Almost all of the 3015 active mining sites on the national territory from 1870 to today are disused or abandoned, of which 794 concern the extraction of metallic minerals. Most of these sites have been poorly managed attention to the prevention and containment of their environmental impact, with reckless abandonment of large quantities of mining waste. These, in turn, cause dispersion into the environment of toxic elements, heavy metals in settling basins and possible releases of sludge. Our environmental impact, subsidized by an economic model that has reached its limits, requires changing the production and consumption systems at a food, housing and mobility level. Pollinators are fundamental for the resilience of ecosystems to imbalances of various kinds. The very existence of pollinators is at risk, as are the ecosystem services from which man and the environment benefit.

"The recovery and valorization of this memory can represent an opportunity for the development of orphaned territories, and often battered by mining activities" - ISPRA environment

Resource overexploitation: a devastating environmental impact and urgent change.

OVEREXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES

Rosignano is the symbol of how human waste alters marine ecosystems. In the past, over 400 tons of Mercury were spilled into the sea which we now find in our fish chain. Posidonia, our ally for CO2 absorption is decreasing due to the opacity of the water. The beach has become Caribbean and is "perfect" for photo reports or advertising of tanning creams. But would you swim here? Watch the episode here .

"It is paradoxical that such a technological age is so unscientific. And then there is a very poor ability to refer to authoritative sources. Climate change is determined by human productive activities." - Mario Tozzi

Sea pollution: the impact of human waste on marine ecosystems.

SEA POLLUTION

The largest illegal Poison landfill in Europe is in Bussi sul Tirino. Dioxins, chemical agents and heavy metals have been poured into the ground for years. Now the soil is polluted and the rain has brought the toxic substances into the groundwater. The Tirino river, a few meters away, brought them into Pescara and then into the sea. We have exceeded the legal limits for many carcinogenic and mutagenic substances by over 1000 times. Analysis of dioxins, copper, mercury, boron, lead, some PAHs and hydrocarbons showed levels of pollution never seen before. Watch the episode here.

"The consequences affect everyone, from microorganisms to fish to humans. We got goosebumps." - 3Bee

We pollute the soil and groundwater: the consequences affect everyone, from microorganisms to fish and humans.

WE POLLUTE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER

From the analysis of the SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index) on different time scales, it can be seen that the disturbances that occurred between May and June are in any case not sufficient to remedy the water deficit accumulated in the medium and long term. A deficit that is now also affecting various areas of central-south, in particular Tuscany, Lazio, part of Umbria and Campania, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily. Why should we be interested? Because the whole of Italy is suffering from drops in surface water levels and a very strong reduction of groundwater. Agriculture is on its knees as plants have stopped making nectar. Water is an essential resource for living organisms and for the bee it is no different (consumption of up to 5 liters per day) .

"The average annual value of water resources available for the last thirty years 1991-2020 has reduced by 19% compared to that relating to the thirty years 1921-1950" - ISPRA environment

The water deficit is also affecting various areas of central-southern Italy, in particular Tuscany, Lazio, part of Umbria and Campania, Puglia, Calabria and Sicily.

DROUGHT

Among the causes that determine the decline of pollinators and animal biodiversity is the simplification of the landscape. This determines the scarcity of food resources within the flight range of the pollinators. These situations are typical of extensive agricultural areas, such as the production of cereals or sugar beet Among the causes that determine the decline of pollinators and animal biodiversity is the impoverishment of the landscape. This determines the scarcity of food resources within the flight range of the pollinators. These situations are typical of extensive agricultural areas and monocultures, such as the production of cereals or sugar beet. Can you imagine a bee traveling tens of kilometers just to find a flower from which to extract nectar or pollen? This is exactly the situation that has been occurring for years in the areas of Po Valley or the Abruzzi Plain.

"In Italy the results of the third national report on the Habitats Directive show that of the 132 habitats of community interest, 67% are in an "unfavourable" state of conservation (27% bad - 40% “inadequate”)" - ISPRA environment

Landscape depletion leads to scarcity of food resources within the flight range of pollinators.

MONOCULTURES

In the summer of 2021, 158 thousand hectares of forests burned in Italy. Of these, 40 thousand were in protected areas of the European Union, affected by 510 fires. To date, pollinators do not find sufficient supplies of nectar to survive without artificial emergency nutrition, primarily bees. A fire leaves a heavy scar on the landscape, destroys biodiversity, produces carbon dioxide which contributes to increasing climate warming and therefore the fires themselves, destroys an ecosystem. Yet preventing a fire it is possible. 97% of these phenomena are in fact due to man. In addition to prevention, respect for names and the fight against incivility, it is necessary to plan in time the works and infrastructural interventions to fight fires and safeguard the our green lungs.

"In the period 2009 - 2016 in Italy one hectare in three went up in smoke in Sicily, one hectare in five in Sardinia" - Forestry Corps

Fires leave a heavy scar on the landscape, destroy biodiversity and obliterate an ecosystem.

MAJOR FIRES

The cryosphere (portion of land covered by ice) is continually decreasing. From 1976 to today we have lost 87,000 square kilometers of frozen water in the world. The retreat of glaciers and the melting of permafrost have already destabilized the slopes of mountains and in recent decades there has been an increase in: ice avalanches (the latest near us the Marmolada), landslides and floods. These will become an increasingly serious problem in the coming years. Glaciers are our bank of fresh water, the reserve of water for biodiversity and are the most sensitive climate indicators and the first to clearly show a changing world. We cannot afford it.

"We are witnessing a current global loss in the last decade , from both ice sheets, of approximately 372Gt per year, which translates to approximately eight times the volume of Lake Garda, Italy" - Copernicus

Episode 6 - MAJOR FIRES

Overexploitation, the White Gold

The Caribbean of Tuscany

Soil and Aquifer Pollution

The River in Crisis

The Sterile Plain

The Last Ice Cube

Who is 3Bee?