113 new Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas found in Italy

Based on the latest ornithological research and conservation data, this update has identified 113 new IBAs and revised 118 existing ones, bringing the total number of IBAs in Italy to 240. The reassessment marks one of the most substantial updates to Italy’s IBA inventory to date.

A major milestone for bird conservation

With the latest update, the total area of IBAs has expanded by 4 million hectares to over 9.35 million hectares. This means that Italy’s IBA network is not only more comprehensive, but now covers a much larger portion of the country. It represents a key step in identifying where conservation and restoration efforts should be prioritised, while supporting progress towards the EU’s 30×30 targets,  to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Every region counts

The new IBAs are spread across the country; every Italian region now hosts at least one. The regions with the largest increases include:

• Marche: 18 new sites
• Sicily: 16 new sites
• Sardinia: 15 new sites
• Emilia-Romagna: 13 new sites

These additions were made possible thanks to improved local ornithological expertise, and growing attention to species most in need of tailored conservation strategies.

Species at the heart of conservation action

The updated IBA map focuses on sites critical for bird species with high conservation value, including:

• Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax):Entirely restricted to Sardinia in Italy, this grassland bird has steadily declined over the past 15 years.
• Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus feldeggii): A charismatic raptor in rapid decline is now reduced to fewer than 30 breeding pairs in Italy.
• Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana): With fewer than 1,000 breeding pairs remaining, this declining farmland bird now finds its Italian stronghold in the Marche region, which has emerged as the most important area for the species nationally.
• Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata): A true conservation success story. Targeted nest protection efforts in Sicily over the past decade have helped boost Italy’s only population to around 60 breeding pairs.
• Sardinian Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis arrigonii): A rare and localised subspecies found only in Sardinia, where it survives in the island’s last remaining tracts of intact forest.
• Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus): Since first nesting in Italy in 1981, this wetland-dependent species has expanded rapidly. The most recent national census in 2023 recorded an impressive 4,665 breeding pairs.

Urgent protection is needed in key breeding areas, especially in Sicily and Sardinia, where many of these species are in significant decline. New types of habitats were also recognised, including steppe and uncultivated hilly habitats, which are vital for these birds’ survival.

Threats on the radar

The reassessment also revealed key threats to the IBAs, including:

• Coastal zones: Poorly timed beach cleaning activities during breeding season pose a significant threat to ground-nesting birds such as the Kentish Plover
• Sardinian steppes: The shift away from traditional land-use practices toward intensive cereal agriculture, and the unchecked development of wind farms put increasing pressure on bird habitats
• Alpine grasslands: Climate change is driving habitat loss, affecting species reliant on these high-altitude ecosystems
• Farmlands: The ongoing industrialisation of farming landscapes is contributing to habitat loss and fragmentation.

From science to action

The update comes at a critical time for biodiversity targets in Italy and across the EU. This reassessment gives a robust, science-based foundation to help Italy meet its EU 30×30 targets, and support the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law.

While some of the IBAs are located within existing protected areas such as national parks or Natura 2000 sites, others remain outside formal protection frameworks.

The updated IBA network offers a strong scientific foundation to:

• Guide the creation of new protected areas
• Align Italy’s conservation efforts with EU biodiversity goals
• Push for stronger legal protections where gaps remain

Understanding how sites have changed over time, whether preserved, degraded, or restored, allows us to direct restoration where it is needed most. These insights support the strategic implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law and Target 2 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

What’s next

All updated sites are now available on the BirdLife DataZone, with detailed factsheets and interactive maps ready to explore.

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This extensive update would not have been possible without the contributions of countless ornithologists, conservationists and local organisations.

Juvenile Bonelli’s Eagle by: Svitlana Tkach/Shutterstock