Imagine the ground acting like a giant sponge that soaks up rain and lets it out slowly during dry spells. Over time, humans have damaged these natural sponges, making floods and droughts worse. This work finds the best ways to fix these landscapes so they can hold water again naturally.
Degraded freshwater ecosystems have lost their ability to store water, increasing the financial and physical risks of floods and droughts for land owners and municipalities.
A knowledge catalogue of 260 solutions and the SPONGE Navigator, an interactive map and guide featuring 146 restoration projects.
If you are a drainage firm dealing with increasing urban flood risks — this project developed a catalogue of 260 innovative sponge solutions that provide cost-effective ways to manage surface water.
If you are a farm manager dealing with soil dehydration and crop loss during droughts — this project developed a SPONGE Navigator map and tools to restore peatlands and wetlands for better water retention.
If you are a consultant dealing with complex EU Nature Restoration Law compliance for clients — this project developed a roadmap for scaling up nature-based solutions across 7 diverse European regions.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the project aims to identify and recommend cost-effective solutions for restoring soil functions.
Yes, the project specifically focuses on upscaling and developing a roadmap for replication across different ecological and socio-economic contexts in Europe.
Based on available project data, the project focuses on sharing knowledge via a pan-European online guide and interactive map rather than individual patents.
The project provides evidence and tools to support the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy, and the Nature Restoration Law.
The project is active from 2024-01-01 to 2027-12-31, with initial knowledge catalogues and the SPONGE Navigator already launched.
The consortium is moderately diversified with 10 partners across 7 countries. It features a 20% industry ratio (2 companies), indicating a push to move research toward market application. The presence of 4 'Other' organizations suggests strong ties to policy-making and regional management bodies, which is critical for the adoption of land-use changes.
Contact HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZ in Germany
Contact us to access the SPONGE Navigator data for your regional water strategy.
