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00:00What a sea! A coastline lined with 1,000 islands, mysterious lagoons, miles of sandy beaches and impressive cliffs.
00:21The Adriatic is as diverse as the cultures it connects.
00:27With people who work and live closely by it.
00:43People who have experienced the vulnerability of nature and want to protect the sea.
00:50The Adriatic. Unique and beautiful. Familiar and yet full of surprises.
01:06The Adriatic Sea connects Italy with five countries that are over the next 50 years.
01:12The Adriatic Sea is the only known known known as the United States.
01:17The Adriatic Sea connects Italy with five countries.
01:22The Adriatic Sea connects Italy with five countries on the Balkan Peninsula.
01:39Between Trieste and Comacchio, historic towns alternate with secluded lagoon landscapes.
01:51The Adriatic, the Blue Beauty, was already a place of longing for dreamers, esthetes and
01:58those seeking relaxation in the 19th century.
02:06The port city of Trieste lies on its coast.
02:09It is also known as Little Vienna because of the stately buildings that are reminiscent
02:14of the time when the Habsburgs were in charge here and because of its special blend of Austrian
02:20charm and Italian lifestyle.
02:28Miramara Castle stands on a rocky outcrop in the Trieste suburb of Barcula.
02:35The Austrian Archduke Maximilian discovered the bay during a stay in Trieste and immediately
02:41fell in love with the picturesque setting.
02:44He offered everything he needed to fulfill his childhood dream, a beautiful house and
02:49a large garden by the seashore.
02:51The Archduke had very clear ideas.
02:56He only liked the third design, and it took him four years to return here again and again.
03:04Miramara was more than just a residence for Maximilian.
03:07Here, he could feel as safe on dry land as he did at sea.
03:14The solitude and proximity to the sea at Miramara also enchanted Empress Sissi, who was a frequent
03:20guest here.
03:22Its isolation came to an end in 1955.
03:28The castle was turned into a museum.
03:31Andreina Contessa is its director.
03:33I believe Massimiliano loved this place a lot and the natural potential that he presented
03:42to him.
03:43It was also a big challenge because building a house on the sea has a whole series of problems.
03:51And certainly he wanted a royal residence, worthy of his range, he wanted it to be close to
03:58the city, but not too close to the city, so he had a minimum distance and he wanted it to
04:03have a big park.
04:05Italy's first marine reserve was created at the foot of the castle in 1986.
04:12Many marine animals have found a habitat here, for example, the Cassiopeia jellyfish, a fascinating
04:19creature, algae that photosynthesize live on its tentacles.
04:24It is a kind of food truck for small fish, as it catches microorganisms as it drifts through
04:30the sea.
04:34The abundance of species is impressive.
04:37Undisturbed by humans, with plenty of food that the Alpine rivers bring to the Upper Adriatic,
04:43the marine park offers ideal living conditions.
04:54Preparations for today's dive.
04:56Marine biologist Saul Chiriaco has been working at the marine park, which is managed by the
05:02WWF, since 1995.
05:05He specializes in the particular conditions of the Upper Adriatic.
05:10His team includes students Vera Chirina and Riccardo Senigallia.
05:15The researchers go out to sea several times a week.
05:19They're involved in a variety of projects to preserve marine health.
05:23The Miramare area is under special protection.
05:40Fishing, swimming and diving are prohibited.
05:44Only the boats of the Marine Reserve are allowed to pass through.
05:48Sal and his team regularly check the sea in and around the sanctuary.
06:09This allows them to quickly see where work is needed.
06:13For example, the brown algae forests and seagrass meadows.
06:18Researchers are currently trying to restore them to their natural state.
06:22In recent decades, their populations have declined sharply in the Adriatic and worldwide.
06:28They are among the most valuable ecosystems in the sea, absorb huge amounts of CO2, slow
06:35down waves and thus protect the coasts.
06:38They are an important habitat in the protected area and a source of food for the constantly growing
06:43number of marine animals.
06:45Since the Miramare area is in the sea, we notice the increase in fish.
06:50So, within the marine area we see not only many more species, so different, but also of
06:56large sizes, because they are not fishing.
06:58So, they have the time and way to become adults, to reproduce.
07:02But being a very small area, everything that is inside, when it reaches extraordinary numbers
07:14and too large, tends to go to the outside, what we call spill-over, the reserve effect.
07:19Despite this positive example, initiatives to establish further marine protected areas southwest
07:36of Miramare have not been successful.
07:40economic interests, for example those of the fishing industry, are blocking the projects.
07:49Marine health has been in a bad state for some time now.
07:53Even in the middle of the protected area, a special mussel is in danger.
07:58Pinna nobilis.
08:00These noble pinnipeds grow up to 1.20 meters in size and play an important role in the health
08:07of the sea.
08:10Large specimens filter up to 3,000 liters of water every day.
08:15They anchor themselves to the seabed with the help of fine adhesive threads.
08:20In ancient times, these threads were used to weave fine garments.
08:25Just 50 years ago, the Upper Adriatic was full of Pinna nobilis.
08:37Since 2016, the majority have been infected by a pathogen.
08:42A mass extinction of dramatic proportions is underway.
08:50Researchers from the Mediterranean region have joined forces to save them.
08:54Saw is one of them.
08:57Nel nostro progetto stiamo lavorando in particolare sulla messa in sicurezza degli individui
09:03che in maniera naturale, per esempio, si trovano nei porticcioli oppure sulle vitilicolture.
09:09Quindi in luoghi dove, se non tutelati, potrebbero andare incontro a morte certa.
09:15In questo caso li preleviamo e li trasportiamo in un luogo sicuro.
09:20Metal cages protect smaller specimens of the Pinna nobilis from predators.
09:30At the same time, attempts are being made to breed the mussels in aquariums
09:35and bring them to other protected areas in Italy and Slovenia.
09:39Saul uses samples to ensure that the rescued mussels are not infected with the pathogen.
09:44The efforts show initial success.
09:46There is hope that the mussel, which is so important for the ecosystem,
09:50can still be saved shortly before it is extinct.
09:54What we can't stop is the climate change.
09:59We can't be the barrier against the increase of temperature.
10:04And unfortunately, this is an extremely important element for the sea.
10:08The increase of temperature, especially during the winter period,
10:12we are stravolging the equilibrium of our sea.
10:14And on this, unfortunately, we can't act if we can't do it
10:17if we can't do it in a resilient environment.
10:20It's an environment that is good and naturally
10:23responds to the stress better,
10:25as the change of temperature.
10:27The Trieste group of the Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio,
10:47the Italian school for water rescue dogs,
10:50trains on the edge of the marine reserve.
10:52In an emergency, seconds count.
10:55Every move has to be right and everyone has to be able to rely
10:59on the dogs following them into the waves without hesitation.
11:08Martina Malalan and her dog Black have been with the group since 2018.
11:14Under the direction of Emanuele Esposito,
11:17the group supports the lifeguards at Trieste's popular Topolini beach.
11:22Rescuing swimmers in distress is often associated with danger.
11:27When drowning people panic,
11:29they pull even experienced swimmers under the water.
11:32This is where dogs are an invaluable help.
11:36Their training takes at least a year.
11:38The animals are given plenty of time,
11:41and the trainers make sure that they learn the exercises without being forced.
11:45The most important thing is certainly the relationship with the owner.
11:49The trust between the owner and the dog is fundamental.
11:52So you have to work a lot on the relationship,
11:56but also at home.
11:57You have to always be very in contact with your dog here.
12:01And then everything comes from alone.
12:04Everything comes from itself.
12:06Then the dog, when you trust,
12:08follows you in the head of the world.
12:10The spacious Lido is perfect for the various exercises.
12:19Jumping into the water in particular is practiced again and again.
12:25The dogs even have to be prepared to jump out of a helicopter
12:28with the rescuers on the high seas.
12:58It's important because they have such a physical condition
13:01and they have the palm legs.
13:03So the hand, let's say their legs,
13:05is wide and becomes a pin.
13:06So they have four pins and they are definitely stronger than us.
13:11Whether it's a rocky bay or a long sandy beach,
13:14300 dog patrols are deployed all over Italy every summer.
13:19They are also in demand on the shallow beaches of the Upper Adriatic.
13:23Inexperienced swimmers with air mattresses regularly drift too far out to sea
13:29or underestimate the currents.
13:33The water rescue dogs are trained to patrol in a relaxed,
13:36yet attentive manner without disturbing beach life.
13:41Always ready to react quickly in an emergency.
13:46The members of the dog rescue school do not take any money for their important work.
13:51They all work on a voluntary basis.
13:54During the summer season, they are on site every weekend
13:57to make Italy's beaches safer.
14:00To date, they have saved more than 100 adults and children from drowning.
14:04The lagoon landscape of the Upper Adriatic begins southwest of Trieste.
14:22Sea and rivers, small islands, canals and salt marshes form a fascinating mosaic of nature.
14:30The largest lagoon is that of Venice.
14:42Anna Sarzetto has chosen the lonely natural landscape as her new home.
14:47She actually wanted to become a landscape architect and was studying in Genoa
14:52when she found out that one of the lagoon islands was in danger.
14:56Without Anna, Falconera would no longer exist.
15:05For her, it's not just any island.
15:08She spent her vacations here as a child.
15:10Her grandfather bought it after the Second World War.
15:13He wanted to grow straw, but then the work became too much for him.
15:17The buildings fell into disrepair, the fields became overgrown,
15:21and Falconera was in danger of becoming uninhabitable.
15:25Since her arrival, Anna has been working to restore the island.
15:30Many things are still alive, as more than 50 people lived on Falconera
15:35from farming and fishing until the middle of the 20th century.
15:40The animals are new.
15:45Barry White, the white horse, Banks, the decommissioned racehorse
15:49that Anna rescued from the slaughterhouse,
15:51donkeys, bees, and lots of chickens.
15:55They were originally intended as a supply of meat.
15:58But then Anna grew fond of them.
16:01Now that she has given them names, there is no more talk of slaughter.
16:05It's a sort of cooperation that, at the level of self-sufficiency,
16:12are also necessary for agriculture, for the eggs, the cows,
16:17and so to live together, to learn to know them, to respect them.
16:24And they're just giving them a lot.
16:27Then they also love, and a lot of love.
16:31In her free time, Anna's sister Martina also helps out on the island.
16:37She works in her parents' bakery in Treviso
16:40and looks after the animals on weekends.
16:43With the help of her father, Anna has cleared the traditional fish ponds
16:48of algae and garbage and reactivated them.
17:04They date back to the 17th century.
17:07She tries to interfere with nature as little as possible when managing the ponds.
17:12I think that these places, to live them,
17:17first of all, need to learn how to protect them
17:21and not want to have them.
17:23We need to think that we are human beings,
17:29the guests, as for any other animal that lives in a natural environment.
17:35She doesn't enjoy it.
17:38She takes what she needs and respects the rest.
17:42So, that's my philosophy.
17:46A centuries-old technique in the lagoon is the seeding of fish.
17:52Many fish are released and have three to four years to grow naturally.
17:56Anna sows mullets, perch, and bream.
18:03They tolerate the strongly fluctuating salinity of the lagoon water well.
18:09The ponds of Falconera are separated from the lagoon by dams.
18:17This keeps the fish among themselves
18:19and they find enough food in the nutrient-rich water.
18:22The inflow of fresh water is regulated by a system of several sluices.
18:28Anna needs a lot of power to crank,
18:31but electric sluices are expensive and the manual ones still work well.
18:36In addition to the recovery of the water,
18:39it is also used as a call for fish.
18:42It happens that the fish within our lake
18:45can hear the call for the water,
18:48which has a different temperature,
18:50an oxygenation different compared to the internal.
18:53And in a little bit of time,
18:56even when we talk about 5-10 minutes,
18:59it is only in these fishing environments.
19:04A really practical system that the Romans used.
19:09Cast a net,
19:11and dinner comes swimming up.
19:13Anna can keep what she catches and earns,
19:20and also offers stays and guided tours.
19:24That's what she has agreed to do with the community of heirs.
19:27She spends almost everything she earns on securing the banks.
19:33These are more exposed to erosion than before.
19:36This is also due to the many motorboats that cause waves in summer
19:41and destroy the wetlands, which have an important buffering effect.
19:46In 2018, a storm surge tore away large parts of the shore
19:51and flooded half the island.
19:53The decision to save the island is certainly
19:59from a situation that was resolved immediately.
20:04So, we either thought of something to solve this problem,
20:10or we would have lost it.
20:12Securing the bank is a constant battle against the water.
20:21Sacks filled with sand provide temporary support.
20:25If Falconera were to disappear,
20:27an entire ecosystem would be lost.
20:30The island and its ponds are an important habitat for fish and crabs,
20:35migratory birds and native species, bees and many plants.
20:41The large tamarisks on the bank were planted by Anna's grandfather and father.
20:46And in recent years, she has planted several hundred small trees.
20:51The tamarisks are very resistant to the salmastro environment,
21:03but they were very important.
21:06They were imported in Laguna,
21:08for their function,
21:10both the frangivation with the part of the frondes,
21:13and their ability, with the roots, to maintain the land.
21:18And that's why they are used along the plains.
21:23A permanent solution would be to protect the banks with stone walls,
21:28except that stones are rare in the lagoon
21:31and the cost would be in the hundreds of thousands.
21:35Nevertheless, giving up is not an option.
21:39There are always places that coexist.
21:44There is a mutual support between the natural parts of animals and the environment
21:49and the human.
21:50So the one without the other cannot exist.
21:54And then, when you realize that you are losing something like this,
22:00with an immense wealth,
22:02but not only for me from my point of view,
22:04but just at the level of landscape and environment,
22:08you decide to do the right thing.
22:12And it has started to offer guided tours for school classes,
22:23so that even the very youngest children can learn
22:27how unique and worthy of protection the lagoon landscapes are.
22:43In addition to Falconera, there are over 100 other islands in the lagoon,
22:59connected by the sea and canals.
23:02Abandoned and inhabited, small and large.
23:07The most famous of these is Venice,
23:15La Serenissima, the Queen of the Adriatic.
23:19With its magnificent buildings, bridges and artistic treasures,
23:23it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
23:28Venice's uniqueness is also its problem.
23:32Around 30 million tourists visit the city every year.
23:37Many of them are day guests on the large cruise ships.
23:42Since 2021, cruise ships over 180 meters in length
23:47are no longer allowed to sail through the lagoon,
23:50but some shipping companies simply ignore the ban.
23:58Day travelers in particular want to see a lot in a short time
24:01and use speedboats and water cabs to do so.
24:04They are noisy, affect the banks of the shore, and pollute the air.
24:09But there is also a Venice far removed from noisy mass tourism,
24:14with sustainable initiatives such as Federico Mantovan's delivery service by rowboat.
24:24Federico delivers organic fruit and vegetables all over the city.
24:29Today, his friend Diego Scaggiante helps him.
24:33When it's busy, he delivers with two boats.
24:38Federico's tour takes him all over Venice.
24:40The traditional call of the rowers announces him.
24:43Oe!
24:45Oe!
24:46Oe, stagando!
24:47Oe serve per dare indicazioni.
24:48Quando I say oe premando,
25:02vuol dire che giro sinistra.
25:03E oe stagando, vuol dire vado a destra.
25:05Federico taught himself to row.
25:07Federico taught himself to row.
25:12In 2007 he had just completed his degree in cultural geography and was unable to find
25:18work in his field.
25:19He wanted to do something meaningful in and for Venice and founded the organic delivery
25:25service Donna Niora.
25:27Every Wednesday he rows through the city for ten hours, whatever the weather.
25:37I'm going to send a boat to Remy because it's the best way to continue a very old tradition
25:48that is going to Remy without impacting the city, the fundamentals, the liquidation, for
25:58me is how to bring the work that I do in the field, in the field, in the field, and the
26:05work that I do in the field, in the field, in the field, in the field, and in the field.
26:14There is not much to be earned from organic crates by rowboat.
26:19Delivery takes a long time and the rowers also have to be paid, but rowing through Venice
26:24is fun and the customers trust him.
26:29Some have even given him their house keys in case they're not there.
26:33Then he exchanges goods for money.
26:36That works well.
26:38He receives his orders online and the boxes are freshly packed in the morning.
26:43He sells his products and those of his organic farm friends.
26:50Out of season, the tour often leads through empty alleyways.
26:54Fewer and fewer locals can afford to live in their own city.
26:59Their numbers in the historic center have dwindled from 120,000 to less than 50,000 over the
27:06last 70 years.
27:08For those who remain, delivery services have become an important alternative.
27:13It's because many grocery stores have had to close.
27:28Federico buys his boat second hand and restores them.
27:32In a club, he helps people who are interested to switch to rowboats.
27:37Venezia is a city that is very fragile.
27:41To go fast to Venezia means to ruin the river, to make noise, to make noise, to make inquinements.
27:47In my opinion, I think we need to push a lot more on the use of bikes, to use electric engines, to use electric engines and to not ruin the environment in which we live.
28:03The Grand Canal is the most strenuous part of the tour.
28:32The many motorboats cause considerable swell.
28:36This destroys the foundations of the historic palazzi and makes it difficult for the rowboats
28:41and gondolas to navigate.
28:43Venice is under observation.
28:52UNESCO has urgently called for protective measures against mass tourism, the construction boom and environmental pollution
28:59before the damage becomes irreversible.
29:02In the worst case scenario, one of the most beautiful cities in the world will be completely underwater by the year 2100.
29:14One important measure to save the city would be to restore the salt marshes.
29:21This is because they have a buffering effect on the floods before they reach Venice.
29:28Excessive shipping traffic and the dredging of large canals have contributed to the destruction of more than 100 square kilometers of wetlands.
29:35wetlands.
29:36One of the most beautiful cities in the world is the most beautiful city.
29:37One of the most beautiful cities in the world is the most beautiful city.
29:38measure to save the city would be to restore the salt marshes. This is because they have
29:44a buffering effect on the floods before they reach Venice. Excessive shipping traffic and
29:51the dredging of large canals have contributed to the destruction of more than 100 square
29:56kilometers of wetlands. Geologist Claudia Zocarato is now investigating what is needed to ensure that
30:11the sludge produced when dredging these shipping channels can be converted back into new salt
30:16marshes. The dredged area is still protected by an artificial embankment. Salt marshes are an
30:25important habitat for numerous bird species. They need regular but not too frequent flooding so that
30:31their typical plants such as marsh samphire can grow. As a pioneer plant it stabilizes the flooded areas,
30:41binds suspended matter from the water and thus prepares the ground for the subsequent flora.
30:47A certain height is crucial for the continued existence of an artificial salt marsh which must
30:57not change even months after renaturation. This is what makes it so difficult.
31:03When an artificial barren is too low, the barren is submerged many times. This means that the
31:13vegetation is not in such conditions that it can grow appropriately. A too high barren tends to
31:20become an island and therefore it is no longer a barren. So it is a different ecosystem in which
31:25is installed different species of fauna and flora and so we have created an environment that is not what we wanted to create.
31:33This barren silty landscape will one day become a green salt marsh. In 2021 Claudia Zoccarato installed
31:42measuring instruments and she has developed a computer-aided method that calculates how the ground
31:48level changes over time. The future salt marsh is an EU-funded pilot project of the non-governmental
32:15organization We Are Here Venice, with which the geologist is working. The measurements will take a few
32:22more months before it becomes clear whether Claudia Zoccarato has found the magic formula for a solid salt marsh.
32:30The information that we can give to those who build the barren is to make us understand what the volume of sediment
32:39is suitable to reach a quota of the barren that is appropriate so that the barren will suffer the naturalization
32:47that we want to put in place.
32:49Claudia lies at the southern end of the Venice Lagoon.
33:04Fishing and the fish trade have shaped the culture and life of the port city for centuries.
33:10Today it is one of Italy's fishing capitals with a fleet of almost 400 active boats.
33:19The historic old town is built on several islands.
33:27Ciocia is also known as Venice's little sister.
33:34In fact, the bridges and canals, the colorful houses and historic palazzi are reminiscent of Venice,
33:41except that everything is one size smaller and quieter.
33:49Ciocia is an important place for marine biology due to its geographical position between the sea
34:01and rivers and its intensive fishing industry. An extensive project by the Marine Biology Institute
34:08at the University of Padua is dedicated to sharks. There are around 30 species in the Adriatic,
34:15but many are now threatened with extinction.
34:17Martina Ciprian and Matteo Barbato are working with other scientists on research into smooth dogfish.
34:34Today, they want to release young fish into the wild.
34:37The researchers are intensively searching for ways to save the smooth dogfish population
34:51from extinction. They are working closely with some fishermen.
34:55Although they are so endangered, smooth dogfish can also be caught in summer,
35:02when the females are giving birth to their young.
35:05For some fishermen, in this period of the year, there is the possibility of fishing women in infants,
35:14so with the small ones in their calves.
35:16It is happened that, thanks to the collaboration that we have installed with them,
35:23they have called them and then returned to the port.
35:27After a few days at the Institute, the researchers return the sharks to the sea.
35:51Each animal is measured and given a tag.
36:05The aim is to see how big the sharks can get and where they have been.
36:10It is estimated that around 100 million sharks are killed by humans every year,
36:23many of which are accidentally caught in fishing nets as bycatch
36:27and are injured or thrown back into the sea dead.
36:30Overfishing is particularly dangerous for shark populations
36:34because they grow more slowly and give birth to fewer young than other fish.
36:40In particular, with this project, we are exploring the possibility of putting a minimum size for these sharks.
36:50We are trying to understand if the release of small sharks of sharks can help in the future
37:00to have a population that keeps a constant trend or increase in their population in this sea.
37:14This will then allow us to provide possible measures for the management of these species.
37:26Protected from the sun by a special transport container, the little sharks set off on their first big journey.
37:35In good weather, boat driver Andrea Samba only needs 15 minutes to drive through the Vena Canal to the open sea.
37:43The canal is one of the most important waterways connecting the lagoon with the Adriatic Sea.
37:49This is also where the 400 boats and ships of the Choja fishing fleet go out to catch fish.
37:59Martina and Mateo and their group meet regularly with the fishermen
38:16and never tire of explaining how important sharks are for the health of the sea.
38:21As predators, they ensure a balance of species, which in turn is also important for fishing.
38:28Martina and Mateo, I think we will go back to the moon and find the sharks.
38:32It's very good, thank you, Andrea.
38:33It's very free in the sea.
38:35Martina and Mateo, our hope is to be able to find a compromise, a winning solution for both sides.
38:49The start of the collaboration with Piscatori is not very recent,
38:55so we bring forward collaborations with trust and working relationships.
39:01If all goes well, the sharks will reach a size of one and a half meters in the next few months.
39:14Even then, humans need not fear an encounter with them.
39:18The smooth dogfish stays close to the seabed and is a shy animal.
39:24Releasing them is a special moment for Martina every time.
39:31It's definitely a feeling that brings a lot of pride and happiness,
39:39because you feel that you have brought in nature an animal.
39:46So I would say that happiness is the most prevalent emotion.
39:51It's always nice to be able to help you see an animal return to your environment.
39:57The extensive Po Delta Park begins south of Georgia.
40:19Flamingo colonies have chosen it as their new home.
40:22It offers ideal living conditions, lots of space, water, and plenty of food.
40:38In the lagoons of Comacchio, one of the largest wetlands in Italy,
40:42a large number of the exotic newcomers live in harmony with over 370 bird species that live or winter here.
40:50Whether terns, little egrets, gulls, eagles, or black cormorants, there is enough food for all of them.
41:13Flamingos love shallow, calm waters.
41:20They have found undisturbed breeding grounds in the disused salt pans of the lagoon and have grown to over 15,000 individuals.
41:29The Po Delta Park also includes a coastal forest, the Bosco de Mesola.
41:41The Mesola forest has developed over the centuries on marshland.
41:46It covers over 1,000 hectares and is reminiscent of the old forests that stretched along the Adriatic coast in the Middle Ages.
41:53The forest is best known for its deer.
42:10The Mesolet deer is a unique species that only occurs here.
42:15The animals are somewhat more delicate and smaller than deer elsewhere in Europe.
42:20After the Second World War, there were only a dozen left, decimated by hunters and a lack of food.
42:28They were then placed under protection and were able to reproduce again.
42:34Today, more than 300 animals live in the Mesola forest.
42:39They have learned to live off the not exactly plentiful food supply of the coastal forest.
42:44They only get some food in winter or during drought.
42:51The Mesola deer are the only remaining original red deer population in Italy.
42:59In order to ensure their survival elsewhere and to spread them throughout Italy,
43:0320 animals were brought to a nature park in Calabria.
43:20The 64,000 hectare Po Delta Park is also very popular with nature lovers because of its miles of unspoiled beaches.
43:29These include the coastal section of Porto Caleri.
43:42Visitors can wander through it on wooden walkways.
43:47What looks like a natural landscape has been declared a botanical garden.
43:52Hilaria Ruggini has been looking after the site since 2003 and also offers guided tours.
44:05The garden differs in many ways from other botanical gardens.
44:09Nothing was planted here, but simply not disturbed.
44:13The idea for this unusual project came from a group of nature enthusiasts who were concerned
44:23about the ever-increasing development of the beaches.
44:27In 1991, they were able to convince the Veneto region to place the area under protection.
44:34It is a completely natural environment.
44:39There are no active interventions on the vegetation.
44:43Everything is born, grows, grows and develops the most spontaneously possible.
44:47So, if a plant falls, we leave it inside the environment where it falls,
44:52because this will generate new life.
44:54So, we leave the nature to adjust it alone, without being thrown into it.
45:01The boardwalks are four kilometers long and lead through five habitats from brackish water
45:09wetlands to dunes and a pine forest that was planted along the coast in the 1940s
45:16as a windbreak for the fields.
45:20Since 1991, nature has been in charge here too.
45:25Native tree species such as elms and home oaks have sown themselves.
45:31Native tree species such as the sea.
45:33Frogs and turtles have populated the ponds.
45:40They enjoy life here at a safe distance from humans.
45:48And, depending on the time of the year, a wide variety of bird species stop by.
45:53In the interplay of sea, sand and wind, the beach section takes on new forms.
46:04On the other hand, we're going to watch the sandy sandy fields and the horde of the river.
46:08From year to year, we'll watch you with an advanced Touraine there,
46:11on the course of the summer the lake,
46:12the fish section will increase and on the river.
46:13And in the course of the river river.
46:14And this is how we grow up and how, the river will keep growing up
46:16and how, the surface of the river, the river will increase
46:17and how, the river will grow up next year.
46:18It will create new levels of vegetation,
46:21always rich in flora and particular fauna.
46:25At a time when plant and animal species are becoming extinct every day, the Giardino
46:46Botanico di Porto Caleri offers important protection.
47:07The small town of Comacchio originally consisted of 13 islands.
47:11It was only accessible by water.
47:14In the 19th century, large areas were drained to gain more land for agriculture, and the
47:20town shrank to a small historic center.
47:32Just outside Comacchio, some historic fishermen's huts, typical of the Po Delta, have been preserved.
47:40They are built on stilts directly above the water and also served as overnight accommodation
47:46and protection from bad weather for the fishermen.
47:54A few kilometers further on, rangers are patrolling.
47:59Despite all the bans and appeals, poachers keep entering the protected areas.
48:06Filippo Baldassari is on the lookout for them today.
48:11The lagoon's valuable eels in particular need to be protected from illegal fishing.
48:23His colleague Carlo Farinelli often drives, even though he is already retired.
48:29He has been out and about in the lagoon every day for almost 50 years.
48:34The park is his home.
48:36The two look after the animal's welfare and also want to show their presence with the tours,
48:42as poachers or boisterous youngsters often spend the night in the historic fishermen's
48:47cottages.
48:48Today, the air seems to be clear and nobody is disturbing the birds that call the reserve
48:53home.
48:54One of the rangers' tasks is to monitor the salt content in the lagoon.
48:58It rises when water evaporates in dry weather.
49:02This can be dangerous.
49:04Filippo determines the salt content by measuring how many grams of salt is in the water.
49:30Filippo determines the salt content by measuring how many grams of salt there are in a kilogram
49:35of water.
49:36Twenty, twenty-five grams of salt per kilogram of water is fine for the animals and plants
49:44in the lagoon.
49:45Twenty-f sanitizer.
49:46Twenty-fifty.
49:47Twenty-fifty.
49:48Twenty-fifty.
49:49Twenty-fifty, the salentity, the salentity is excellent.
49:54This is excellent.
49:55You can maintain an an equilibrio of salentity like there is now in 2022 would be great.
50:04We stream the water from the fume Reno, etc., available in the lake, and we keep our water
50:14the water is quite low, because the water is too high and erode the arginine.
50:25You have to do a correct water control.
50:28It's a bit complicated, because unfortunately you have to do with the climate change.
50:35Passes, like last year, that has never been too high,
50:42so you have to play with the river, to take water in the water.
50:46This year we had taken it before, but look at the house,
50:49the water bombs came, so knowing that we would not have taken it in the water,
50:54so you always have to do a little bit of work,
50:56but on the other hand, you have to work with the climate change.
51:07On the coasts and lagoons of the Adriatic,
51:10people experience the vulnerability of nature firsthand,
51:15and put their hearts and knowledge into preserving the great beauty of this small sea.
51:22No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No
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