As part of the kick-off meeting of the INACO project, a study visit was organised on 13 June to one of the pilot areas in the project – the Po River Delta located in the Comacchio Valleys in Italy. This pilot initiative will be implemented by our partner, the Po Delta Park – Emilia Romagna.
The Po Delta Park is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and the largest in Italy. It presents a unique identity and biodiversity with ecosystems ranging from coastal sand formations, lagoons, fishing ponds, marshes, fossil dunes, coastal pine forests, brackish wetlands to cultivated land. The Po Delta Park covers an area of 64,000 hectares in total, spread over 2 regions; is home to over 400 animal species and nearly 1,000 plant species.
On top of that it has been designated with a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 and a UNESCO MAB Reserve in 2015.
During the study visit, the partners gained valuable insights into the challenges and issues faced by this area, primarily due to climate change. The rise in air and sea water temperatures, the increasingly pronounced drought and the recent devastating flood phenomena have affected the inland areas and the coast, decisively affecting the economy and biodiversity in the Po Delta Park area.
This visit provided a crucial understanding of the environmental and climatic pressures impacting the region, helping to inform and guide the project’s future actions and interventions. We look forward to addressing these challenges through our collaborative efforts and innovative solutions.
Stay tuned for more updates as we progress with the INACO project.