Ecological restoration of Venice Lagoon wetland ecosystem

By working with the rhythms of the lagoon, We are here Venice through the original project called VITAL ("VenIce naTural cApitaL") has developed a targeted ecological restoration plan focusing on the salt marsh in the central lagoon, an area heavily impacted by degenerative forces. Over the last 30 years, the management of this area has largely taken the form of ‘morphological reconstructions’, undertaken by public environmental agencies with the aim of increasing the overall area of the lagoon with new ‘artificial’ marshes. While the scale and scope of – and public investment in – the works is impressive, the works are designed to regulate lagoon hydrodynamics (tidal currents and wave energy) and success is measured by cartographic criteria (i.e. size and shape), overlooking the ecological characteristics (i.e. the vegetal colonization and biodiversity) of salt marsh. These processes are therefore unable to fully engage with the need for diverse habitats, and the projects remain closed to public participation and scrutiny. As a result, these newly re-constructed areas now show mixed outcomes in terms of stability (morphological resilience over time), biodiversity and social significance.
Through our transdisciplinary team of scientists, practitioners, artists and activists, in the VITAL project and trough the capacity building and interventions under the EU H2020 WaterLANDS project (GA. 101036484), weaves together traditionally “welly-clad”, bottom-up restoration initiatives – which have tended to be experimental, community-focused and site specific – and emerging scientific priorities and techniques. We work with the local community and empowering residents to become active stewards of the wetland. Our ongoing work prioritises the shift away from a passive view of the lagoon as ‘infrastructure’ to be managed; a flat, if spectacular stage-set for the city, and towards its recognition as an active, generative and co-evolving waterscape that is as essential to Venice’s future as it was in the past.

Our approach to the regeneration of the lagoon starts with monitoring to understand the key environmental drivers of change and development over time. By observing the morphological structure (e.g. how the network of internal channels develops) and soil composition, and monitoring incremental landscaping efforts and species reintroduction, we work to maintain the parallel implementation of key ecological and morphological processes, rather than just focusing on the surface area. This is followed by targeted interventions to revive and or re-start ecological functionalities. We invite the public institutions, local stakeholders and community members to co-design and plan the restoration activities – this serves not only to engage local groups in restoration, but also raise awareness of the impacts of harmful behaviours, as speeding motorboat traffic is a significant erosive factor within the lagoon.

Quantifying the value of the services to society offered by the Lagoon demonstrates the potential for future economic development and supports investment according to a sustainable management model. In the long term, the conscious maintenance of the Lagoon’s natural capital can generate greater and less impactful flows of productive activity than those currently generated by the exploitation of Venice and its Lagoon.