Three square metres of soil consumed every second. That is the pace at which concrete and asphalt continue to transform Italy's landscape, erasing natural areas, agricultural land and surfaces that could absorb rainwater. In 2025, another 102 square kilometres were converted to artificial uses – more than 280,000 square metres per day. Yet an important part of the solution may already be right before our eyes: Italy has more than 2,100 square kilometres of potentially recoverable surfaces, where action could be taken to give space back to nature, create new green areas and regenerate cities without continuing to build on new land.

This is one of the most noteworthy findings of the new 2026 Soil Consumption Report by Ispra and the National System for Environmental Protection (Snpa), which for the first time, alongside the usual survey of converted surfaces, provides a national map of areas where intervention is possible to reverse the trend. This opportunity emerges as soil consumption continues to affect territories exposed to landslides and flooding, as recent events in Puglia have shown.

Soil consumption advances even where the land is most fragile

Overall, sealed surfaces now account for 7.19 per cent of the national territory, equating to 21,644 square kilometres. Over the past year, more than 10,200 hectares were consumed, while restoration work covered just 746 hectares. The balance therefore remains negative by nearly 9,500 hectares. The report underlines that this is not merely a question of landscape or biodiversity loss: when land is covered by buildings, roads and paved areas, it progressively loses its capacity to absorb water. Rainfall – especially when intense and concentrated within a few hours – ends up running off these impermeable surfaces, increasing pressure on roads, neighbourhoods and waterways.

This is a problem that has once again made itself felt in Puglia, which has been hit in recent weeks by a series of floods. From the Foggia area, where Lesina and Poggio Imperiale were affected between 30 and 31 October, to Bari, with underpasses flooded and cars stranded. Other towns across the region were also affected, with schools closed and new rainfall alerts issued. Giovanni Caputo, president of the Order of Geologists of Puglia, drew attention to the link between these events and soil consumption. "Heavy rain is the trigger, but the cause of the damage is the natural soil we have consumed," he explained. "Every time a storm strikes an impermeable territory, water flows across the surface towards underpasses, neighbourhoods and farmland." According to the geologists, intervening once water has already flooded the streets is not enough. What is needed is a halt to new soil consumption, the reclamation of urbanised areas, depaving and hydraulic neutrality requirements for new developments – as well as constant maintenance of drainage channels and an update of risk area maps. "Prevention costs far less than dealing with emergencies," Caputo notes.

More than 2,100 square kilometres to change direction

But the mapping carried out by Ispra also points to an alternative path. Potentially recoverable surfaces exceed 2,100 square kilometres: areas where environmental restoration works could be carried out – namely depaving and urban regeneration.

The opportunities do not stop there. The report identifies 3,281 square kilometres of surfaces potentially suitable for urban forestry and 1,116 square kilometres of rooftops suited to the installation of photovoltaic systems. Added to this is a real estate stock that is often left unused: nearly 9.6 million unoccupied dwellings that could be refurbished and brought back into use, reducing the need for new construction.

Cities too have spaces on which to act. Urban public areas potentially suitable for restoration total more than 35,000 hectares. The largest expanses are found in Lazio, Lombardia and Veneto. Among municipalities, Rome tops the ranking. "The value of this Report lies precisely in this: it not only photographs the advance of soil consumption, but provides concrete indications on how to counter it," says Maria Alessandra Gallone, president of Ispra-Snpa. The goal, she added, is to steer choices towards the recovery and regeneration of what already exists, providing useful tools for more sustainable territorial development.

Cities growing hotter – the role of trees

The loss of natural soil is felt most acutely in urban areas, where more than two thirds of new land conversions are concentrated. In 2025, 4,231 hectares of green areas and 320 hectares of tree cover disappeared. This is not a change that affects only the appearance of cities: less vegetation and more impermeable surfaces also mean higher temperatures. In the most heavily paved areas, soil temperatures can exceed those of surrounding rural areas by more than 10 degrees, with peaks of up to 12 degrees. Where trees are more abundant, temperatures can be up to 1.6 degrees lower. Among the factors driving soil consumption, construction sites are the main contributor, accounting for 52.6 per cent of new conversions, while surfaces dedicated to logistics, infrastructure and energy installations are also growing. Ground-mounted photovoltaics in particular added 2,798 hectares in a single year – almost forty times the figure recorded in 2021.

A law on soil consumption stalled since 2016

In the face of such rapid transformation of the territory, one political issue remains unresolved: Italy still does not have a comprehensive national law on the containment of soil consumption. Yet an attempt came close to achieving that goal. In May 2016, the Chamber of Deputies approved at first reading a bill aimed at progressively reducing soil consumption, with the objective of reaching net zero consumption by 2050.

The text provided for prioritising renovations and the recovery of existing buildings over new construction, along with a municipal census of unused properties and the regeneration of degraded urban areas. The proposal – which had also drawn criticism from environmental associations over the exemptions and amendments introduced during the parliamentary process – should then have gone before the Senate. But it stalled there, never reaching a final vote. Ten years on, Italy therefore still lacks national legislation capable of establishing a comprehensive framework of objectives and tools to halt the phenomenon.