The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) not-for-profit foundation, TreadRight, is proud to announce its newest partnership with Venice’s Barena Association. This marks TreadRight’s 5th nature-based solution partner, one which is committed to preserving the Northern Venetian Lagoon, including its unique wetland environment, fauna and flora, as well as the culture and traditions surrounding the lagoons. TreadRight has supported more than 60 projects worldwide since 2008, and in alignment with The Travel Corporation’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.

Barena Association’s flagship project is “SOS Barena,” which aims to protect and restore sections of the intertidal salt marshes in the Northern Venetian Lagoon, locally known as “Barene.” The lagoon's distinctive habitats are rapidly disappearing through erosion, primarily due to human impact. TreadRight’s grant will be instrumental in 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 serve to shield the marshes from waves and help root systems develop in the mud, thereby 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 The Travel Corporation 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 adds.

Salt marshes not only host rich biodiversity in terms of habitats, fauna such as water birds and flora, but are also one of the ecosystems that sequester the most carbon per unit surface. This project will allow Barena Association to avoid CO2 emissions in the range of 17.7 - 59.3 tonnes, achieved through the carbon sequestration capability of the habitats, which would otherwise be eroded without protection.

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 an approach that will be sustainable, long-term, and both ecologically and socially beneficial.

“Saltmarshes effectively absorb carbon emissions, which makes them crucial in addressing climate change, but they also enable traditional fishing culture to thrive - and that is paramount to ecological sustainability,” says Allison Zurfluh, President of Barena Association. “In the northern Venice Lagoon, we are committed to nature-based solutions installed by traditional Buranello fishermen not only to protect and restore these valuable saltmarshes, but because the methods we use directly support their lifestyle as custodians of the lagoon. We believe in what we are doing and are passionate about it. Our gratitude to the Treadright Foundation runs deep.”

For those interested in making a donation to the Barena Association, please use this link. Learn more about TreadRight’s projects and its mission to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® at TreadRight.org.

Note: The Northern Venetian Lagoon is a protected area in critical need of restoration. We do not encourage its visitation. You can help sustain the lagoon by respectfully not travelling there.