New Study Published on Developing Business Plans for the Restoration of the Venice Lagoon through Nature-Based Solutions

The article “Co-Developing Business Plans for Upscaled Coastal Nature-Based Solutions Restoration: An Application to the Venice Lagoon (Italy)”, authored by Umberto Pernice, Francesca Coccon, Fabienne Horneman, Caterina Dabalà, Silvia Torresan, and Laura Puertolas, has just been published in Sustainability (2024).

The study presents a new approach to business planning for large-scale ecological restoration, combining innovative business modeling tools with a multidisciplinary perspective. This methodology, developed in a participatory setting with stakeholders from the Venetian community, aims to create financial models capable of attracting both public and private investments to support nature-based solutions (NbS) in the lagoon.

The proposed business plan introduces a novel framework for the public sector by creating synergies between services and economic resources from various sectors, with particular attention to financial strategies that go beyond public funding alone. The plan thus opens new avenues for private sector investment, encouraged by ecotourism, eco-certified products, and educational initiatives, generating economic returns and significant cost savings in implementing NbS.

This research has not only strengthened the skills of the Venice Lagoon operational team but has also raised awareness among all involved stakeholders about the multifunctional benefits of NbS. The adoption of this framework lays the groundwork for an environment that attracts investors, supporting the sustainable financing of restoration projects in the long term.

Future developments of this research may include expanding methodologies for evaluating non-market benefits, adopting financial mechanisms that offset ecological restoration costs, and applying this approach in new geographic areas.

For the full article, please consult Sustainability at the following link.

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