Safeguarding the Venetian Lagoon

The Venetian lagoon is subject to several factors that destroy its structures and biodiversity, most notably climate change and human intervention. High tides flood Venice regularily, especially the San Marco Square. The lagoon is sinking while sea levels are rising, which causes damage to the lagoon structures and of course to the infrastructure of the city of Venice. The Consorzio Venezia Nuova and others have been working to preserve the lagoon for decades, while other services also help safeguard this ecosystem. They help protect salt marshes and mudflats, reinforce their banks or reconstruct them entirely. But to save the lagoon from flooding an enormous and controversial project of flood gates (MOSE) at the three lagoon inlets is underway. The city of Venice is sinking one to two milimeters a year, while the north lagoon is subsiding 2 to 3 mm a year and the islands in the south lagoon are sinking at a rate of 3 to 4 mm a year. This subsidence will have to be accounted for by the scientists trying to protect the lagoon.