Mara, a fisherwoman, stands inside her "cavana," the traditional stilt huts used for mussel and clam farming. Aquaculture in the Scardovari Lagoon at the mouth of Po delta, began in the 1970s by a community of fishing families. It included 14 cooperatives with 1,470 members, half of whom are women, many being former workers from the thermoelectric plant, as well as ex-farmers. Once a European leader in shellfish farming it has been dealing with the consequences of climate change since 2013. Warming water threaten the economic livelihood of this fishing community. Rising temperature are changing marine ecosystem, with a blue crabs booming invasion, a non-native species that has decimated shellfish farming. Porto Tolle, March 7, 2023

Workers are engaged in demolishing the last tank in the southern area of the thermoelectric power plant. The colossal power plant, one of Europe's earliest and Italy's largest, was planned in the 1960s following significant floods in 1951 and 1956 to prevent emigration and meet approximately 10% of Italy's electricity needs. It operated for twenty years on a marshy area spanning over 300 hectares. In the background, a 250-meter chimney, Italy's tallest masonry tower, stands as a structure used to release combustion gases into the atmosphere—an evident source of air, water, and soil pollution for two decades. This controversial power plant brought jobs and income to the depressed area at a high cost. Polesine Camerini, September 28, 2022

Fishermen engaged in the traditional fish harvest locally known as 'Fraìma,' that takes place in autumn in the fishing valleys of the Po Delta. These are vast brackish basins where the inflow of fresh and saltwater is artificially regulated through sluices. The fishing valleys, human-made environments, are extensive fish farms where fish grow naturally over three or four years, requiring meticulous management based on empirical knowledge passed down orally by valley dwellers for generations.The recent market price collapse of traditionally farmed fish species in the valleys (such as sea bass, bream, and mullet), coupled with the decrease in average productivity per hectare caused by pollution and predation (e.g., by cormorants), has led to the gradual abandonment of fishing activities in many valley enterprises. This has resulted in environmental changes, with many deep saltwater basins being converted into hunting lakes, causing a decrease in water levels, an increase in freshwater influx, and alterations in the morphology of emerged areas, as well as changes in the variety of flora and fauna present. Rosolina, November 15, 2023.

Children are playing in the water park of the Barricata tourist village, which spans an area of 5 hectares with camping pitches, mobile homes, tents, and lodges near the Po Tolle mouth. It is the only tourist facility in this area. Given the recent trend toward sustainable and responsible tourism, strategic plans have been outlined under the supervision of the Veneto Po Delta Regional Park Authority, taking into account the current and future social, economic, and environmental impact on the Delta ecosystem. These plans aim to meet the needs of visitors, local communities, and businesses. Porto Tolle, July 1, 2023.

Part of the decommissioning site where demolition operations are underway at the Polesine Camerini power plant. The industrial site was intended to become a symbol of the social redemption of the community, a redemption that is still awaited today, with sustainable tourism seen as a new opportunity for development. This transformation from a high-impact, polluting energy technology to an eco-friendly tourism model focused on conservation and environmental protection involves preserving the existing woodland area and dedicating part of the site to accommodation facilities. This area will include a tented lodge and mobile eco-cottages, while another part will be set aside for camper use. Management will be entrusted to the local community, with opportunities to promote local products. The facility will be open seasonally, from May to September, in the spirit of sustainable and responsible tourism. The future of the site should involve sectors such as tourism, agri-food, local crafts, art, and sciences, creating new opportunities and employment for local communities with initiatives aimed at enhancing the value of the area where the plant is located. Porto Tolle, November 3, 2021

Plastic duck decoys hang on the walls of the hunting lodge in Valle Ca' Pasta, with the prey laid out on the floor. Duck hunting in the Po Delta valleys dates back to the Renaissance. Since then, the Venetian aristocracy, who were the landowners, has passed down hunting techniques and valley management practices over the centuries. This territory has historically been shaped by decisions made by outsiders, who determined its fate without considering the local communities. Porto Viro, December 16, 2023.

Francesco Bolinesi, center, a marine ecology researcher at the Department of Biology of the University Federico II of Naples, engaged in one of the sampling phases as part of the CLEPPE project, funded by the Ateneo 2022 research program, along with two graduate students and a local fisherman. The project focuses on studying phytoplankton community dynamics within the Scardovari Lagoon in relation to the physico-chemical parameters of the water column and lagoon-based shellfish farming activities. Phytoplankton form the foundation of trophic networks in marine ecosystems and are the most digestible component in the diet of filter-feeding organisms such as clams and mussels. Their rapid response (in terms of abundance, species composition, and size classes) to variations in the physico-chemical properties of the water column (such as temperature, salinity, and the availability of dissolved inorganic micronutrients) makes them a key element in studying the effects of climate change on marine-coastal environments, particularly lagoon ecosystems. Furthermore, phytoplankton serve as an important indicator of the filtration activity of farmed shellfish. Porto Tolle, July 9, 2024

The control room of the thermoelectric power plant, now demolished. The plant, which initially used Orimulsion fuel, was decommissioned in 2015 after several failed conversion attempts, including a proposal to switch to coal, which was rejected in 2011. The demolition of the plant, which began in 2022, is still ongoing. The redevelopment project for the area promoting awareness and understanding of the importance of preserving delicate ecosystems like the Po Delta. Polesine Camerini, March 9, 2021

The farmers inspect the ears of grain in a rice field at harvest time. The rice fields, which cover about 9,000 hectares of the delta, produce rice that has been awarded the European Union’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label, recognizing its excellent quality and distinctive flavor. However, farmers are concerned because, in recent years, this Delta area has been suffering from prolonged droughts followed by torrential rainfall that the arid land cannot absorb. Additionally, the lack of glacial water at the source of the river and the rising sea level mean that the river’s freshwater is being contaminated with salt. The high concentration of salt in the water is causing irrigation difficulties. These climate change-induced problems threaten agricultural production and contribute to the reduction of arable land. Donzella, October, 7, 2024

The procession of the Scardovari community gathered to celebrate the patron saint of fishermen. This Po Delta community remains deeply tied to its traditions. Historically, the people of Polesine have often been passive witnesses to numerous speculative projects imposed on their land without their involvement—starting with the large-scale exploitation of the land by the Venetian aristocracy, followed by methane extraction, and finally the construction of the thermoelectric power plant. The Polesine territory has always been one of the most economically depressed areas in the Veneto Region and among the lowest in terms of the average standard of living in northern Italy. Porto Tolle, June 30, 2024.

Workers are engaged in emptying and cleaning a tank at the power plant before its demolition. This colossal plant was one of the symbols of Italy's post-war 'economic miracle,' which transformed the physical, social, and economic fabric of Polesine—historically poor and rural—into an industrial area within a generation, with dramatic consequences for the environment and the health of the residents. It was officially closed in 2015. Polesine Camerini, March 23, 2022

Volunteers from the Fishermen's Cooperative working at the food stand during the traditional Fishermen's Festival. The local community has organized a gastronomic stand featuring local fish, a market, a dance floor, and bingo games over the weekend. This approach to ethical behavior underpins sustainable tourism by fostering better social integration between visitors and residents, as well as promoting sociocultural exchanges while respecting tradition and protecting the historical, artistic, and cultural heritage of the place. Porto Tolle, June 28, 2024.

A rice storage warehouse at the Canella Agricultural Company in Donzella at the end of the harvest season. Rice has been a traditional crop in the Po Delta since the Middle Ages. Last year, rice production in the Delta fell by 20 percent, a direct result of both irrigation with brackish water and the intrusion of saltwater into the groundwater, leading to aquifer salinization. These phenomena impacting rice cultivation are the result of ongoing climate change. The prolonged drought has caused the drying out of coastal ecosystems, micro-desertification, and severe damage to agriculture—including rice, corn, soy, other grains, forage, and fruit—livestock farming, and water supplies, which are not always equipped with desalination plants (the salinity limit for distributing water is one gram per liter). In just two years, the arable land in the Polesine district shrank by over 30 percent, according to a 2022 report by Coldiretti, an agricultural producers' association. Donzella, 2023 December 6.

Card players at the Bar dai Valligiani in Ca' Venier before dinner with the Po Delta map in the background. Porto Tolle, October 28, 2024

An elderly man is fishing on the bank of the Po di Maistra, the ancient main branch of the great river, which today carries only 2% of the total water flow. This stretch is considered the best-preserved and most pristine part of the Delta. The growing ecological and environmental issues in the 1990s led to greater awareness of the importance of safeguarding nature. As a result, areas of significant environmental value were identified, and measures were taken to protect them. In 2015, the Po Delta area was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.The Veneto Regional Park of the Po Delta covers 12,592 hectares, stretching from the Po di Goro to the Adige River. It includes nine municipalities in the province of Rovigo, with a population of approximately 73,000 inhabitants within the park's boundaries. The protected area spans 120 km².The park encompasses the largest protected wetland area in Italy and is part of MedWet (Wetlands for a Sustainable Mediterranean Region). Its flora and fauna are so diverse that they include around a thousand species.Ca’ Venier, November 1, 2022

The moment of the offerings during Mass at the Parish of SS. Redentore in Scardovari, with the authorities representing the community, during the Feast of the Patron Saint of Fishermen. The Polesine community has formed a deep relationship of subsistence and responsible collaboration with the surrounding environment, as the Po Delta area lies entirely below sea level. Human intervention has been crucial for its preservation. The Po Delta is crossed by a vast network of interconnected canals, where water must be constantly drained and regulated through sluices to prevent the risk of flooding. The management of this delicate water-land balance is entrusted to the Reclamation Consortium, responsible for hydraulic defense, irrigation, and environmental protection through a hydraulic drainage system that directs the necessary water into drainage and irrigation channels. The delta area is kept dry by 38 pumping stations and 117 pumps, with a lifting capacity of 200,000 liters per second, incurring an annual cost of €1,600,000 solely for electricity, with an average water-lifting height exceeding 4 meters. The Consortium also oversees the maintenance of river embankments (480 km), irrigation systems, delta lagoons.Porto Tolle, June 30, 2024.

A tourist is relaxing at the equipped bathing establishment on Conchiglie Beach in Barricata, located between the mouth of the Po di Tolle and the Scardovari Lagoon. Tourist flows represent significant potential for the economies of countries, but they must not disadvantage local communities, particularly the most vulnerable ones, such as this. It is essential to adopt an approach that promotes sustainable development, encouraging social inclusion, sharing economic benefits, creating new jobs, and providing adequate livelihoods for local populations. The benefits of sustainable tourism include reduced pollution, the preservation of ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources, as well as respect for local cultures. Moreover, it supports green, fair, and solidarity-based tourism development. Porto Tolle, 2023 July 1

Claudio, a fisherman from Pila, takes tourists on excursions through the Basson Lagoon with his boat. Here, the Pila Po meets the Adriatic Sea off the northern coast of Italy, with the Polesine Camerini power plant in the background. Only local experts can navigate through the reed beds of this complex mosaic of lagoons and marshes, using the shores and landforms to guide themselves, which are sometimes flooded by tides and the river’s flow. Compared to the late 18th century, parts of the Po Delta have now sunk by up to four meters below sea level. This area, formed partly by the slow sedimentation of the river and partly by human land reclamation, is the lowest-lying territory in the Italian peninsula. According to an alarming report by the U.S. research center Climate Central and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sponsored by the United Nations, regarding rising ocean levels—estimated at 10 cm by 2100 if glacier melting continues at this rate—and the resulting thermal expansion of the seas, the Delta basin is among the most vulnerable areas in Europe, with the risk of being submerged as early as 2050. Porto Tolle, May 8, 2024.

The fishermen of the Scardovari lagoon on the Po Delta are attempting to build anti-blue-crab barriers to create safe zones for seeding clams. Once the barrier is built, they set baited traps to catch any crabs present before seeding the clams. This experiment is an effort by the fishermen to secure at least one clam harvest per year, before the blue crab's voraciousness peaks in the summer. The economic impact of this invasion is devastating the mussel and clam farming sector, crippling entire families who depend on this activity for their livelihood. The fragile ecosystem of the lagoon is also facing severe consequences from the blue crab boom. Scardovari, October 7, 2024

The interior of the chimney of the decommissioned thermoelectric power plant. A study commissioned by the University of Padua is evaluating whether to preserve the 250-meter-high structure, which has become a symbol of the Delta as well as a conspicuous point for navigation in the Adriatic Sea. Its conservation may require expensive maintenance and, above all, addressing safety issues for guests of the future tourist facility. Polesine Camerini, June 29, 2023

A local family is relaxing with friends on a wild beach along the Adriatic Sea near the mouth of the Po di Gnocca. They have built an improvised hut using logs and plastic sheets carried to the shore by the river's current. This beach is difficult to access and can only be reached using small boats operated by local families navigating the intricate canals of the delta. Delta beaches are also suffering from erosion. Data from the past thirty years indicate an average global sea-level rise of approximately 3 mm per year. Even a rise of this magnitude can significantly accelerate coastal erosion, increase the risk of flooding, and worsen the effects of local subsidence. A study and monitoring program is currently underway to define coastal defense measures against erosion in the Veneto region. Porto Tolle, June 29, 2024.

Emanuele and Maura husband and wife, clam farming family, are fishing for blue crabs in the Scardovari Lagoon on the Po Delta. They caught them using nets they crafted themselves, with bait inside. The invasion of blue crabs is threatening clam and mussel farms due to their voraciousness in destroying these farms. Many fishermen are being forced to change their fishing practices to adapt to the boom in blue crabs. Blue crabs are caught daily by clam farmers and are often discarded as waste due to their size and market saturation. The blue crab has found an ideal habitat in the Po Delta Lagoon, driven by rising water temperatures caused by climate change. Scardovari, October 7, 2024

The third boiler tower of the colossal thermoelectric plant, one of the largest ever built, is being dismantled. The plant consisted of four sections, each with a gross efficient power output of 660 MW. Each section included a steam generator powered by fuel oil, a steam turbine, and a 20 kV alternator. The boilers were supplied by two tanks with a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters and five tanks with a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters. The production units featured auxiliary systems for the softening and demineralization of process water, along with systems for purifying wastewater through chemical-physical treatment and oil removal. Additionally, the system was equipped with structures that allowed the waters of the Po di Pila to enter the power plant in Polesine Camerini for utilization. The power plant was connected to Dolo and Forlì stations via two 380 kV transmission lines. Polesine Camerini, April 18, 2023

Local people gather in the courtyard in front of the large grain storage warehouses on Sundays. The Polesine countryside remains a land deeply rooted in rural culture and traditions. The challenging environmental conditions, hydraulic instability, and the phenomenon of land subsidence have always posed significant adversities for human settlements. As a result, massive exoduses occurred multiple times, notably at the beginning of the twentieth century and in the 1950s, emptying Polesine, which has consistently been the most economically depressed area in the Veneto Region. Porto Viro, June 4, 2023.

In the Bottonera Lagoon, at the mouth of the Po Delta, a ruin of a former rice warehouse lies flooded due to subsidence, a phenomenon of land sinking. The local population tried to adapt by cultivating rice, but from the 1970s onward, they were forced to leave the area due to methane extraction. Gas withdrawals increased dramatically, rising from 26 million cubic meters in 1946 to 300 million cubic meters in 1951. Between 1950 and 1957, when 1,424 wells were operational, the land was sinking by more than 30 cm per year. A ban on extraction was only imposed in 1963 after a government investigation. Nevertheless, the land continued to sink slowly over the following fifteen years, as an irreversible mechanism had been triggered, making the activities of the Reclamation Consortium crucial to keep it dry. Porto Tolle, April 29, 2023