Integrating Land-River Interactions in the Marzenego River Contract A relational approach to water governance

Abstract Contemporary approaches to river management remain hindered by sectoral fragmentation, insufficient spatial integration, and a persistent separation between land and water governance. Consequently, existing frameworks often fail to adequately address the complex and interdependent environmental, social, and economic challenges posed by river systems. This study explores the operational potential of the land-river interaction framework as an analytical tool to integrate fluvial systems within planning processes. By explicitly clarifying spatial and functional connections between terrestrial and fluvial components, the framework aims to enhance the effectiveness of planning instruments for adaptive and integrated management grounded in a socioecological perspective. The methodology is applied to the Marzenego River in northeastern Italy, characterized by heterogeneous territorial configurations and significant anthropogenic pressures. The case study provides insights into the spatial dimension of land-river interactions and supports ongoing local participatory initiatives, such as the River Contract. The study aims at demonstrating that incorporating land-river interactions enables the identification of latent territorial structures, spatial patterns, and immaterial relations frequently overlooked by conventional sectoral planning. Findings show that this approach supports spatially explicit and context-sensitive interventions that address multifaceted territorial challenges.Ultimately, it contributes to embedding fluvial systems within comprehensive governance frameworks to promote environmental sustainability, social resilience, and adaptive capacity. Keywords Integrated water management, land-river interactions, river contract, spatial planning