Today Wetlands International Europe unveiled a new website https://naturalsponges.org/ to showcase the power of natural sponges as a nature-based solution to retain and store water in the landscape that delivers benefits for people, nature, climate and water.
The website will serve as a one-stop shop to feature our latest research, growing number of cases and reports on sponge restoration and its potential around Europe to create more climate and water resilient landscapes. It also includes compelling before-and-after infographics and short animations that engagingly demonstrate how the concept works. The Take Action page features recommendations for policies and financing to deploy and upscale natural sponges in landscapes across Europe.
Wetlands are our natural sponges in the landscape, but drainage for agriculture, forestry and urbanisation have drastically reduced the capacity of our soils to absorb and store water – and are a root cause of increasing floods, droughts and wildfires. We aim to restore natural conditions in Europe and beyond that support natural sponges that capture and slow the flow of water before it reaches a river or transforms into a stream.
Restoring natural sponges is a proven multi-benefit, no-regret measure that achieves multiple policy objectives while making the public safer by reducing the severity of floods and increasing water availability during droughts, improving water quality and supporting healthy nature.
With our partner Stroming, along with other NGOs, research institutions and universities, we have studied the potential of natural sponges for the past decade, and have a growing portfolio of research projects and pilot sites demonstrating measurable multi-benefits. We welcome the interest of potential partners, decision-makers and donors (including governments and the private sector) to deploy natural sponges at the wider landscape level.
View the website: https://naturalsponges.org/