Nearly 20% of the Italian coast has been covered by cement from construction and development projects, an environment study said Wednesday.
The affected area involves about 500 square kilometres of land - an area equivalent in size to the coast of the island of Sardinia, said the report by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra).
It concluded that as much as 19.4% of land which stretches back as much as 300 metres from the coast has been covered by construction.
As well, building has taken up more than 16% of the area reaching back between 300 metres and 1,000 metres from the coast surrounding Italy, the report said.
The regions most prone to building on coastlines were the northern areas of Lombardy and Veneto.
Liguria, including the Italian Riviera coastline, had the distinction of having the most built-up land within 300 metres of the coast, at a rate of 40%, said the report.
Meanwhile, water supplies are at risk due to development in the central Emilia Romagna region, with 100,000 hectares damaged.
The Ispra report "confirms the need to stop the consuming of land as a priority for the country," said Ermete Realacci, president of the Lower House environment, land and public works committee.
Remedial policies favouring recovery and requalification of built-up areas through tax credits and an eco-bonus are needed as well as policies promoting urban regeneration, Realacci said.
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