The measures taken by the Italian State to protect the city of Venice and its lagoon are “insufficient” and “must be expanded”, Unesco said on Monday, which will propose placing it on the list of heritage in danger.
The Unesco Heritage Center considers that mass tourism, reform projects and climate change are the main threats to the Italian city, as they damage the structures of buildings and urban areas, which degrades its cultural identity and social
Venice “faces a proven danger and threats that cause harmful effects to its intrinsic characteristics”, added the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
For all this, the Heritage Committee will propose placing it on the list of places in danger during the Unesco General Assembly that will take place in Riyadh from September 15 to 25.
In its report, the organization recognizes that Italy has improved tourism management and coordination between the different administrations involved in protecting the ecosystem.
In addition, progress has been made in the creation of barriers against the tide and in the consolidation of coastal beaches and dunes, and “cutting edge technology” has been used in the forecasting of water level rises, while the veto remains on cruises in the ports closest to the center.
But these advances are not enough, indicates the organization, which calls for a deeper study of the natural phenomena affecting Venice and the impact of climate change on the city, as well as the consequences of the barrier system and the arrival from cruises to nearby channels.
On the other hand, it demands “a sustainable model of tourism” that reduces “the exceptionally high number of visitors” and “considerably improves the quality of life of residents”.
He also considers that the projected construction of high-rise buildings around the city may have a negative visual impact that adds to the other dangers that threaten Venice, inscribed on the list of world heritage in 1987.
These threats can cause “irreversible changes and a substantial loss of the historical authenticity and cultural importance that constitute part of the outstanding universal value” of the city, he added.
Venice, founded in the 5th century and converted into a naval power in the Mediterranean in the 10th century, is currently one of the most visited cities in the world, with daily peaks of up to 100,000 tourists staying overnight, while its population of around 50,000 inhabitants, decreases year after year.