We are here Venice: a look back at 2024 before we dive into autumn
With three-quarters of 2024 behind us, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the highlights, focusing on special events and ongoing projects.
The third edition of Giants of the Lagoon and La Laguna dei Cippi have advanced citizen science, fostering community engagement in preserving Venice’s unique ecosystem. Meanwhile, the publication of The Mudflat Crew and our work on the Garden of Sant’Anna continue to promote biodiversity.
These initiatives showcase our ongoing commitment to connecting people, scientific research, and culture in meaningful ways as we look ahead to the final months of the year.
Citizen Science: Our Multifaceted Approach
“Citizen science” involves public, not necessarily expert or formally qualified, participation in scientific research, including monitoring environmental quality. By engaging people directly in monitoring and observation of nature, their understanding improves and this kind of experience is known to promote more sustainable behavior.
Towards Giants of the Lagoon third edition
Within the framework of WaterLANDS (GA 101036484), we designed a citizen science project involving students aged 11 and 12 in an exploration of the lagoon, to emphasise each individual element’s value in relation to all the others in a holistic vision.
After the pilot project, developed in 2023 in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Sciences of Wageningen University and the Venice Natural History Museum Giancarlo Ligabue, we continued the programme in 2024 with more than 260 students and the third edition is in the process of recruiting the next school cycle.
New research to understand changes in children’s perceptions of nature in the context of this initiative was presented at the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration of the European section of the Society for Ecological Restoration held in Tartu last August.
Silent Observers: La Laguna dei Cippi
La Laguna dei Cippi is a citizen science project developed by the artist Claudio Beorchia within WaterLANDS. It is an open invitation to discover and document the Venice Lagoon from an unusual perspective: that of the Boundary Stones (Cippi di Conterminazione). The images that participants have sent us so far show an environment profoundly different from that of the late 18th century, with a succession of buildings, roads, and infrastructure dominating the landscape. Please visit the website for more details on how to participate.
Biodiversity – a Complex but Fundamental Concept
Biodiversity, encompassing genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity, risks becoming an overused term. Its complexity arises from species interactions, evolving ecosystems, and processes shaped by climate, geography, and human activities, making it challenging to monitor amidst so many variables. In collaboration with Prof. Judith Fisher (University of Western Australia), a comprehensive biodiversity monitoring initiative has recently begun, focusing on key plant families in the central lagoon. This will provide the baseline for assessing restoration impacts over time.
The salt marshes and associated habitats are vital for the lagoon’s diverse bird community, supporting wintering, nesting, and migratory bird populations, as well as insects (invertebrates), whose distribution is crucial for understanding the differences between reconstructed wetlands and natural salt marshes.
The Mudflat Crew: printed copies out in Italian and English
The Mudflat Crew is a Vital publication created by Pietro Leddi, inspired by the Vital pilot sites, the richness of the Lagoon, and its legends. It offers a joyful introduction to this ecosystem, triggering curiosity especially among the younger generation. It also includes scientific and historical insights related to Venice. The book was presented last June in the garden of Laguna~B and is being distributed to public libraries in the greater Venice area. Discover more here.
Green Spaces: The Garden of Sant’Anna
In line with Venice municipality’s Urban Green Spaces regulations programme, this is the second year of WahV taking responsibility for the Sant’Anna flowerbeds next to the long-abandoned former hospital and church, between Via Garibaldi and San Pietro di Castello. An assortment of local residents, university students and occasional experts visiting Venice have contributed to revival of the flowerbeds. This initiative provides insight for WahV about the need for local leadership and context-sensitive planning. It also offers space for a richer assortment of biodiversity, promotes active stewardship thereby reinforcing personal connections and engagement, helping to reawaken a sense of belonging for Venetians who would otherwise be exasperated by the effects of mass tourism.
For more information and to join the volunteer group, please contact spaziverdi@weareherevenice.org
Next Projects
- Our Fieldwork project continues and the number of parameters monitored is expanding. To stay updated on these essential actions, check out our progress on the Vital website.
- In the coming weeks, we will be unveiling our long-term impact strategy. After nearly a year of collaboration with Kilowatt’s impact specialists, we’re excited to present our vision for positive change, over the coming years.
- The artist-in-residence programme with WaterLANDS continues as we delve deeper into the creation of an innovative game centered around the lagoon by Claudio Beorchia.
- Our knowledge-sharing initiatives with students continue, including collaborations with Global Campus of Human Rights, Monash University, Boston University – Global Program. Looking ahead, we’re excited to be part of several upcoming events, among them: the The Mudflat Crew will be presented on 9th November at the Transeuropa Festival in Venice, and we will participate at the Forum organised by the Fondazione Italia Patria della Bellezza in Milan on the 21st November.
Follow us for more updates on these and future collaborations!
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