Publication: Participatory and GIS-Based Decision Making for Salt Marsh Restoration in the Venice Lagoon

A new study published through the WaterLANDS and REST-COAST projects demonstrates how participatory approaches and spatial analysis can be combined to support the restoration and rebuilding of salt marshes in the Venice Lagoon. Led by Dr Perla Irasema Rivadeneyra García, from Ca' Foscari University of Venice, the study was published in Science of the Total Environment in September 2026 and is available through open access.

Key Findings

GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis identified priority areas for salt marsh restoration across the Venice Lagoon.
Six spatial criteria were selected and refined through stakeholder engagement.
An Ordered Weighted Averaging approach was used to capture different attitudes towards restoration risk.
Areas were grouped into four performance classes based on a Cost-Effectiveness Index that combined restoration suitability with estimated implementation costs.
Priority restoration hotspots were identified along lagoon margins and near the Malamocco-Marghera canal.

Authors: Perla Irasema Rivadeneyra García, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Adriano Sfriso, Silvia Torresan, Paolo Comandini, Salvatore Causio, Fabienne Horneman, Ivan Federico, and Carlo Giupponi

Publication Title: García, P. I. R., et al. (2026) Combining participatory and GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis for salt marsh restoration and rebuilding planning in the Venice lagoon, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 1048 (Sept 2026) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182039.

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