A new SpongeBoost publication examines the socio-economic importance and valuation of different types of wetland restoration as nature-based solutions ⤵️
🔗 doi.org/10.3897/natu...

🌟 On 25 March, the European Commission adopted guidance to help Member States adapt the Natura 2000 network to growing climate pressures.
🔗 environment.ec.europa.eu/publications...
#Natura2000 #ClimateAdaptation #Biodiversity #EU

🏝️ Last week, the SpongeBoost consortium convened for its second Annual General Meeting, a five-day event dedicated to reviewing progress, strengthening collaboration, and advancing the implementation of sponge measures and nature-based solutions across Europe.
🔗 www.spongeboost.eu/news/what-wa...

Day 5️⃣ of SpongeBoost’s second Annual General Meeting was dedicated to a joint excursion across São Miguel Island, Azores, offering partners a valuable opportunity to connect beyond the meeting room and strengthen collaboration within the consortium. 🤝🏝️
#SpongeBoost2026

🕊️ SpongeBooster of the month is the Priolo:
🔷Helps regenerate islands' native laurel forests
🔷Inspired large-scale habitat restoration and long-term conservation action
🔷Found only on the São Miguel Island
📸 Images: Rui Teixeira, Julen Franco & Yasmin Redolosis

👉 The day concluded with discussions focused on scientific publications, outreach strategies, collaboration, and ensuring the project’s long-term impact.
➡️ Stay tuned for updates from Day 5️⃣ of #SpongeBoost2026

Day 4️⃣ of SpongeBoost’s AGM2 began with an innovative communication session, where partners exchanged ideas for the 3rd edition of our comic book, exploring creative ways to communicate project results to broader audiences.🦸
📚 Explore the 1st and 2nd editions here: www.spongeboost.eu/media-center...

On day 3️⃣ of SpongeBoost’s second Annual General Meeting, consortium members visited one of the project’s case study sites – the Graminhais Plateau on São Miguel Island.

Partners participated in an interactive Science Café, where they exchanged knowledge and discussed how the field-data can effectively inform practical policy solutions. 💡
➡️ Stay tuned for updates from Day 3️⃣ of #SpongeBoost2026

Day 2️⃣ of SpongeBoost’s second AGM is focused on deepening collaboration around the project’s case study work and strengthening connections between scientific findings and policy development.

🔦 Highlights from the progress made within WP5 in the last year:
📃 8 project papers were published in a new Special Issue “Wetlands in a Changing Climate”: natureconservation.pensoft.net/issue/5008
🦸 The second edition of our comic book series is out now: www.spongeboost.eu/media-center...

💡 Paul Brotherton—Freshwater Manager, Wetlands International Europe—spoke on the wetlands in the context of EU policy.
📃 Check out the new policy brief, developed through a joint effort by SpongeScapes, SpongeWorks, the SpongeBoost, MERLIN, and FutureLakes: zenodo.org/records/1885...

Philip Meier (RWTH Aachen University) presented the Eifel – Schneifel region, which lies within extensive protected landscapes that preserve its natural beauty and ecological functions.📍 He updated us on the progress made, the site changes and the demonstration goals.

⏭️ Raul Paat from the University of Tartu spoke on how SpongeBoost's two case study sites in Estonia were selected, what restoration efforts have been implemented so far, and what the results are. 🌿

🌞 Our partners from SPEA presented the expected changes and demonstration objectives for SpongeBoost's case study area at the Azores—the Graminhais Plateau.
🌄 The region will be visited by our consortium as part of this year's AGM, and we're looking forward to sharing our visit with you.

🎤 SpongeBoost's project manager, Michael Vieweg, provided updates on the progress made in the Weiße Elster - Floodplain Leipzig case study area. 🦫

Aniela Stachnik Pérez (CIREF) presented updates from the project’s case study sites, focusing on the Xistral Mountain peatlands and the Ebro River floodplains, showcasing ongoing activities and progress across these regions.
🔎 Learn more about our case studies: www.spongeboost.eu/case-studies

The meeting continues with an overview of the activities in WP3 related to the development and testing of different business models through economic assessment, as well as the governance structure and the suitability and acceptability of policy instruments.

Partners from Bureau Stroming presented the progress made on the S.P.O.N.G.E. platform, which is designed to support knowledge sharing and collaboration across the project.
🔎 Explore it here: media.stroming.nl/sponge

💡 We countinue with a consortium sessions, where partners are sharing key highlights and achievements to date, starting with the completion of the SpongeBoost literature review, which was presented by partners from UJEP.

Day 1️⃣ started with a welcome session by the hosts from SPEA, SpongeBoost's coordinator—Mathias Sholtz, and representatives from our project's advisory board. 📷

🌞 SpongeBoost's Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place in the beautiful Ponta Delgada, is kicking off today!
Stay tuned for our live updates. 📲

SpongeBoost partners will meet in the beautiful Ponta Delgada for our project's second AGM. 🌞
The consortium will exchange ideas, plan the next steps, and visit one of the project's case studies – the Graminhais Plateau.
📲 Follow us on social media and stay tuned for updates.
#SpongeBoost2026

🔦 Spotlight on freshwater monitoring at #BioMonWeek2026!
Submit an abstract by 18 March and bring your work to the European stage!
🔎 Explore the full programme: www.biomonweek.eu

@biodiversa.eu, #AllianceforNature, @bioagora.eu, @gbif.org, @marco-bolo.bsky.social

Today at 7:00 PM (CET), we are finally launching the second part of our comic book series! 🎉
🌃 As part of the Long Night of Nature Conservation during the German Nature Conservation Day, we are presenting the new adventures of Spongy: www.spongeboost.eu/media-center...

Two partner projects will join us:
🌱 Restore4Life – presenting a toolbox for environmental education on moorland and wetland conservation
🧩 DANUBE4all Project – featuring an interactive river puzzle
Together, we aim to show how science and nature conservation can be made engaging and accessible.

✨ Join us and the IGB for the Long Night of Nature Conservation.
📅 12 March
🕖 7:00–9:00 p.m.
📍 DUH Federal Office, Hackescher Markt 4, Berlin
Join us for the launch of our second comic book! 🦸
In case you missed Part I: zenodo.org/records/1481...
👉 www.umweltkalender-berlin.de/angebote/det...

Wetlands in a changing climate: restoring coasts and floodplains na

This new Special Issue features 15 peer-reviewed articles from 100+ experts, showcasing #nature-based solutions to the #biodiversity and #climate crises.

Full editorial ⤵️ doi.org/10.3897/natu...

🥇 We're happy to announce that the Spanish project “Spongy Slopes” was recognised as the winner of the #SpongeBoosterOfTheYear 2026 award.
📖 Learn more: www.spongeboost.eu/news/communi...

Wetlands in a Changing Climate: Restoring Coasts and Floodplains This Special Issue explores the crucial role wetlands play in the context of biodiversity and climate change. It demonstrates the vital benefits riverine and coastal wetlands offer to nature and peopl...

📕 Over 300 people joined us for the virtual launch of a new Special Issue: "#Wetlands in a Changing #Climate" published in our #journal.

@bfn-de.bsky.social @umweltministerium.de @ufz.de
@idiv-research.bsky.social @ramsar.org @sgn.one
@spongeboost.eu @bioagora.eu @respin-project.bsky.social

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