Last Friday, March 14th, water management experts, researchers, and stakeholders gathered in Legnaro, Veneto region (North-Eastern Italy) to address one of the region’s most pressing challenges: adapting water management practices in the face of climate change. The collaborative event showcased innovative approaches to sustainable water management through Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
In his opening remarks, Silvio Parizzi, Director of ANBI Veneto (i.e., the regional network of water management and land reclamation consortia), emphasized that “water management consortia must work hand-in-hand with the scientific community to develop evidence-based NbS that address our changing climate reality.”
One of the workshop’s most insightful take-home messages was the substantial economic value of ecosystem services provided by irrigation networks in the region. The valuation study presented by our partner, Etifor and developed in cooperation with the University of Padova (also a BIOFIN-EU consortium member) quantified these benefits at an impressive €642 million annually. These services range from provisioning benefits like food (€33 million/year) and energy (€16 million/year) to regulating services such as groundwater recharge (€146 million) and habitat maintenance (€144 million). Cultural services, including the region’s historical-cultural identity (€157 million) and aesthetic value (€99 million), further evidence the multidimensional value of these important green-blue infrastructures. This economic perspective provided a powerful argument for investing in nature-based approaches, complementing their ecological and resilience benefits.
The presentation by Alessandra Santini, a PhD student from the University of Padova, introduced a diverse portfolio of NbS tailored to the agricultural sector, such as the conversion of certain areas to meadows and pastures, crop diversification, development of forest infiltration areas, wetlands restoration, hedges and buffer strips reintroduction, among others.
After these introductory speeches, the second part of the workshop included participatory activities, where stakeholders could discuss openly through a fishbowl methodology. They highlighted that while NbS contribute significantly to climate adaptation, they must be strategically matched to appropriate areas. They stressed that some NbS require water to function effectively, highlighting the need for integrated water resource planning. The workshop also revealed how traditional practices can inform modern solutions. Buffer strips, once common in our agricultural landscape but lost over time, represent a historical practice that could be revitalized as part of our NbS strategy.
Perhaps the most significant outcome of the workshop was the consensus around the need for complementary approaches. Rather than viewing NbS as standalone interventions, participants advocated for integration with gray infrastructure, policy instruments (e.g., modifying ecological flow requirements and creating incentives for sustainable agricultural practices), and knowledge solutions (e.g., developing educational programs and AI-based applications for water management). Last but not least, the need for innovative financial solutions was also debated, calling for innovative forms of public-private partnership.
