The value of the irrigation network in Veneto

Analysis of ecosystem services between market values and willingness to pay

3 minutes

The Consorzi di bonifica in the Veneto region manages a dense network of canals that, in addition to providing irrigation in the Veneto plain, offer various ecosystem services that benefit the community. To calculate the economic value of these services and improve the management of water resources, the Veneto Region sponsored a study conducted by Etifor, a consulting firm specializing in the monetary valuation of natural resources.

The ecosystem services of irrigation canals

Irrigation canals managed by the Consorzi di Bonifica in the Veneto provide irrigation and ecosystem services. These include groundwater recharge or water vivification, the maintenance of habitats for flora and fauna, and, last but not least, the cultural and recreational value of places.

Assessing the economic impact of these services is crucial to developing effective policies, ensuring their availability, and addressing the climate crisis. A study of this scale is unprecedented in the region; it is of strategic importance for action planning and sustainable management of the water resource, as for the first time, even the most minor tangible services have been associated with a monetary economic value.

Main findings

The study, sponsored by the Veneto Region and Etifor, considered 8 of the most relevant ecosystem services offered by irrigated agrosystems and quantified them to bring out their economic value.

This was achieved by applying two distinct methodological approaches: a group of methods based on prices and costs of reference markets and a group of methods based on demand, that is, surveying the willingness of beneficiaries to pay for a given service.

The total economic value of the ecosystem services taken into analysis was estimated at €642 million/year, with a unit value of €36/m linear of channels and €714/ha, corresponding to a total benefit of €322 per resident household.

The study provides a comprehensive and reliable picture of the value of the multiple benefits provided by the irrigation system, making it clear how even ecosystem services that are underrepresented in the market must be preserved through strategic policies and choices for the welfare of the entire community.