Italy's stretches of unspoiled natural coastline are under siege from human activity and climate change, WWF Italia warned on Thursday.
The environmental association said that relentless building means that only 29% of Italy's 8,000 kilometres of coastline remain completely untouched.
It said that 13% was "partially occupied" by buildings and infrastructure, while the remaining 58% was extensively developed.
Many of the wild areas that have survived the cement are withering away, it warned.
In part this is because of the building of dams along water courses, the extraction of gravel and sand from river beds and the construction of harbours along the coast.
These activities stop the flows of the sediments that feed the nations' beaches, WWF said.
"Human activity is causing a process in which meters of beach are being eaten away," explained the WWF.
It said rising sea levels caused by global warming are accelerating erosion of Italy's beaches too.
The environmental association also pointed the finger at "beach mismanagement".
It said that the removal of plants from dunes in many areas was ripping out the roots that bind the sand formations together.
This puts the habitats of a wide variety of flora and fauna at risk, including many endangered species, according to the WWF.
The environmental association sounded the alarm at the presentation of a list of 10 wild Italian coastal areas whose protection it said must be made a priority.
But it stressed that at least 33 coastal sites covering an area of 4,500 hectares are vulnerable.
"Everyone must make every effort possible to preserve these habitats, starting with the 10 wild beaches that represent the best of what is left in Italy," the WWF said.
The priority sites are:
The Po Delta, a 60-kilometer area of the Adriatic coast that crosses the border between the regions of Veneto and Emilia Romagna. Experts say that around 85% of Europe's bird species can be found in the delta during the course of the year.
Migliarino San Rossore Park in Tuscany. A 24,000 hectare park that has 23 kilometres of lush, wild coast.
Maremma Nature Park in Tuscany. Home to 250 hectares of dunes.
Circeo Park in Lazio, near Rome.
The Ionian coast in the southern region of Basilicata, which has fine sandy beaches where turtles lay their eggs.
Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve in Puglia.
Torre Salsa Nature Reserve in Sicily.
The Vendicari coast in Sicily.
Capo Passero, an area where sand dunes share the coast with rocks and cliffs, in Sicily.
Porto Pino in Sardinia.
The dunes of Piscinas, in Sardinia. This site boasts Europe's biggest sand dunes, some of which are 100 meters high.
