"The 2001-2006 season was characterised by a true 'counter-reform' of radical (legislative) changes never seen before which have left environmental and cultural protection in Italy decidedly weaker," WWF Italia said in a statement.

It said the government had altered regulations on waste disposal which meant "tens of millions of tonnes of industrial waste could potentially avoid any controls".

There was no immediate response from the Environment Ministry.

The WWF, usually a moderate advocate of environmentalism, conducted what it called a "balance sheet" exercise of policies of the last five years and concluded environmental rules had "run wild".

One high-profile government initiative was a building amnesty that allowed people living in houses that were built or altered without planning permission to legalise their situation on payment of a fine.

Environmentalists say that encouraged yet more unauthorised building which has ravaged parts of the country's coastline and other sensitive areas.

"This isn't the judgment of 'extremists' as environmentalists are often portrayed," WWF's Gaetano Benedetto said of the group's 380-page assessment.

WWF said it had "chosen not to get into political opinions but to analyse the facts in terms of legal principles or the consequences they have had or could have".

The April election is being fought almost entirely on the economy, with Italy having recorded zero growth in two of the last three years. However, regional environmental issues, especially controversial plans to build a bridge from the mainland to Sicily and a high-speed railway through the Alps, are likely to have a local electoral impact.