Biodiversity: Italy first in the EU, over 1.7 billion invested

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 19 - Italy first in Europe in terms of investments for the protection of biodiversity with over 1.7 billion euros that have financed more than 970 projects for the protection of nature, of which about 850 million have been funded by the European Commission as a co-financing.

These are some of the data from the annual report of Legambiente according to which from 1992 to today, thanks to the Life program, born 30 years ago together with the Habitats Directive to achieve the objectives of EU legislation and policies on the environment and climate, over 5,000 have been co-financed in Europe projects that have mobilized 12 billion euros of investments of which 5.6 billion allocated by the European Commission as co-financing.

Among the species at the center of the Life projects that have been successful in Italy we find the lesser kestrel, the crested newt, the ivy moth, wild orchids, Apennine flowers and the Caretta caretta turtle.

In view of the 22nd May World Biodiversity Day, Legambiente also indicates a series of actions to be taken to accelerate the protection of biodiversity and "fill the delays that also cost Italy an infringement procedure, opened last June by the European Commission".

Among the urgent actions to be taken are foreseeing greater protection for marine biodiversity, increasing protected areas and integral protection areas by 2030, promoting integrated management of the coast and strengthening the protection of marine ecosystems.

(HANDLE).