Drought is a growing concern in the Upper Biebrza River Basin in Poland. It is affecting the entire region: both agricultural and wetland ecosystems. Water levels in rivers throughout the catchment have been very low for a long time. In particular, on the Biebrza River at the Sztabin gauge - which closes the Upper Biebrza catchment - the water level has reached a record low of 92 cm on 25 September 2024.
The SpongeScapes project has released its first major deliverable:
"Critical review of existing knowledge on sponge functions for different climatic zones, soils and land uses in Europe."
This comprehensive review offers a much-needed synthesis of the scientific literature and practical knowledge surrounding sponge measures. It covers how these measures perform across different environmental contexts — and just as importantly, where knowledge is still missing.
8 key knowledge gaps identified