Updates from Lio Piccolo | November 2024

Restoration and reforestation of Lio Piccolo: updates from WOWnature

Located in the picturesque northern lagoon of Venice, Lio Piccolo is an oasis of precious and fragile biodiversity, constantly threatened by erosion and the effects of climate change. WOWnature’s project aims at the ecological restoration of this delicate ecosystem to safeguard flora, fauna and embankments.

A reforestation project to preserve wetlands

For more than half a century, the Lio Piccolo lands have been managed to protect biodiversity and the fragile balance of wetlands, a habitat that is at risk of deterioration if left unmaintained. The reforestation project that started in 2022 aims primarily at consolidating the banks by planting plants that are resistant to the brackish climate. These shrubs not only provide a barrier against tidal erosion, but also create favourable habitats for numerous animal species, from birdlife to fish, that inhabit the area.

Monitoring and positive ecological impacts

Over the past two years, more than 16,000 shrubs have been planted, creating a natural protection network that strengthens the environment against climatic fluctuations. The site is part of the Natura 2000 network, which protects Europe’s most valuable ecosystems, and this project is an essential intervention in the preservation of biodiversity. The tree planting activities, spread between 2022 and 2023, have already begun to show positive effects, such as reducing erosion and creating new areas of shade that help stabilise water temperatures to the benefit of aquatic wildlife.

Watch the update video