The Po Delta covers an area of around 500 km2 in northeast Italy. Located around an hour south of Venice, the wetlands veined with rivers are some of the largest and richest in the Mediterranean. Partly created by slow sedimentation and partly by human reclamation efforts, the park is a complex mosaic of lagoons, marshes, beaches and farmland. However, the UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve is engaged in a long-standing battle against the encroaching Adriatic Sea. Now, a reignited project to drill for gas offshore is prompting fresh fears of flooding. Italy’s UNESCO-designated delta is sinkin…