In Ljubljana’s hilly pre-alpine landscape, forests are more than just a scenic backdrop. They play a crucial role in managing rainwater and reducing flood risks for downstream urban areas. Within the SpongeScapes project, scientists are taking a closer look at how different tree species influence rainfall, soil moisture, and the local water cycle in the Gradaščica catchment.
When it rains, not all water reaches the ground.
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:
Three new comics created under the Horizon Europe SpongeScapes project invite readers into the fascinating world of environmental research — where scientists study how rivers, soils, and ecosystems function, and how this knowledge can help us adapt to climate change.
On 6 November 2025, the Netherlands hosted its first National SpongeDay—a full-day knowledge event organised by the Horizon Europe SpongeScapes project, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and Deltares. More than 140 participants from ministries, water boards, provincial authorities, research institutions, and consultancy firms gathered in Zutphen to explore this question.
In October 2025, as part of the SpongeScapes project, researchers from the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) conducted a field visit to the Gradaščica catchment near Ljubljana, Slovenia, to collect essential data for the calibration of their hydrological model. This work will help improve understanding of how forest cover influences rainfall runoff and the catchment’s capacity to retain water — key to managing both floods and droughts.
Understanding the Landscape