Background

The SpongeBoost project brings together a team of 10 partners from 7 European countries, spanning research, policy, and management fields. The aim is to identify effective ways to enhance or restore landscapes’ natural water retention capacity. By consolidating existing knowledge, utilising best practices, and testing innovative approaches, the project will create a roadmap for implementing transformative measures to improve resilience to extreme events. This involves synthesising information for policy-making, practical restoration, and land-use planning, as well as showcasing successful examples of sponge restoration and its multiple benefits.

Through active engagement at local and European levels, stakeholders will be supported in implementing cost-effective and innovative solutions for restoring soil sponge functions in wetlands and groundwater systems. The project aligns with EU Climate Change Adaptation goals, contributing to climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, and societal benefits from nature-based solutions. The consortium members, involved in various restoration projects, collaborate to promote networking, knowledge exchange, and synergies across European regions, working towards a lasting positive impact on sponge restoration for climate change adaptation.

Objectives

Compile knowledge for sponge functions from local to European scales.

Synthesise findings into a roadmap for upscaling sponge solutions from local to European levels.

Create a pan-European database on projects improving landscape sponge functions.

Build a reliable network, communicate, and disseminate project results.

Implement and test innovative water retention solutions in diverse case studies.