Lake Campolattaro, located in the province of Benevento (Campania), is an artificial reservoir created in the 1970s by damming the Tammaro River. Originally built for water management purposes, it has evolved into a site of ecological significance, designated as both a Special Protection Area (SPA) IT8020015 and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) IT8020001, within the Natura 2000 network, due to its vital role as a refuge for birdlife. Indeed, as a vast wetland ecosystem located along major migratory routes, it provides an essential resting and feeding site for more than 170 migratory bird species, and it also serves as an important breeding and nesting area. The recent approval of the final design for the project concerning the "Use of water from the Campolattaro reservoir for drinking purposes and the enhancement of the drinking water supply for the Benevento area" —included among the ten Italian strategic projects of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan due to its national strategic importance— will enable, upon completion,  the use of the reservoir's water for drinking water supply, irrigation, and hydropower generation, making  Lake Campolattaro one of the most important operational artificial reservoirs in Southern Italy. However, the deep and significant impacts resulting from the use of the lake’s water, and the consequent fluctuations in the reservoir's water level, on habitats and species of this artificial ecosystem, protected under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), required an appropriate assessment of the project’s significant effects on the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 sites IT8020015 and IT8020001.

A scientific study and a thorough analysis of the quantitative/qualitative environmental changes resulting from the project's operational phase (conducted based on various future climate and usage scenarios) have enabled the development of a comprehensive environmental restoration plan, involving compensation and mitigation measures designed to preserve ecosystem functionality.