Exploring the Wet Venice by Nicolò Fattore

Location

2024-04-16 07:08:09 UTC

It stretches from the River Sile in the North to the Brenta in the South.
Surface area : 550 square kilometres
8% is land
The largest wetland in the Mediterranean Basin
11% of the Basin is permanently covered by open water or canal.
Inlets: the lagoon has 3 inlets that connect it to the Adriatic Sea. They are called, from the South to the North, Chioggia inlet, Malamocco inlet, Lido inlet.

Seafood and recreation

2024-04-16 07:15:29 UTC

"Barene" play a crucial role in supporting humans by offering seafood. Both commercial and recreational fishing industries contribute millions of euros to the coastal economy. However, if we harm these ecosystems, fisheries will suffer, negatively impacting productivity and economy. Additionally, these ecosystems provide opportunities for recreation, such as drawing, photography, and wildlife observation.

Flora in the "Barene"

2024-04-16 07:26:35 UTC

"Barene" are populated by halophilic vegetation (plants that support the saline environment in order to complete their vital cycle).

"Barene" are not uniform: it is possible to distinguish different zones where you can find many different species of plants.

low frequently submerged edges;
marginal more compact and higher areas than the average tide level;
central zones that are slightly depressed, where the water stagnates;
zones with accumulation of organic matter.

General description

2024-04-16 07:33:42 UTC

"Barene" are coastal wetlands composed of mud and peat (a thick layer of decomposing vegetation). "Barene" are a common habitat in estuaries and they occur particularly in middle to high latitudes.

In this coastal wetland there is a channel network that transports all the sediments to the sea.

Development

2024-04-16 07:39:46 UTC

It started its formation around 6000 years ago as a complex system of lagoons, and then, around 2000 years ago, this was segmented into separate subsystems, including the Venice Lagoon.
In the 5th and the 6th century peoples started migrating to the lagoon, creating settlements in Rivo Alto.
From the 13th to the 16th century, under the Republic, they built a lot of hydraulic projects, such as the deviation of rivers, and the preservation of the islands of the lagoon.
After this time, the inhabitants of the area continued the project to protect the local environment from marsh degradation.

LEGISLATION AND OBJECTIVES

2024-04-16 07:43:00 UTC

This is necessary because the alien species are often a problem. We need to regulate their expansion and commerce
We could say that one of the most important European objective is to reduce about 50% of the alien species in our sea

Ecosystem Services

2024-04-16 07:44:49 UTC

An ecosystem service is any positive benefit that wildlife provides to people.

There are many benefits to living in a world with strong and healthy ecosystems.

These are the four major categories of ecosystem services:

Provisioning Services
A provisioning service is any type of benefit to people that can be extracted from nature
Regulating Services
A regulating service is the benefit provided by ecosystem processes that moderate natural phenomena.

Ecosystem services and wetlands

2024-04-16 07:45:49 UTC

Cultural services

•A cultural service is a non-material benefit that contributes to the development and cultural advancement of people;

•Our relationship with nature;

•The importance of ecosystems to the mankind;

Supporting services

•Underlying natural processes: photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, the creation of soils, the water cycle;

•The Earth to sustains basic life forms, whole ecosystems and people;

Talking about all these services we realise how important and at the same time threatened wetlands are.

wetlands:

• are a vital habitat for migratory species;

• are a natural habitat for fish we consume daily;

• retain and control flood waters;

• are a natural filtration system;

• store carbon which if released would contribute to climate change;

Boats and waves

2024-04-16 07:45:56 UTC

Boats can damage wetlands by producing fast waves near them. These waves can erode coastlines, destroy habitats and disturb wildlife. Increased water movement can also lead to sedimentation and changes in water quality, affecting the delicate balance of the wetland ecosystem. To preserve the barene, we could limit the speed and control these boats closer to them.

Historical perspectives

2024-04-16 07:46:10 UTC

The human impact on the lagoon environments has also increased across centuries.
Keeping the lagoon in a healthy state and preserving the natural resources it provides has always been an important concern of the Republic of Venice

Buffering

2024-04-16 07:48:49 UTC

One ecosystem service is BUFFERING: this process minimizes the damage to inland areas from flooding and storm surge. "Barene" work as a barrier that reduces wave energy and velocity.

Salicornia veneta

2024-04-16 07:50:12 UTC

Its scientific name is Salicornia perennans, it has a green trunk but at the end of the summer it changes its colour and becomes red. It was discovered in 1969 and now it is quite rare so it is continuously controlled. Salicornia veneta is a particular type of Salicornia which we can find in the Veneto, in Emilia-Romagna and in Friuli. Its roots absorb the water from the ground.

IMPLEMENTATION AND TOOLS

2024-04-16 07:52:13 UTC

The groups that help UE in its projects are the committee on IAS (Invasive Alien Species), the expert group on IAS, the scientific and the working group.
Europe is adopting various solutions to limit the invasion of alien species in our waters

Better Water Quality

2024-04-16 07:52:59 UTC

Wetlands reduce suspended sediments and pollutants:

Reduce toxins

Reduce pollutants from the estuaries of larger rivers

Prevent eutrophication: excess nutrients lead to low oxygen levels and cause fish deaths

However: wetlands generally have lower oxygen levels, which keeps larger predators away

Reduction of carbon dioxide

2024-04-16 07:54:34 UTC

Another ecosystem service is the REDUCTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE: plants remove carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Plants in salt marshes remove 100 times more carbon than forests. With this benefit they reduce greenhouse gases and therefore the impact on our climate.

Why are "barene" important?

2024-04-16 08:05:22 UTC

"Barene" are essential for fisheries, coastlines and for the community.

"Barene" help protecting the shoreline from erosion, they reduce flooding by absorbing rainwater and they also protect water quality by filtering runoff water.

Alien species in the Venetian Lagoon

2024-04-16 08:12:35 UTC

The main invasive species in the Venetian lagoon are:

scorpion fish
blue crabs
killer shrimps
some types of seaweed

Are they everywhere?

2024-04-16 08:13:17 UTC

"Barene" need specific living conditions: they must be above the sea level.

These salt marshes are usually located 20/35 cm above the main sea level.

The vegetation here needs salt water for a proper life and they can get it through the tides. In fact, "barene" need to be flooded and drained to preserve their ecosystem.

The Islands

2024-04-16 08:19:10 UTC

The lagoon has many islands, some of them are inhabited and other are wild. The main islands are:

Venice 5.17 km²: it has the city center and the main areas of the city;
Sant'Erasmo 3.26 km²: it's the vegetable garden of Venice;
Murano 1.17 km²: it is well known for its glass production;
Chioggia 0.67km²: it is known as "Little Venice".
There are a lot of other islands, such as Burano, Giudecca, San Michele etc.

NASA Saltmarsh study

2024-04-16 08:19:12 UTC

NASA study reveals horrifiyng losses of salt marshes
What are salt marshes?
Why are they important?

How Salicornia veneta appears

2024-04-16 08:22:02 UTC

Salicornia veneta blooms in late summer, showing small flowers with the same dimensions. It has a particular shape called candelabra. Its habitat is always touched by salty water and thanks to the raising of the sea level the Salicornia has been able to grow in places where there were other plants before.

Preservation of salt marshes

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Wastewater management
Macroalgae in the future

The importance of fishing in the lagoon

2024-04-16 08:26:13 UTC

From the beginning of the Roman age to the early Middle ages, the territory of the lagoon was used mainly for producing salt and fishing. Beyond that, Venice produced nothing (no wheat, no timber and very little meat). This is why fishermen of this area are often associated with a rich and fruitful countryside. Although fishing nowadays counts as a small part of Veneto's economy, it remains a big part of everyday life for the people living near the lagoon. Fishing has provided sustenance and has definitively left a mark on Venetian culture.

The Metropolitan City of Venice

2024-04-16 08:27:34 UTC

It is divided into six administrative boroughs
These boroughs are governed by a council and a president
The majority of its inhabitants live on the western border of the lagoon

Traditional jobs: the figure of the "moecanti"

2024-04-16 08:35:49 UTC

The green crabs leave their carapace to molt during their molting phase, which occurs in spring and autumn and lasts only a few hours. During this period, they are more vulnerable and fishermen catch them. This makes them extremely precious and rare. Because they become soft when they lose their carapace, in the Venetian dialect they are called "moeche", meaning soft.

Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

2024-04-16 08:35:59 UTC

Invasive species are animals and plants that are accidentally introduced into a natural environment.
Serious consequences for their new environment.
One of the main causes of biodiversity loss.
Significant negative repercussions on the economy and on humanity.

Controlling the rise of water

2024-04-16 08:36:06 UTC

The main problem of these wetlands is the rise in sea levels caused by the melting of glaciers. As the sea rises, the vegetation must rise vertically too, otherwise barene will disappear.

A great way to preserve barene is to reduce CO₂emissions that have increased global temperatures melting glaciers.

Local flying fauna

2024-04-16 08:48:15 UTC

The "barene" are exposed to the tides and are a unique habitat for some animal species. The vast salt-marshes exposed at low tide are an excellent food source for birds. Many interesting species nest in the more stable areas, such as the black-winged stilt, the avocet, the red shank, the common tern and the sandwich tern.

THE COST OF KEEPING VENICE DRY

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Moses operative infrastructures fill the skyline
Moses gates block tidal sediment that nurishes
halophytic vegetation
70 percent of the lagoon’s necessary sedimentation occurs during episodes of high wind, precisely when the barrier tends to be raised
The question is "keep Venice dry or keep Venice alive"?

Blue Crabs

2024-04-16 10:25:25 UTC

Blue crabs are non-native crustaceans that have invaded the Venice Lagoon.
These introduced species are altering the lagoon ecosystem.
Clams and mussels are among the most affected species.
Their presence threatens the biodiversity and environmental balance of the area.

2024-04-16 10:29:40 UTC

Low edges

nicolofattore — 2024-04-17 13:00:27 UTC

In the first zone we can find the Spartina stricta. It seems like a usual type of grass, but it is extremely resistant and it has a central role in the protection against erosion of the edges of the "barene".

Marginal areas

nicolofattore — 2024-04-17 13:02:25 UTC

In the second zone, we can find the Juncus maritimus in the parts closer to the water. The Phragmites australis instead is present everywhere in this zone and it forms a very thick vegetation, even in the most arid areas.

Central zones

nicolofattore — 2024-04-17 13:03:13 UTC

The third zone is submerged most of the time, and it's the natural environment of Salicornia veneta.

Zones with accumulation of organic matter

nicolofattore — 2024-04-17 13:06:11 UTC

The fourth zone is a zone where organic matter, made of dead animals and plants, accumulates. This encourages the growth of different plants such as Suaeda maritima, Salicornia hacerbea or Salsoda soda.

Venice's battle against rising waters

2024-04-17 20:01:09 UTC

catastrophic flood of November 12, 2019
Venice is a symbol of climate change crisis
The increasing frequency and severity of high tides signal an important change

A new project: Moses

2024-04-17 20:23:34 UTC

The Mose system has been implemented to counteract rising waters
Construction work began in 2003
The largest barriers are at Lido and Malamocco
It poses fatal environmental risks for the lagoon

NEW VENICE

2024-04-18 20:11:04 UTC

In the 1920s, deep channels were dug into the lagoon bed to facilitate the economic development of Venice. The consequences were that:

immense amounts of ground water from compressed sediments were extracted
Venice subsided 4,5 inches

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