EU Policy Brief Supports Sponge Restoration
EU policy brief outlines ways to support sponge restoration and improve water resilience
Introduction To Sponge Restoration
The European Union is facing increasing pressure on its water and climate resilience due to degraded soils, drained catchments, and the loss of wetlands. This has led to more frequent and destructive droughts and floods. To address this issue, three EU-funded projects - SpongeBoost, SpongeWorks, and SpongeScapes - have published a joint policy brief titled "Achieving Better Implementation of EU Policies by Restoring the Sponge Function." The brief provides recommendations to strengthen Europe's water and climate resilience by restoring the natural sponge function of landscapes, which is the ability of soils, wetlands, forests, and floodplains to absorb, store, and slowly release water.
Background And Context
Europe has lost around 70% of its wetlands, and 50% of EU peatlands are degraded. Additionally, 70% of EU soils are not healthy, reducing landscapes' ability to retain water and intensifying drought and flood risks. The policy brief highlights the importance of restoring the natural sponge function of European landscapes, including through the 2025 European Water Resilience Strategy. Restoring Europe's sponge function requires action across entire landscapes and river catchments, where soils, wetlands, forests, and agricultural areas work together as one interconnected water system.
Key Findings And Recommendations
The policy brief identifies five priority actions to embed sponge restoration across EU implementation frameworks. These include embedding sponge restoration as a low-regret, catchment-scale solution in River Basin Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Plans, advocating for the inclusion of targeted measures in consultation and planning processes related to the implementation of the Drinking Water Directive, and operationalizing the European Water Resilience Strategy's Sponge Facility as a cross-directorate investment and delivery mechanism. The brief also recommends aligning EU instruments around catchment-scale sponge targets and introducing measurable sponge-function indicators into EU monitoring and reporting systems.
Real-World Implications
By aligning water, agriculture, climate, nature, and funding policies around catchment-scale sponge restoration, Europe can strengthen resilience to droughts and floods while delivering benefits for biodiversity, water quality, and climate adaptation. The policy brief highlights that restoring the natural sponge function of landscapes is a low-regret, catchment-scale approach that can complement other measures while delivering multiple benefits. As political support for nature-based solutions continues to grow, policymakers are increasingly recognizing the need to enhance the natural sponge function of European landscapes.
Future Outlook
The upcoming EU policy processes in 2026-2027 present a strategic opportunity to strengthen Europe's water and climate resilience by restoring the natural sponge function of landscapes. The policy brief provides a roadmap for policymakers to embed sponge restoration across EU implementation frameworks, which can help to achieve the goals of the European Water Resilience Strategy and other EU policies. By working together to restore the natural sponge function of European landscapes, the EU can reduce the risks associated with droughts and floods, improve water quality, and promote biodiversity and climate adaptation.
Sources
This is an original synthesis by Qivorane based on reporting from the outlets below.