On 28 November 2025, Greece hosted its National Sponge Day, organized online as part of the Horizon Europe SpongeScapes project. More than 300 participants from regional and local authorities, government agencies, academia, and civil society joined to explore how sponge measures can strengthen water resilience in Greece.
The programme brought together practitioners, policymakers, and researchers working at different levels of water management:
An introduction to sponge measures by Thanos Giannakakis (WWF Greece), providing an accessible overview of how nature-based water retention works.
Implementation of sponge measures in Thessaly presented by Andreas Panagopoulos (Hellenic Agricultural Organisation - Soil and Water Resources Institute), drawing on implementation efforts from the SpongeWorks project.
Scientific monitoring of traditional stone check dams by Giannis Alexiou (WWF Greece), showcasing results from the SpongeScapes case study on Kavouropotamos stream on Paros Island and what early data tell us about the benefits for biodiversity and hydrology.
The role of sponge measures in Greece’s Flood Risk Management Plans explained by Konstantinos Papaspyropoulos (Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy).
A lively Q&A session closed the event, reflecting strong interest from local authorities and practitioners seeking practical guidance and examples.
This Greek SpongeDay is the second in a series of national events across SpongeScapes partner countries. Each brings together national and local stakeholders to share knowledge, compare lessons, and collectively move toward sponge-functioning, water-resilient landscapes.
Replay, presentations and more about sponge measures in Greek langage are available here (scroll down to the webinar on 28 November 2025).