Last updated: May 2025
The Santa Gilla lagoon, a crucial wetland in the Cagliari metropolitan area of Sardinia, has been the focus of several interventions aimed at restoring and preserving its natural and socio-economic functions. The overarching goal of these projects is to rehabilitate the lagoon's ecosystems, improve public accessibility, and promote sustainable economic activities such as eco-tourism and fishing. One significant intervention is the restoration of pedestrian and cycling paths around the lagoon, managed by CACIP (Consorzio Industriale Provinciale di Cagliari) in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Cagliari. With over two million euros in funding, this project aimed to recover the original profiles of the lagoon's embankments, while removing waste from the area and enhancing the paths for non-motorized mobility (2). Another crucial development was the legal action taken by the Corpo Forestale (Forestry Corps) in 2020 to address illegal constructions and pollution along the lagoon's eastern shores. This action included the sequestration of areas used for illegal fishing activities, where hazardous materials and waste were improperly disposed of, leading to environmental degradation (1). Furthermore, environmental groups have made continuous efforts to address illegal dumping near the lagoon, particularly along the SS 195 highway. These groups have actively sought the intervention of local authorities to initiate cleanup operations and enforce regulations against illegal waste disposal (4). The projects were implemented primarily to address the significant environmental hazards facing the Santa Gilla lagoon, including pollution from illegal dumping, habitat degradation due to unauthorized constructions, and the overall loss of biodiversity. These activities also aimed to mitigate the socio-economic risks posed by the deteriorating environmental conditions, such as the decline in tourism and sustainable fishing practices (1,2,4).
photo of the lagoon
http://www.sardegnaambiente.it/index.php?xsl=612&s=414806&v=2&c=4577&idsito=19
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Soil degradation and loss
- Poor water quality
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Restoration of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Protection of natural ecosystems, Protecton and enhancement of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass)
Project objectives
To formally protect and manage the Santa Gilla lagoon system through a dedicated regional park structure (1).
To clean up illegal landfills, remove hazardous waste, and rehabilitate polluted habitats for long-term ecological integrity (1, 3).
To stop illegal fishing, squatting, dumping, and unregulated construction by seizing and securing affected areas (1).
To safeguard the lagoon’s unique ecosystems and the many protected species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians that inhabit it (1, 3).
To relaunch salt cultivation, develop eco-sustainable fishing, and foster nature-based tourism in harmony with conservation needs (1).
To restore pedestrian and cycle paths for nature observation, limit vehicle access, and encourage respectful, low-impact public enjoyment (2).
To return the lagoon’s banks to their original condition to preserve their function and aesthetic in line with landscape and environmental goals (2).
To engage the public through information campaigns, birdwatching centres to foster environmental stewardship (2).
To align local conservation and development efforts with Ramsar, EU Natura 2000, and national/regional laws and designs (1, 3).
Implementation activities
-Seizure of illegally occupied areas and 65 hazardous fishing shacks (Ref. 1)
-Relocation of indigent occupants with support from social and health services (Ref. 1)
-Environmental restoration entrusted to the Port Authority (Ref. 1)
-Use of a patrol boat for lagoon monitoring during the operation (Ref. 1)
-Reconstruction of pedestrian and cycling paths by the Metropolitan City (Ref. 2)
-Restoration of the lagoon bank profiles and cleanup of scattered waste (Ref. 2)
-Restriction of motor vehicle access to promote slow, nature-based mobility (Ref. 2)
-Provision of land and communication support by CACIP (Ref. 2)
- Advocacy for thorough environmental remediation and proper management (Ref. 3)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples)
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Public sector institution
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Forestry Corps (Corpo Forestale): Led law enforcement actions, environmental investigations, and lagoon surveillance during the seizure. (Ref. 1)
Metropolitan City of Cagliari: Funded and coordinated infrastructure redevelopment (e.g., cycling paths, bank restoration). (Ref. 2)
Port Authority: Entrusted with environmental restoration and future management of the seized area. (Ref. 1)
Region of Sardinia: Supported the strategic framework, including the creation of the Regional Park and earlier pollution control initiatives. (Ref. 1, 3)
Other actors involved: Law Enforcement Agencies, Municipal Social Services & ATS (Health Authority), CACIP (Provincial Industrial Consortium of Cagliari), Amici della Terra & Gruppo d’Intervento Giuridico, Ministries of Environment and Cultural Heritage.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Santa Gilla pond is of great interest from a vegetational, faunal and environmental point of view .
It is a wetland of international importance (international Ramsar Convention of 1971, Presidential Decree no. 448/1976, Ministerial Decree 30 September 1980), it is protected by a specific landscape constraint (legislative decree no. 42/2004 and subsequent amendments). It is also included in the regional nature reserve to be established “Stagno di Santa Gilla” ref 3)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Achieved improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
- Increased property prices
- Expected increased property prices
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
- Expected stimulate development in deprived areas
- Attraction of business and investment
- Expected attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Achieved improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Expected improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Expected protection of natural heritage
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Safety
- Improved community safety to climate-related hazards
- Achieved improved community safety to climate-related hazards
- Decreased crime rates
- Expected decreased crime rates
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (2020). Tutela dello Stagno di Santa Gilla: il Corpo Forestale sequestra l’area della sponda EST. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Consorzio Industriale Provinciale di Cagliari (2021). A spasso nella laguna. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Gruppo d'Intervento Giuridico (GrIG) (2013). Chiesta la bonifica ambientale delle sponde di Santa Gilla (Cagliari).. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
4.
SKY TG24 (2021). Discarica su Ss 195 tra il mare e lo stagno di Santa Gilla. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Defendi; Daniele (1995). Reclamation and Restructuring of Santa Gilla Lagoon. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
photo of the lagoon
https://gruppodinterventogiuridicoweb.com/2013/05/06/chiesta-la-bonifica-ambientale-delle-sponde-di-santa-gilla-cagliari/
photo of the lagoon
https://cacip.it/a-spasso-nella-laguna/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.