The Tarquinia Plain, a major agricultural area in central Italy, faces severe water quality degradation, rising irrigation energy costs, soil degradation. and a reduction in the use of agricultural land due to the contraction in farming activities. The region faces as well increasing drought in the summer and flood in the fall. The LENSES project aims to improve water resource management and enhance the resilience of local ecosystems through participatory planning and the design of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) tailored to the region’s agricultural and environmental context.
Tarquinia, part of the UNESCO World Heritage network, covers 27,000 hectares and relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. Around 85% of the territory is designated as a nitrate vulnerable zone, with widespread groundwater contamination and soil degradation due to intensive farming. Farmers face rising energy costs for irrigation, land use change pressures, and competition from renewable (photovoltaic) energy developments. The area also experiences frequent floods and droughts, threatening both agricultural productivity and tourism.
Highlights
Development of NBS “bundles” through participatory processes.
Creation of a multi-stakeholder working group to co-identify challenges and solutions.
Evaluation of NBS across three types: ecosystem protection, agro-ecological practices, and ecological restoration.
Integration of NBS within a System Dynamic Model for water, ecosystem, and food (WEF) nexus optimisation.
Awareness and education initiatives promoting sustainable water management practices.
Timeline
Information not available.
About the intervention
The project developed and evaluated a set of Nature-Based Solutions designed to improve water quality, enhance ecosystem resilience, and support sustainable agriculture. These solutions span protection of natural ecosystems, adoption of agro-ecological practices, and restoration of degraded landscapes. Implementation relies on stakeholder collaboration and participatory planning to ensure local ownership and feasibility within the Tarquinia Plain’s agricultural systems.
The intervention process focused on designing NBS bundles specific to the Tarquinia context, informed by a participatory, multi-stakeholder methodology.
The project identified three categories of NBS. Type 1 - Ecosystem Protection: Limiting harmful land uses, maintaining wetlands, protecting natural forests from degradation, and ensuring ecological network continuity. Type 2 - Agro-Ecological Practices: Introducing sustainable farming techniques such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, mulching, compost and biochar integration, and agroforestry to improve soil structure and carbon storage. Type 3 - Ecological Restoration: Implementing erosion control systems, slope and riverbank revegetation, floodplain restoration, and establishment of hedgerows and flower strips to intercept surface runoff and enhance biodiversity.
A participatory framework was established to involve farmers, landowners, and residents in identifying local challenges, selecting suitable NBS, and co-developing implementation pathways. Awareness and education campaigns complemented these technical efforts, promoting responsible water use and sustainable management of natural resources. The project also linked the NBS design to a System Dynamic Model to simulate interconnections between water, ecosystems, and food production systems, strengthening decision-making for future implementation phases.
Find more information about the New European Bauhaus here.
New European Bauhaus compass
"1,2,1,2,1,3"
The project works in a culturally significant landscape linked to UNESCO heritage and local tourism.
Ecological measures such as wetlands, floodplain restoration, hedgerows and flower strips may enhance the landscape’s character as a co-benefit of restoration.
Farmers, landowners and residents are directly involved in identifying challenges and choosing appropriate NBS.
Awareness and education activities support local participation in sustainable water and resource management.
The participatory framework aims to strengthen local ownership and practical feasibility.
The project is grounded in the specific water, soil and farming challenges of the Tarquinia Plain.
Local collaboration is used to shape NBS that can fit the area’s agricultural systems.
Modelling strengthens the relevance of the work for future local planning and policy discussions.
Local stakeholders help define the problems the project addresses, not just respond to pre-set plans.
NBS bundles and implementation pathways are co-developed with farmers, landowners and residents.
The process is designed to improve ownership and adoption of NBS in local agricultural systems.
The NBS portfolio targets water quality, soil health, ecosystem resilience and sustainable agriculture.
Measures combine ecosystem protection, agro-ecological farming and restoration of degraded landscapes.
The project uses modelling to support future water–ecosystem–food decision-making, although measured outcomes are not yet reported.
The project brings together technical NBS design, water–ecosystem–food modelling and local agricultural knowledge.
Farmers, landowners and residents contribute to defining challenges and implementation options.
Scientific and practical knowledge are combined to support more feasible and locally grounded decisions.
"1,2,3,2,1,2"
The transformation to the wetland mosaic is a secondary, but impactful, result of hydrological work.
It greatly enhances the scenic beauty and aesthetic value of the area.
The project ensured that marginalized groups were actively included in the planning phases.
Long-term ecological balance and climate resilience were the primary drivers.
Local communities were actively engaged in shaping the final design of the landscape.
Stakeholders from local, regional, and national governments collaborated on funding and execution.
Experts from ecology, urban planning, sociology, and economics worked together closely.
Introduction
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et.
Key stakeholders
CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) - Centres for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, and for Agriculture and Environment
PRIMA programme supported by the European Union (LENSES project)
Local farmers, landowners, and residents of Tarquinia Plain.
Financial metrics
Funding sources
PRIMA Programme, supported by the European Union (Grant Agreement No. 2041 – LENSES Project)
Budget
Information not available
Outcomes
Environmental
Information not available.
Social
Information not available.
Economic
Information not available.
Risks and considerations
Implementation challenges may arise from fragmented land ownership and small farm sizes.
High initial investment costs and technological barriers could limit adoption.
Coordination across diverse stakeholder groups requires sustained facilitation and governance support.
Lessons learned
Early engagement of local stakeholders fosters ownership and improves the feasibility of NBS adoption.
Integrating NBS planning into broader water and ecosystem modelling frameworks strengthens policy relevance.
Participatory design enhances awareness and alignment of agricultural practices with environmental goals.
