Recently updated on April 22nd, 2025 at 03:04 pm
“The health of the lagoon is not important – it is crucial.“
– Allison Zurfluh, Barena Association co-founder
Venice might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of biodiversity, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact, head to the Venice lagoon and you’ll find a diverse habitat of marshes and wetlands that’s crucial to the stability of not just the wildlife, but the people who live in Venice and on the surrounding islands – and it’s under threat.
Our commitment to sustainability sees investment in the Barena Association through our not-for-profit organization, TreadRight. Our support in this project shines a light on the importance of finding nature-based solutions to climate change, as well as the conservation of Venice. Read on to discover how you can play your part.
“We are proud and grateful to be supported by the TreadRight Foundation, whose trust and dedication have been a springboard for garnering local and international awareness and enthusiasm, powered tangible on-site works and given all of us at Barena Association an even greater sense of motivation, commitment and drive to complete the work that we set out to do,” says Barena Association cofounder, Allison Zurfluh.
What is the Barena Association?
Co-founder and president Allison Zurfluh was the key driver behind the development of Barena Association. After witnessing the peril that the environment of the northern Venice Lagoon and its traditional fishing and island culture were in, she channelled her distress into spurring herself and co-founders, Pietro Rusconi and Silvia Bracher, to found the non-profit in 2023. The mission? To provide concrete, no-nonsense support through providing direct funding to projects that make a real impact on this fragile environment.
Since then the Association has grown in expert volunteers across key fields, garnering both international attention and local awareness. Its projects protect the salt marshes, prevent wildlife extinction, and restore balance to the ecosystem while fostering community growth.
The Barena Association has three main projects: SOS Barena, which seeks to restore and protect sections of the intertidal salt marshes that are at risk of erosion by reinforcing the land with nature-based solutions that protect the eroding salt marsh; Breathe Barena, which removes big rubbish from the saltmarsh (anything from industrial appliances to abandoned motors), working with experienced local fishermen who can move through this delicate environment without damaging it (around 22,000 liters of rubbish bags and 14 boats loaded with waste were collected in the first phase of the cleanup); and Speak Barena, which aims to connect the realities of the traditional, sustainable fishing community with scientists, conservationists, the travel sector and the media, influencing local perception and understanding of the importance of the northern wetlands.
We were lucky enough to hear from Zurfluh herself about what makes Venice so special, its unique wildlife habitat, and what tourists can do in order to preserve it.
Why is the Venice lagoon important?
“The intertidal salt marshes (known locally as ‘barene’) at risk of erosion in the northern Venetian lagoon are vital for human survival, sequestering carbon 55 times faster than a tropical rainforest,” Zurfluh explains. “They provide economic stability through traditional fishing methods and are home to more than 150 species of sedentary and migratory birds.”
If the lagoon ecosystem thrives then fishing yields increase, supporting Venice’s local fishing economy. But the salt marshes also have an infrastructural impact on the buildings of Venice, buffering tidal currents and reducing the effect of the water’s erosion. “Venice lives from the water,” says Zurfluh. “The city’s entire foundation, heritage, history and existence hinge on daily interaction with the lagoon. The health of the lagoon is not important – it is crucial.”
How is the Venice lagoon under threat?
Conservation problems go back as far as the 1500s when rivers were diverted out of the lagoon (and the crucial sediment they would have brought), while the excavation of a vast shipping canal in the late 1900s caused even more erosion. However, there’s another modern threat to the Venice lagoon: over-tourism.
“These unique habitats are degrading, primarily due to human impact,” says Zurfluh. “Over 70% of marshes have eroded in the past century. The wetlands are suffocated by a significant and startling uptick in recreational and commercial maritime traffic, the presence of plastic and other rubbish, while biodiversity is in decline. The lagoon faces social challenges, as livelihoods of local communities are deeply connected to the landscape.”
“Fast tourism such as hop-on-hop-off tours and an increase in boat rentals to tourists do not only clog waterways and create local confusion; their wake energy substantially contributes to turbidity and shoreline erosion of intertidal areas, both of which affect wildlife and biodiversity.” 200 years ago the Venice lagoon had 180km² (69mi²) of marshes – now that number has dropped to 43km². Over-tourism is one of the greatest threats to the Venice lagoon, and Zurfluh says “all indicators point to the situation worsening with time”.
What can visitors to Venice do?
But all this doesn’t mean you should stop visiting Venice – it just means you need to make more intentional, sustainable choices when you do. “Choose to visit Venice for a slow, multi-day journey instead of a quick day-trip. Avoid cruise ships, and only book rentals where residents live in the building (as opposed to absentee rentals),” says Zurfluh. “Do not rent boats for personal use, but instead hire experienced local drivers, and carry rubbish away in your rucksack instead of leaving it around if bins are full as the wind quickly sweeps it into the canal and waterways. “
“Show respect and interest in local life instead of just ticking off a box from a bucket list,” she continues. “And, importantly to us in the north, do not book travel experiences that claim to visit the ‘secret corners’ of the Venice lagoon. The wetlands need to be left alone in order to survive – they should not be walked on or visited.”
How you can MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®️ when you visit Venice with Trafalgar
When you travel with Trafalgar to Venice, we make sure you MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®️ and help support the conservation of the Floating City. You’ll spend an afternoon with Davide and the passionate team from Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, where you’ll discover the necessity of protecting Venice’s iconic lagoon.
See firsthand the dramatic impact of plastic pollution on the wildlife and local life, and learn the practical ways you can make a difference as a visitor – some of these are things you can take home with you (and back out on any future travels), including a reusable glass bottle. You can leave Venice knowing you’ve played your part in protecting this beautiful part of the world for those to come.