Figure 2: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Basilicata Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Basilicata Region
Figure 3: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Campania Region
ISPRA, 2018. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Campania region
Figure 4: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Emilia-Romagna Region
ISPRA, 2021. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Emilia-Romagna Region
Figure 5: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region
ISPRA, 2021. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region
Figure 6: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in Latium Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Lazio Region
Figure 7: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Liguria Region
ISPRA, 2014. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Liguria Region
Figure 8: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Marche Region
ISPRA, 2022. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Marche Region
Figure 9: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Molise Region
ISPRA, 2021. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Molise Region
Figure 10: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Apulia Region
ISPRA, 2015. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Apulia Region
Figure 11: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in Sardinia Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Sardinia Region
Figure 12: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Sicily Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Sicily Region
Figure 13: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Tuscany Region
ISPRA, 2019. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Tuscany Region
Figure 14: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in Umbria Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Umbria Region
Figure 15: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Aosta Valley Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Valle d'Aosta region.
Figure 16: Distribution of Ecological Value according to Nature Map in the Veneto Region
ISPRA, 2013. Data from the Nature Map Information System of the Veneto Region
The regional maps depicting the distribution of Ecological Value (VE) classes (Figures 1-16) provide a spatial representation that, despite the limitations related to graphical resolution, allows for considerations on the environmental mosaic of each region and the differences between regions. For instance, it can be observed that hilly and mountainous areas are generally associated with higher VE classes, in contrast to plains, which tend to have lower VE values.
Some regions display high VE levels widely spread across their territories (e.g., Liguria, Sardinia, Valle d'Aosta), while others have sharply contrasting distributions, with well-defined separations between high/very high VE areas and low/very low VE areas (e.g., Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche, Puglia, Veneto). In these latter regions, remnant high VE areas are found within a broader environmental matrix of low or no natural value, which corresponds to low VE.
Areas with high VE are typically characterized by natural or semi-natural environments, such as forests, shrublands, grasslands, or high-altitude rocky landscapes. In contrast, areas with low or very low VE tend to be artificial, predominantly agricultural, with orchards, croplands, and both extensive and intensive farming systems.
Regions with medium VE represent intermediate environmental settings, including semi-natural habitats of secondary origin, which play an important ecological role both as ecological corridors and buffer zones, crucial for biodiversity conservation. The areas excluded from VE calculations are completely artificial, including urban, residential, industrial, and commercial infrastructures, which appear gray on the maps.
Overlaying the boundaries of protected areas (EUAP, Natura 2000 sites, and Ramsar sites) onto the VE class distribution map visually illustrates that the protected area system predominantly covers high VE territories but leaves out varying fractions of land—minimal in some regions, more extensive in others.
Regarding the graphs depicting the percentage distribution of VE classes (Figures 1-16), there is a noticeable regional heterogeneity:
Regions where medium VE territories are significant within the overall environmental matrix include Sardinia, where medium VE areas account for up to 32% of the total surface.
The distribution analysis of VE classes inside and outside protected areas highlights a high variability between regions, as shown in the VE class distribution graphs (second histogram).
As expected, protected territories in all studied regions exhibit a higher proportion of high/very high VE areas and a minimal presence of non-evaluated (cemented) areas.
The analysis of VE distribution in non-protected areas (second histogram) reveals that these areas are more frequently classified as low or very low VE, whereas the extent of high/very high VE areas varies significantly:
These findings suggest that, in some regions, natural and semi-natural environments with high VE are widely distributed across the entire territory, including areas outside existing protected zones. Conversely, in other regions, high VE areas are more limited, due to intense land artificialization, which has led to habitat loss and ecological degradation. In such contexts, the remaining high-value natural areas, which are now isolated within heavily anthropized landscapes, gain critical conservation importance.
For each region, the number of high-value habitats (i.e., those fully classified as high/very high VE) and their level of protection are detailed in Table 1. These include a wide variety of habitats, some of which are large-scale landscapes characteristic of specific regions, while others are localized, rare, fragmented, and often at risk (e.g., riparian or coastal habitats).
The indicator confirms a strong correlation between protected areas and high-value natural territories, yet the analyses also reveal the existence of high-value territories still lacking protection.
Therefore, this data analysis provides useful insights for land-use planning, particularly in the identification of new areas for protection, adjustment of protected area boundaries, and the planning of ecological restoration projects or measures to improve ecological connectivity.