Approcci ecosistemici e soluzioni basate sulla natura per l’adattamento alla crisi climatica dei Consorzi di Bonifica della Regione Veneto

Water resources are increasingly threatened by population growth, human activities, and climate change. In particular, climate change is altering hydrological regimes, reducing both the quantity and quality of water, intensifying scarcity, and amplifying the frequency and severity of extreme events such as floods and droughts. At the same time, as one of the largest water-consuming sectors, agriculture must improve water-use efficiency to meet rising food demand while reducing environmental pressures. These challenges highlight the urgent need for adaptation strategies addressing multiple and interconnected objectives. Adaptation plays a pivotal role in responding to climate change. Implementing measures across scales 3 from global to local 3 and involving relevant water management organizations is essential to reduce vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of systems and sectors dependent on water resources as well as their management and use. This PhD thesis aims to support the co-design and co-development of a climate change adaptation strategy for Water User Associations (WUAs) in Veneto (North-Eastern Italy). The strategy responds to WUAs9 need to cope with climate impacts while still ensuring effective supply of irrigation water through the canals infrastructure they manage, thus maintaining irrigation-dependent ecosystem services. Multifunctional adaptation solutions, i.e., measures that can secure multiple ES while remain economically viable and socially acceptable, are explored as alternatives or complements to more conventional grey infrastructures. In this context, nature-based solutions (NBS), are regarded as promising options to meet the complex objectives of WUA adaptation. The first part of this thesis (chapter 3 and 4) substantiates the need for such a strategy by analyzing trade-offs linked to irrigation modernization and by valuing irrigation-dependent ES managed by WUAs. The second part (chapter 5) delves into the development of the adaptation strategy by identifying, assessing and prioritizing NBS according to stakeholders9 needs. The thesis concludes with a preliminary strategy that outlines adaptation vision of WUAs9 adaptation vision, a climate risk assessment, and a portfolio of options co-identified with relevant stakeholders. Overall, the thesis provides a foundation for informing and possibly guide future adaptation strategies at local level. The findings show that, when designed as context-specific and stakeholder-driven interventions, NBS can play a crucial role in delivering multifunctional, effective and locally relevant adaptation solutions.