WORLD HERITAGE

• Lido
• Island of Pellestrina

On 2 February 1971 the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance as the Habitat of Aquatic Birds” (Ramsar Convention) was signed in Ramsar (Iran) by a group of nations, scientific institutions and international organizations. The Ramsar Convention is the first true global intergovernmental treaty on the conservation and management of natural ecosystems.

In 1974 the Ramsar Convention was implemented in Italy with a national plan prepared by the Nature Conservation Service at the Ministry of the Environment, involving international agreements and guidelines for the protection of wetlands, i.e. swamps, marshes, peat lands and, more generally, all natural and artificial basins of particular importance for the habitat of aquatic birds.

Regional Law n° 40 was approved in 1984 concerning the new rules for the establishment of regional parks and nature reserves.

In 2003, the Venice and Adriatic branch of WWF Italia published a study on the natural wetland area of the Venetian lagoon, highlighting the opportunity to declare it a “Ramsar Area”, since it constitutes one of the largest stretches of the "barene" in the Mediterranean offering shelter for over 20,000 water birds each winter. The presence of such large bird populations has meant that almost 70,000 hectares of the Venice lagoon have been declared an Important Bird Area, i.e., a priority area for the protection of birds.

Some of the most important natural reserves and oases in the lagoon are:

Oasi Ca’ Roman
The southern part of the island of Pellestrina , called Ca’ Roman, is the location of a nature reserve (or ‘oasis’) run by LIPU (the Italian Bird Protection Society - http://www.lipu.it/ - http://www.lipu-uk.org/) and protected by the WWF Italia and has one observation point. The Ca’ Roman Oasis is a mix of all the typical Venetian coastlines, ranging from sandy beach and dunes to pinewoods behind the dunes. Some 150 species of birds can be spotted among the lush spontaneous vegetation, both sedentary and migratory birds, reflecting great biodiversity in this area. Until just a few years ago, dozens of newly-hatched Kentish plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus) and little terns (Sterna albifrons) could be spotted on the sand during the nesting season: these migratory birds had chosen this tiny handkerchief of beach as the ideal place for reproduction.

A matter of pride and motive behind the setting-up of the oasis. Today, however, they have all but disappeared. The oasis now is populated by various resident species, including the kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), the black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) and the herring gull (Larus argentatus), plus various summer visitors such as the horned owl (Otus scops) and the cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus). In winter the oasis offers shelter for the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).

Oasi delle Dune degli Alberoni
The area of this oasis, in the south of the Lido island, has been identified and recognised by the Veneto region as a Site of Community Importance.

The islands of Lido and Pellestrina form a long strip of land that divide the Venice lagoon from the sea, North-South. This coastal strip is interrupted by the three harbour mouths and is the location of the «murazzi»: huge sea defences begun by the Serenissima Republic in the 1700s.

The murazzi start at Lido, then continue across the island of Pellestrina and Sottomarina. Thanks to these embankments and huge blocks of white Istrian stone (recently strengthened), an interesting ecosystem had evolved over the centuries with dunes up to 9 metres high, once praised by the eminent botanist and poet Goethe. The phenomenon is particularly evident in the Alberoni area, the southern-most part of Lido. As its name suggests, the area is rich in vegetation (“alberoni” literally means ‘big trees’) which provided excellent timber for Venetian boats and oars in the past. The beach here continues to expand thanks to the ‘protection’ offered by the harbour mouth and is much appreciated for its semi-wildness.
In fact, since the beaches here have been left largely unexploited, the area behind the dunes has been left to develop naturally, creating the ideal habitat for many species of seabirds, including the colourful bee-catcher (Merops apiaster). The fact that this area is constantly evolving is proved by the locations of the old lighthouse (Faro vecchio) and the old Forte degli Alberoni (now a golf club): both buildings were originally constructed on the edge of the sea, but today are several hundred metres from the shore.

Oasi di Valle Averto
The Valle Averto nature reserve (run by WWF Italia) is near Campagnalupia, on the edge of the Venetian lagoon, along the road Romea between Chioggia and Mestre. This beautiful lagoon ‘oasis’ has been recognised by the State as a Nature Reserve and Wetland of International Importance.

It is a typical fishing valley surrounded by alluvial soil (silt and clay) that emerges during low tide. The landscape consists of large pools of brackish water, reedbeds, hydric groves, fallow fields, canals and hedges. Many tamarisks (Tamarix gallica) grow along the banks.The waters are populated by large concentrations of marine invertebrates and fish. These are crucial for the many water birds that stop and nest here: the importance of this area is due to its position along one of the classic migratory routes. Depending on the season, one can encounter coots (Fulica atra), wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), teals (Anas crecca), Northern shoveler duck (Anas clypeata), pintail ducks (Dafila acuta), purple herons (Ardea purpurea), mute swans (Cygnus oro), wild geese (Anser anser), cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) and various seagulls (Larus ridibundus and Larus argentatus), as well as birds of prey, such as the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), the kite (Milvus milvus), the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and the buzzard (Buteo vulgaris). There are also various mammals: the badger (Meles meles), the polecat (Mustela putorius), the stone marten (Martes foina), the fox (Vulpes fulva) and many small rodents. These animals can be glimpsed as they pause by the huts and observation towers throughout Valle Averto and even in a cavana or by a lavoriero. Ca’ Tiepolo, a typical Renaissance manor-house that is now the visitor centre in the park, has a small museum with a collection of old fishing boats and typical everyday items from the lagoon area.