Designation		In Italy the designation of SCIs and SPAs can be considered completed. The overlap between IBAs and SPAs is 67%, but many high quality non-IBA areas have also been designated. It is now necessary to improve the connectivity of the network and other protected areas.
Conservation & management		In Italy the arbitrary interpretation of art. 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive (protecting sites against harmful development projects) results in continuous loss of biodiversity within Natura 2000. The development of management plans makes slow progress. Moreover many adopted management plans and the conservation measures they set out establish mild rules that are not effective for Natura 2000 management.
Financing		Italy benefited from high uptake of LIFE programmes for Natura 2000. In contrast, little effective conservation has been funded by regional funds, despite a consistent portion of EU Structural Funds being returned unspent to the EU. Rural development funding, in particular the Natura 2000 payments, is not used enough to support the management of Natura 2000. Several Regions have started to work on Prioritised Action Frameworks.