Italian Snails Conservation Project: the museum for the conservation of two Tuscan endemic molluscs. ISCP (Italian Snail Conservation Project)

One of the main tasks of the Natural History Museum of Florence is operating for the protection of animal and plant species, especially those endemic or in serious danger of extinction. Often unknown to the general public, many species are at risk of extinction without causing great outcry, with the risk of irreparably damaging the biodiversity heritage of our planet. It is therefore important to promote protection activities aimed to the conservation of all living beings.Thanks to a private loan, our Museum has started the project "Italian Snail Conservation Project", in order to protect two species of Tuscan endemic molluscs, Melanopsis etrusca Brot, 1862 and Xerosecta giustii Manganelli & Favilli, 1996. The three-year project (2016-2019) represents one of the first collaborative attempts for the fauna conservation on Italian territory, which involves the academic world (Museum and University of Florence), public administrations (Municipalities of Grosseto, Campiglia Marittima, Massa Marittima) and private subjects (Friends of the Earth, the aquarium "Mondo Marino", the breeding farm "La lumaca maremmana". Together with a team of international experts, the Museum coordinates several stakeholders activities: studies on the biology and genetic variability of the species; protection and rehabilitation programs for their habitats; ex situ breeding for the creation of biological banks; events of education and awareness of citizenship; development of eco-compatible initiatives.All these actions should contribute to protect these important elements of national biodiversity and their particular habitats.