The structure of the Atlas
The corpus of the Atlas is composed of the plates and relative descriptions. Each thematic map is accompanied by an explanatory text, graphs, and photos. For each map, the source, type of data processing, and other useful information on its production are provided. The maps are distinguished into three main types. Descriptive: these are the most frequent type, the “basic” maps, designed to provide as complete a picture as possible of the environment of the Lagoon (morphology, plant and animal species, etc.). Planning and evaluation: these maps show the analysis of restrictions, regulatory controls, environmental protection measures currently affecting the Lagoon area (e.g., SCIs and SPAs, areas with limited navigation, restrictions on modifications to the landscape, etc.). Integrated analyses: these maps are fewer in number and provide examples of how the information contained in the first two types of map can form the basis for new analyses. The Atlas is divided into five main thematic sections: Geosphere (climate, geology and geomorphology, water), Biosphere (animals, plants), Anthroposphere (pollution, territorial transformation), Protected Environments (social dynamics, administrative controls) and Integrated Analyses (combinations of themes, and relations between them). It is hoped that this Atlas will be periodically updated and broadened to include themes that are not covered in this edition and, above all, further integrated analyses. The Atlas concludes with the usual indices and bibliography: this part is particularly useful, because it enables readers to identify the people and institutions who work in their particular field of interest, providing a sort of “Yellow Pages” of the research carried out on the Lagoon. All those who contributed to the creation of the Atlas are cited in the list of authors in the Appendix. The layout of the Atlas has sought to accommodate and emphasise the plurality of approaches, respecting the various points of view and their specific disciplinary character; the authors prepared the plates and relative descriptions according to the approach which they believed to be the most effective, and are therefore responsible for the contents. The uniformity lies in the use, where possible, of a reduced number of map scales: 1:300,000 for the representation of the Lagoon and the catchment area, and 1:150,000 for the representation of the Lagoon of Venice on its own. A small number of editorial choices, established a priori, serve to facilitate comparison between the different types of study. In the framework of the above geographical categories, most of the plates of the Atlas (76) concern the Lagoon and/or particular parts of it; 15 concern the entire catchment area, and five the coastal area. Of a narrower focus are seven plates given as examples of a possible urban Atlas (cisterns, urban canals, seagulls and pigeons, monitoring of wave motion). Considered together, the authors and the range of organisations to which they belong demonstrate the extent of the collaborative effort that went into the creation of the Atlas. About half the plates were provided by the research institutions having formal agreements with Venice City Council. Another 20 or so were produced “internally” by groups within local administrations (the Osservatorio Naturalistico della Laguna and the Museum of Natural History of the City of Venice, Venice provincial council), and about ten by the various departments of ARPAV. Lastly, more than 25 plates (nearly a quarter) were prepared by the Venice Water Management Authority, via its contractor, the Venezia Nuova Consortium (and affiliated bodies SELC and Thetis), the Anti-pollution Service and the Information Service. The five thematic sections into which the Atlas is subdivided are easily recognisable thanks to the coloured bands which mark the pages. Most of the data presented in the plates and relative descriptions refer to the period 2001- 2003. Where possible, seasonal and/or interannual comparisons are included. For some themes, there are comparisons of situations separated by a distance of decades (bathymetries, saltmarshes, seagrasses). Almost all the plates have not previously been published and were prepared specially for this volume. As we are dealing here with data collected by different authors, at different times and for different purposes, some reprocessing or reworking of the data was often necessary, in order to ensure comparability. The multiple numerical values on which most of the contributions are based are presented in the form of graphs, visualising data that are often highly complex. Many scientific illustrations were produced specially for the Atlas. We have avoided giving bibliographical indications within the text to keep it as readable as possible. The references (see Appendix) are subdivided according to the main thematic sections of the Atlas, and allow readers to go deeper into specific issues, linking strictly scientific literature with other topics of more general interest. We apologise for the many and inevitable imperfections and gaps. Whilst criticism may be justified, we believe that they are mitigated by the opportunity afforded readers – for the first time in Venice – to compare various themes and types of data, multiple approaches and points of view. This Atlas is thus new in terms of its contents, method and editorial organisation, and seeks to propose new approaches to the problems of the Lagoon; its creation is testimony to the commitment of Venice City Council and public institutions to making knowledge available to the public. With this Atlas, we hope to provide a work of reference which will be useful in the management of resources, economic planning and environmental safeguards. This volume cannot replace specialist manuals and it does not seek to, but we believe it represents a valid point of reference for all those who work or have an interest in the Lagoon of Venice. It also has an educational function, providing support to teachers in universities and schools, and to professionals who need to give effective presentations of environmental issues. The CD supplied with the Atlas allows readers to print maps in the appropriate format. As Paolo Cacciari, who was councillor with special responsibility for the Environment when the idea for the Atlas took off, wrote in his presentation, “It falls to us only to begin this task, knowing however that, if things go as planned, it will never end”.