Abstract for: Venice Lagoon's Blue Carbon: Seagrass and Salt Marsh Carbon Storage Dynamics

In this study, a detailed dynamic model is developed to assess carbon sequestration in Venice Lagoon's seagrass meadows and salt marshes, augmented with an economic evaluation of this ecosystem service. The research tackles the complexity of carbon storage mechanisms in these habitats, emphasizing the significance of plant growth dynamics and sediment accumulation. The model accounts for the effects of climate-induced variations and operational strategies of the MoSE system on the Venice Lagoon's water levels. We explore the growth rate of salt marshes to assess their capacity to keep pace with sea level rise. Concurrently, the model considers the evolution of seagrasses, focusing on how changes in water temperature and sea level influence growth rate and light penetration to the seabed, affecting sea grasses dynamics and, consequently, their role in carbon sequestration. This method improves our insight into the adaptive responses of salt marshes and seagrasses to both human activities and natural changes, within the context of the lagoon's carbon cycle. Our Vensim-based model offers insights into biophysical and morphodynamic processes affecting carbon storage. This research advances system dynamics in environmental management, merging biophysical and economic considerations for improved ecosystem management and climate mitigation.