Sardinia's network of Special Protection Areas could expand by more than 72,000 hectares. The Region has opened a public consultation on three proposals to expand two existing SPAs and establish a new one in the Nurra region. Comments and reports can be submitted until September 15 .
The project involves the expansion of the SPA " Piana di Ozieri, Mores, Ardara, Tula and Oschiri " and the " Coast and Hinterland of Bosa, Suni and Montresta " areas, as well as the creation of the new " Monte Forte – Nurra – Lago di Baratz " area. The proposals were prepared by the Nature Protection and Forestry Policies Service of the Regional Department for Environmental Protection as part of the LIFE Abilas project. The SPA of the Piana di Ozieri would increase from the current 21,069 hectares to approximately 51,833 hectares . The affected territory includes Ozieri, Oschiri, Tula, Mores, Ardara, Ittireddu, Berchidda, Calangianus, and Tempio Pausania . A pair of Bonelli's eagles nested in the area in 2023, as well as significant populations of little bustards and other species of conservation interest.
The proposed expansion of the SPA "Coast and Hinterland of Bosa, Suni and Montresta" is even more significant, increasing its area from the current 8,222 hectares to approximately 47,233 . Protection would also be extended to the marine component, which would increase from 326 to approximately 7,176 hectares. The territories of Alghero, Bosa, Suni, Montresta, Villanova Monteleone, Monteleone Rocca Doria, Padria, and Mara would be affected. The latter two were identified thanks to the LIFE Safe for Vultures project. The area is home to the largest breeding population of Griffon Vultures in Italy, with 104 territorial pairs recorded by 2025. The third proposal concerns the creation of the SPA "Monte Forte – Nurra – Lago di Baratz": 9,503 hectares entirely within the territory of Sassari, 8,663 of which are currently outside any form of community protection. The area includes Lake Baratz and is considered strategic for the feeding and resting of Bonelli's eagle, griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture and numerous migratory species.
The new boundaries are based on data collected through GPS tracking of Bonelli's eagles released on the island, field monitoring, and, for griffon vultures, information from GPS accelerometers as part of the LIFE Safe for Vultures project. The 2025 update of the inventory of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas of Sardinia, maintained by LIPU-BirdLife International, was also used. The three proposals are not yet final. The Region, local governments, associations, farmers, ranchers, hunters, businesses, researchers, and citizens will be able to submit comments on the area delineation, report unconsidered territorial features, or request clarification on the implications of the designation. The consultation will remain open until September 15. Once this phase is concluded, the contributions will be reviewed by the regional offices and may lead to modifications to the proposals. Meetings with local governments and communities are also planned. Only subsequently can the process continue with the resolution of the Regional Council and the transmission to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for the updating of the Natura 2000 Network and the communication to the European Commission.