Upscaling the natural sponge functions of freshwater ecosystems to deliver multi-benefit green deal solutions

Project Information

SpongeBoost

Grant agreement ID: 101112906

DOI

10.3030/101112906

EC signature date 4 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 2 999 918,75

EU contribution

€ 2 999 918,75

Coordinated by

HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZ
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SpongeBoost (Upscaling the natural sponge functions of freshwater ecosystems to deliver multi-benefit green deal solutions)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Europe is facing growing challenges from climate change, with increased risks from floods, droughts and other extremes. These risks are exacerbated by past land and water management practices that have degraded freshwater ecosystems, reducing their natural ability to store water. Restoring these "sponge functions" of landscapes is therefore essential to strengthen climate resilience, safeguard biodiversity and ensure sustainable land and water use.
The SpongeBoost project brings together scientists, practitioners and stakeholders from across Europe to scale up nature-based solutions that enhance water retention. The project compiles knowledge and data from existing restoration projects, develops and tests innovative measures in seven diverse case study regions, and integrates results into models and practical tools for wider use.
Its main objectives are:
• collect and share the best available knowledge on sponge functions and restoration,
• build a pan-European database of projects and approaches,
• test innovative solutions in different ecological and socio-economic contexts,
• work with stakeholders to design a roadmap for replication and scaling up,
• communicate and share solutions with policy makers, practitioners and the wider public.
Together, these activities generate scientific evidence, practical innovations and policy recommendations that strengthen adaptation, mitigation and resilience to climate change, and support EU strategies, including the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy, and the Nature Restoration Law.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

To date (in ist first 18 month), SpongeBoost has:
• Compiled a state-of-the-art knowledge catalogue by analysing over 400 key publications across engineering, natural sciences, agricultural sciences and social sciences, resulting in 260 innovative sponge solutions.
• Launched the SPONGE Navigator, a pan-European online guide and interactive map that brings together 146 restoration projects and 60 sponge measures from six databases, linked to the knowledge catalogue and designed with a user-friendly interface for adding new projects
• Established seven case study sites across Europe in wetlands and peatlands to test the effectiveness of sponge measures, with hydrological and ecological monitoring initiated and baseline datasets collected.
• Started modelling work to simulate how restoration measures improve water retention and landscape resilience, supported by standardised protocols for ecological, hydrological and socio-economic monitoring to ensure comparability of results.
• Shared first scientific results through more than 30 international conferences and open repositories, while engaging local stakeholders in co-designing interventions and identifying governance and policy instruments.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SpongeBoost has made progress towards results that will go beyond the current state of the art by:
• A systematic European knowledge base of sponge restoration measures has been compiled, providing the foundation for a widely used reference that integrates ecological, economic, policy and social dimensions.
• The S.P.O.N.G.E (Sponge Projects Navigation Guide Europe) which is designed for further enrichment and will support replication across regions and communities.
• Setting up seven pilot sites across Europe for demonstrating innovative restoration methods adapted to local contexts, which will provide tested examples for scaling up measures later.
• Developing prototypes of tools that combine field monitoring, satellite data and socio-economic assessments, enabling robust and comparable evaluation of restoration outcomes
SpongeBoost will synthesise these products into models and a roadmap that directly support EU policy priorities, including the Water Resiliance Strategy, Climate Adaptation Mission, Green Deal, Biodiversity Strategy and Nature Restoration Law. The modelling and monitoring tools developed by SpongeBoost have clear potential for replication in other regions, and for wider commercial applications in consultancy, landscape planning and decision support.