Protecting forests and preserving their ecological function is essential for maintaining ecological and climate balance, as well as for our own spiritual well-being.
Although awareness of the need to protect forest environments is growing, Italian woodlands continue to be affected by various forms of pollution and disturbance, with significant consequences for local flora and fauna, as well as for human health.
This article looks in detail at the main sources of disturbance and pollution affecting Italy’s forests, their ecological consequences, and the measures being taken to counter this phenomenon.
How forest fragmentation reduces resilience
The fragmentation of forests through the construction of roads and residential settlements weakens the resilience of forest biodiversity. The resulting pollution, often linked to human activities, leads to serious contamination of water, air and soil, altering the ecological balance of these environments.
Direct and indirect pollutants and contaminants often act together. They account for more than 50% of all environmental pressure factors and are responsible for biodiversity loss.
At national level, the main threats to plant life include:
- Atmospheric and thermal pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, all linked to global warming.
- Soil and water pollution caused by industrial and agricultural activities, which alter water resources, including groundwater, and place the survival of certain species at risk.
- Deforestation and intensive agriculture, including the use of pesticides, which leads to a loss of plant biodiversity.
- Limited knowledge of the biophysical environment and a lack of ecological awareness.
- The introduction of alien species for commercial or decorative purposes.
According to ISPRA’s 2024 report on the “Size and threat level of plant species”, of the 2,430 plant species assessed in the Italian Red Lists, 2.2% — equal to 54 entities — are extinct or probably extinct, while 24.3% — 590 entities — are at risk of extinction. Human pressures linked to changes in land use continue to affect the country and remain one of the main drivers of extinction risk for plant species.
The IUCN Red List identifies the alteration of natural systems as one of the most significant pressures, accounting for 39%, followed by agricultural development at 27%, residential development at 27%, and direct human disturbance of natural environments at 20%.
Forest species at risk
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and plays a fundamental role in the functioning of ecosystems. However, because of pollution and human activities, many species are now at risk of extinction.
The causes are many: habitat loss, the climate crisis, widespread pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, uncontrolled tourism and the growing impact of invasive alien species.
In Italy, forest species at risk of extinction include the white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos lilfordi), typical of some old-growth beech forests in the Apennines, and the middle spotted woodpecker (Leiopicus medius), found in mature mixed forests in central and southern Italy. Both species are listed as Vulnerable in the Red List of Italian vertebrates.
The Sardinian long-eared bat (Plecotus sardus), a bat species discovered only in 2002 and endemic to Sardinia, is also at risk of extinction. It lives in forested karst areas rich in caves, but fires, drought and other pressures are threatening its survival. It is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
It is also worth stressing that, although forest cover in Italy is increasing, there still seems to be limited awareness of the fact that some specialist species require high-quality, mature forests in order to survive.
Why forest destruction harms biodiversity and our future
According to the FAO, an average of 13 million hectares of forest have been destroyed every year worldwide over the past decade. Millions more hectares are degraded each year by logging, mining, dams and road construction. Most deforestation is concentrated in tropical countries.
The damage, however, is not limited to biodiversity loss. Forest destruction releases enormous quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimate that around 20% of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere every year come from the destruction and degradation of forests and habitats.
Human activities have profoundly altered the natural cycles that are essential to the functioning of the global ecosystem. Sources of pollution include industry and civil waste, but also agriculture, which, through the use of insecticides, pesticides and herbicides, deeply alters soils and contributes to the decline of wildlife.
The introduction of alien species — species originating from other geographical areas — is another serious threat. It has been estimated that around 20% of bird and mammal extinctions are attributable to the direct impact of animals introduced by humans. The ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri), for example, can occupy tree cavities, depriving woodpeckers and other bird species of essential nesting sites.
How to help Italian forests survive
Given the current situation, direct action to reduce forest pollution is urgently needed in order to halt ecosystem degradation and the resulting loss of biodiversity. At the same time, specific measures must be adopted to protect biodiversity more broadly.
These measures include the creation of protected areas and the promotion of natural habitat conservation. Carefully designed reforestation projects should also be encouraged, with close attention paid to the selection of tree species, which should be native rather than exotic. It is also essential to educate people about the importance of biodiversity and about the actions they can take to help protect it.
Very few people know, for example, that light pollution can also alter the wildlife composition of a site. It may favour some more adaptable bat species that hunt insects attracted by artificial light, while causing others to disappear, such as horseshoe bats of the genus Rhinolophus. For this reason, building homes and illuminated roads inside or close to a forest can significantly alter the biodiversity of that area.
Possible actions include drafting climate change adaptation and mitigation plans for at-risk wildlife, as well as creating a national network of old-growth forests and refuge areas for threatened wild species. Measures designed to support the social economy of forests, develop forest supply chains and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of natural environments can also become an important driver of sustainable development. At the same time, they can help prevent and combat environmental pollution and hydrogeological instability.
Bibliography:
- ISPRA. “Rapporto ISPRA 2021 sulla Qualità dell’Aria in Italia“. Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale.
- Legambiente. “Rifiuti nei boschi: un problema crescente“
- European Forest Institute. “Effects of Acid Rain on Forests in Italy and Europe“. EFI Report.
- WWF Italia. “Inquinamento da Ozono: gli effetti sulle foreste italiane“.
- Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare. “Impatti del mercurio sulla fauna italiana“.
- UniPi. “Amphibians and Environmental Pollution in Italian Forests“. Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Biologia.
- Parlamento Europeo. “Direttiva 2008/50/CE sulla Qualità dell’Aria“
- Life+ FutMon Project. “Monitoring and Protecting Italy’s Forests“
- Corti, C., & Zuffi, M.A.L. (2015). “Mercury and Lead Accumulation in Italian Wildlife.” Journal of Environmental Science.
- Ministero dell’Ambiente (2021). “Effetti dei pesticidi e delle microplastiche sugli anfibi.“
- https://indicatoriambientali.isprambiente.it/it/biodiversita-stato-e-minacce/consistenza-e-livello-di-minaccia-di-specie-vegetali
- https://www.iucn.it/liste-rosse-italiane.php
- https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/outreach/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SummaryForAll_Italian.pdf
- https://www.ansa.it/ansamed/it/notizie/rubriche/ambiente/2021/03/03/sos-biodiversita-in-italia-a-rischio-grifoni-e-delfini_d5250b64-7663-49c4-9b83-1a75646b9cb6.html
