Terrestrial ecoregions of Italy. Explanatory notes

Based on a robust methodological process for classification and mapping, The Ecoregions of Italy provides a comprehensive picture of the ecological and geographic arrangement of the country, which is currently being adopted by official bodies as a reference for natural capital accounting, ecological setting of municipalities, mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, and recognition of threatened ecosystems. The Map and Explanatory Notes presented here are aimed at disseminating knowledge and sharing expertise in different aspects of ecoregion applications, beyond the strict research community. The underlying principles of the classification and the methodology used in establishing the map are synthetically explained and the main distinctive character of each ecoregion is described. Such information will hopefully stimulate both scientific and professional workers to acknowledge that every geographical area holds a specific structural and functional ecological potential- the ‘project of nature’-, and that this potential should never be overlooked when searching for sustainable and long-lasting nature-based solutions, including the deployment of green infrastructure.