PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Venice’s northern lagoon holds several Annex I-listed habitats of the Habitats Directive. In particular, habitat type, coastal lagoons, which according to the latest Article 17 report on the conservation status of the EU, are of an unfavourable conservation status. Over the past few decades, coastal lagoons have receded significantly as a consequence of historical human activities (e.g. clam digging with mechanical excavation, eutrophication, pollution, and erosion caused by boats). The coastal lagoon habitat plays a crucial role in supplying ecosystem services, for example, by supporting numerous biological communities and increasing the stability of the tidal flats.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE LAGOON REFRESH project foresees the restoration in Venice’s northern lagoon of the small tidal costal lagoons. In particular, it aims at conserving coastal lagoons to exploit the ecosystem services provided by this habitat to:
Recreate typical estuarine ecological characteristics, in order to counteract the depletion of lagoon bottom and fish communities; Reduce eutrophication thanks to the phytoremediation function of reed beds, favouring the presence of sensitive species and aquatic plants of high ecological value; Improve the conservation status of bird species including those listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, that use the reed beds during the winter period and/or for breeding and foraging; and Increase the presence of the fish species, Canestrini's goby (Pomatoschistus canestrinii), listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The improvement of nutrient levels in the priority coastal lagoons habitat will contribute to the achievement of a good environmental status according to the Water Framework Directive for the area. The restoration of salinity gradients and reed bed surfaces will contribute to an increased biodiversity in the Natura 2000 network site, and help achieve targets defined by the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy.
Expected results: Improvement in the conservation of coastal lagoons through:
Consolidation and restoration of 1 250 ha of priority coastal lagoon habitat, equivalent to 34% of this habitat within the target Natura 2000 network site, part of which (about 30%) is currently of ‘unfavourable’ status; Restoration of salinity gradient: average salinity <5 psu on 5 ha, <15psu on 25 ha, and <25psu on 70 ha; Reduction of eutrophication, increased trophic water quality index (TWQI), and increase in seagrass patches (with increased average seagrass coverage to 15-25% after 10 years); Improvement of benthic and fish community status, for instance, in terms of macrophyte quality index (MaQI), habitat fish bioindicator Index (HFBI) and multivariate marine biotic index (M-AMBI); and Decrease of yearly average concentration of nutrients in water during overflow events (up to 50%). Improvement in the status of bird species:
Creation of habitat for species (reed beds) on an area of approximately 20 ha (+ 67% of the current site surface); Increase in bird species typical of the reeds, in particular: Phalocrocorax pygmeus* (100 to 200 individuals), Botaurus stellaris* (7 to 12 individuals), Ardea purpurea, Ixobrychus minutus, Circus aeruginosus, C. cyaneus, Alcedo atthis, with progressive structuring of the species’ community; Increase of fish species abundance: Canestrini's goby (0.1 individuals/100 m2 to 12-20 individuals/100 m2, annual average values); and Establishment of protection area of 70 ha, with banning of all mobile hunting methods and controlling of fishing pressure. Ecological status and biodiversity:
Achievement of good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive for the water body, Palude Maggiore, and improvement to the ecological status for water body, Dese; and Increase of bird species typical of the reed beds, not included in Annex I of the Birds Directive, but of general conservation interest.
