Last updated: October 2021
The WWF Oasis of Valle Averto extends to the edge of the Venetian lagoon and is a typical fishing valley of the Venetian lagoon, the only one closed to hunting. It is located within a Community Importance Site (SIC IT3250030). It is also a Special Protection Zone (SPP IT3250046). The area, about 200 hectares, includes ample mirrors of brackish water, canes, igrophilous forests, canals. After being purchased by WWF, plants of the planífico igrofilo forest kind were re-introduced: oak, black poplar, elm, ash and other typical species (1).
Ministry of the Environment
https://www.naturaitalia.it/apriAreaNaturale.do?idAreaNaturale=63&numeroPuntoInformativo=3
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Effective management
Focus
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
The main objective was to restore the biodiversity of this area popular for fishing by planting the local vegetation while protecting the local animal species living in the area (2).
Implementation activities
After being purchased by WWF in 1995, several interventions have been pursued to restore the habitat, including the re-planting of local plants. Several activities were and are carried out to educate school children and visitors. University students are encouraged to work in the area to do thesis research (1 and 2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Create new habitats
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Biodiversity offsets
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore endangered species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
It is divided among 5 owners: the property known as A.M.A., acronym of Marina Averto srl covers ca. 60% of the entire area. Within the Valle Averto compilation there are 4 other owners including A.A.A. Azienda Agriturismo Averto, the Eredi conte Ancillotto, Capuzzo and WWFF which has the remaining about 82 hectares, plus a lagoon compilation that falls into the territory of Campagna Lupia (6).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(An area of about 500 hectares (including the nature reserve) has been designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention (4). The biotope "Valle Averto" is censored within the Venice Lagoon among the Important Bird Areas of Italy IBA ITALIA No. 034, in implementation of Directive 79/409 / EEC. The same biotope was declared, with note prot. n. 2884 / SCN / 95 of 3 March 1995 of the Ministry of the Environment, Special Protection Area (SPA) under the Birds Directive 79/409 / EEC of 25 April 1979 (7).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(An area of about 500 hectares (including the nature reserve - the same area under the Ramsar Convention) falls under Regional legislation (4). Pursuant to the Decree of the Minister of the Environment of 3 May 1993, published on G.U. n. 173 of 26 July 1993. Within the framework of the Community program "Natura 2000" and the related Italian project "Bioitaly", the Veneto Region, under the Habitats Directive 92/43 / EEC, proposed the site of Community Importance (SIC) "Laguna Sud: Valli arginate" (site code IT3250018) where the biotope "Valle Averto" was also included. Against this proposal, the Ministry of the Environment, with note prot. SCN / ST / 97/9478 of 30 June 1997, confirmed the site in question on the final official list sent to the European Commission. By order of the Ministry of the Environment and the Protection of the Territory and of the Sea, published on 7 May 2007 G.U. - General Series - No.135 of June 13, 2007 (7).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Life Forestall (2020) WWF Oasis of Valle Averto Virtual Visit. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 16th October, 2020.
2. Perlasca, P. (no date) . Valle Averto. WWF. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
3. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (no date) Maintenance activities. WWF OASI. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 8th October, 2020.
4. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (no date) Valle Averto national nature reserve. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
5. Map of the area. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
6. Valle Averto Wikipedia Page (2020). Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
7. Ministry of the environment (no date) Averto Valley, The Park and it Regulations. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
2. Perlasca, P. (no date) . Valle Averto. WWF. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
3. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (no date) Maintenance activities. WWF OASI. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 8th October, 2020.
4. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (no date) Valle Averto national nature reserve. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
5. Map of the area. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
6. Valle Averto Wikipedia Page (2020). Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
7. Ministry of the environment (no date) Averto Valley, The Park and it Regulations. Available at: Source link on 8th October, 2020.
Ministry of the Environment
https://www.naturaitalia.it/apriAreaNaturale.do?idAreaNaturale=63&numeroPuntoInformativo=3