The Lagoon as Ledger: Making Blue Carbon Legible in Venice's Transitional Waters

Abstract

Abstract: The article proposes "Lagoon Wallet" as a public-learning prototype for blue carbon in transitional waters, using the Venice Lagoon as its case. Through a playable ledger interface, the project translates ecological indicators such as water transparency, disturbance frequency, and seagrass coverage into traceable public entries. Methodologically, the study develops a three-layer mapping structure of indicator, state, and mechanism, and combines it with lightweight user testing (N = 12) to evaluate causal retelling, ledger consultation, and recognition of unsettled boundaries. What it adds is a portable ledger interface, a structured method for translating ecological indicators into public design, and a reusable lightweight evaluation framework. The prototype helps make blue carbon discussable without turning ecological uncertainty into a false sense of settlement.