ITA

Italy is among the European countries richest in biodiversity, due mainly to a favourable geographical position and a wide variety of geological, climatic and vegetation conditions. The Italian fauna is estimated at more than 58,000 species. There are also significant rates of endemism, particularly in amphibians (31.8%) and bony freshwater fishes (18.3%). Italian flora also has great richness: the groups of mosses and lichens are among the richest in Europe, while higher plants include 6,711 species. The contingent of endemic species is quite significant and amounts to more than 15%.

Italy has around 21.5% terrestrial area protected, as well as around 8.8% marine protected area. These areas come under all IUCN Management Categories and have a range of governance types including, National Ministry, Collaborative, and Non-profit organisations. Of the many protected areas in Italy, one was successfully Green Listed during the pilot phase of the Green List in 2014: Gran Paradiso National Park, which has government-delegated management. Gran Paradiso National Park was the first national park to be established in Italy in 1922. It includes a large territory of high mountains, from the 800 meters of the valley bottoms to the 4.061 meters of Gran Paradiso peak. Larch and fir woodlands, wide alpine grasslands, rocks, and glaciers make up an ideal setting for the life of a rich and various wildlife and for a visit leading to the discovery of the wonderful world of the high mountains.