The workshop examines the environmental dimensions of Italian colonialism in Africa (1882–1941), introducing the concept of "Italian imperial ecology." By analyzing the interconnections between environmental transformations and colonial ambitions, it also draws parallels with domestic environmental interventions, such as the reclamation of marshlands and the "conquest" of the Alpine mountains in Italy. This comparative framework underscores the broader ideological and material dimensions of Italian environmental policies during this period, demonstrating how the environment functioned both as a medium and an instrument of imperial expansion.