News

Re-starting biodiversity monitoring for the Kavouropotamos stream in 2024 

As nature-based solutions gain momentum across Europe, a new study from SpongeScapes Italian partners from the University of Padova  broadens the lens on how we evaluate  sponge measures (Natural Water Retention Measures -NWRMs - in their article)— going beyond flood mitigation and groundwater recharge to also consider, among others, social and economic dimensions.

A More Complete Framework for Evaluation

The study proposes a structured approach to classify both positive (benefits and co-benefits) and negative (trade-offs) impacts of sponge measures, for example:

The growing challenge of drought

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.