The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) not-for-profit foundation, TreadRight, announced a partnership with Venice’s Barena Association.
TTC said this marks TreadRight’s 5th nature-based solution partner, which is committed to preserving the Northern Venetian Lagoon, including its unique wetland environment, fauna and flora, and the culture and traditions surrounding the lagoons.
Barena Association’s “SOS Barena,” aims to protect and restore sections of the intertidal salt marshes in the Northern Venetian Lagoon, locally known as “Barene.”
The association shared that the lagoon's habitats rapidly disappear through erosion due to human impact.
According to a press release, TreadRight’s grant will support the construction of up to 150 meters of barriers, called fascines, made with biodegradable material and installed with the support of local fishermen.
Once installed, sediment will be pumped between the fascines and the marsh’s edge. These fascines shield the marshes from waves and help root systems develop in the mud, safeguarding the marsh soil from further erosion.
“As one of Italy’s largest coastal wetlands, the Venice Lagoon is not just of deep significance environmentally, but also culturally. Our newest nature-based solution partner, Barena Association, acknowledges this beautifully by harnessing the knowledge and skill set of the local fishermen, who design and install interventions to stall rapid erosion and maintain the lagoon’s power to trap carbon,” says Shannon Guihan, chief sustainability officer at TTC and head of TreadRight.
“The Barene is critical to the unique ecosystem that encompasses Venice, and we are exceptionally pleased to champion this initiative through our TreadRight grant,” she added.
At the core of the SOS Barena project is the involvement of the local fishermen and other community members in designing and implementing these conservation actions. With their knowledge and intimate connection to the lagoon, the Barena Association aims to establish a sustainable, long-term, and ecologically and socially beneficial approach.
TreadRight has supported more than 60 projects worldwide since 2008, and in alignment with TTC’s net-zero ambition and Climate Action Plan, the foundation now prioritizes support for nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, which helps local communities become more resilient to climate change.
Those interested in making a donation to the Barena Association should use this link.
Learn more about TreadRight’s projects and mission to make travel matter at TreadRight.org.
