SpongeBoost Project
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spongeboost.eu
SpongeBoost Project
@spongeboost.eu
Upscaling the natural sponge functions of freshwater ecosystems to deliver multi-benefit Green Deal solutions. Project funded by
@HorizonEU (GA:101112906).

🔗 https://www.spongeboost.eu
🎥 In the final episode of our #SpongeBoostFaces: Raul Paat (University of Tartu) talks about his role in the project, which includes a combination of monitoring, fieldwork, collecting and analysing data, and hydrological modelling.
👉 Watch and subscribe: youtu.be/5gpff6Ov1R4
December 11, 2025 at 7:36 AM
💚 This week in our #PreviousResearchofSpongeBoosters campaign, we’re highlighting a publication introducing OpenBiodiv-O, an ontology that bridges the gap between biodiversity data standards and semantic publishing.
📚 Read the full paper here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
December 5, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The Xistral Mountains get their water from fog — up to 16,000 mm/year thanks to valley winds! 🧽
🌿Back in September, our team had a technical meeting there with a monitoring expert to improve and consolidate our monitoring program. 🔎
📸 Photo credit: Horacio García
December 4, 2025 at 11:38 AM
🎥 This week in #SpongeBoostFaces: Tarso Costa (SPEA) shares his experience working in the field and highlights the positive results of monitoring conducted within the first year of the project.💚
👉 Watch and subscribe for future episodes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuDw...
December 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
💚 This week in our #PreviousResearchofSpongeBoosters campaign, we’re highlighting a publication which examines how residents in Liberec, Czech Republic, perceive different types of green and blue infrastructure.
📚 Read the full paper here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 28, 2025 at 8:22 AM
These former pine plantations in the Fragavella #peatlands of Serra do Xistral have died due to permanent waterlogging conditions. 🌿💧
📸 Photo credit: Aniela Stachnik Pérez
November 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM
🎥 This week in #SpongeBoostFaces: Jan Brabec explains how the UJEP team analysed nearly 2,000 scientific abstracts and selected hundreds of relevant papers, which fed into the creation of a catalogue of innovative sponge solutions. 📖💚
👉 Watch and subscribe: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJje...
November 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
🌱SpongeBooster of the month: Erica mackayana!
👉Water wizard: Fine hairs trap and slowly release moisture, easing floods & droughts.
👉Carbon keeper: Helps form peat and lock away carbon long-term.
👉Biodiversity booster: Nectar powerhouse for bumblebees & pollinators.🐝
📸 Photos: Aniela Stachnik, CIREF
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
6 days left to apply! 🔔Become SpongeBooster of the year and:
✨Share your vision and inspire
✨Get an online workshop with our experts
✨Showcase your work
✨Gain visibility and connections in our community
👉Apply until 30 November 2025: events.pensoft.net/events/spong...
📸Photo credit: Carina Darmstadt
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Panoramic view of the Veiga do Rial peatlands in Serra do Xistral 🌄
📸 Photo credit: Aniela Stachnik
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
💚 This week in our #PreviousResearchofSpongeBoosters campaign, we’re highlighting a study that explores how small municipalities tackle flood risk management and the important role of mayors in shaping these strategies.
📚 Read the full paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
November 21, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Do you have a project that restores Europe's sponge landscapes? 💚 Learn how you can become our next SpongeBooster of the year.
👉 Apply until 30 November: events.pensoft.net/events/spong...
🔎 Learn more about the award: www.spongeboost.eu/spongebooste...
📸 Photos: Carina Darmstadt, Aniela Stachnik
November 20, 2025 at 6:56 AM
🎥 This week in #SpongeBoostFaces: Jan Macháč (UJEP) explains that their team screened thousands of papers and curated a library of selected publications on the sponge potential of soils and wetlands to support researchers and decision-makers.
👉 Watch and subscribe: youtu.be/F_TQQYYMznA
November 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
💚 This week in #PreviousResearchofSpongeBoosters: This study examines how climate, nitrogen deposition, water levels, and plant competition shape the growth of different Sphagnum moss species and influence peatlands’ ability to store carbon.
📚 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Become our next SpongeBooster of the year! 🏆 What's in it for you?
💬 Online workshop with experts
📸 A field visit to your project site & on-site footage
🤝 Support in networking with local stakeholders
🌍 Visibility across our network
👉 Apply until 30 November: events.pensoft.net/events/spong...
November 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🎥 This week in #SpongeBoostFaces: Jos de Bijl (Bureau Stroming) discusses the creation of a European database as part of the SpongeBoost project.
🔎 Learn more and explore S.P.O.N.G.E here: www.spongeboost.eu/sponge
👉 Watch and subscribe for future episodes: youtu.be/vFQGKViQJK4
November 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
💚 Today, we’re taking you to Veiga do Rial, where we’re measuring water flow from the Eume River.
In the last picture, you can see wild ponies grazing freely, a beautiful reminder of this unique peatland. 🐴
📸 Photo credit: Aniela Stachnik Pérez
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
💚 This week in our #PreviousResearchofSpongeBoosters campaign, we’re highlighting a study that explores how Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) can revolutionise the way we observe and manage our environment.
📚 Read the full paper here: www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10...
November 7, 2025 at 8:33 AM
🎥 This week in #SpongeBoostFaces: Anneleen Geurts (Bureau Stroming) talks about the creation of S.P.O.N.G.E - the online navigation guide for European sponge projects.
🔎 Learn more: www.spongeboost.eu/sponge
👉 Watch and subscribe for future episodes: youtu.be/e_de1wjaJV0
November 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM
🏆 The "SpongeBooster of the year" award not only celebrates success, it helps make great projects visible, inspiring others to take action. Does your project have what it takes to be next?
🗓️ Applications open until 30 November 2025
👉 Apply now: events.pensoft.net/events/spong...
#SpongeBooster2026
November 3, 2025 at 10:13 AM
💚 This week in our #PreviousResearchofSpongeBoosters campaign, we explore how innovative aerial technologies are transforming environmental observation.
📚 Read the full paper here: www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10...
October 31, 2025 at 6:40 AM
🎥 This week in #SpongeBoostFaces: Philip Meier explains how our project brings together researchers, students, and practitioners to apply scientific knowledge to real-world interventions.
👉 Watch and subscribe for future episodes: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyNv...
October 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
📫Our fourth newsletter is out! Learn how to become our next SpongeBooster of the year, explore S.P.O.N.G.E., one of our key results, get insights from events, and catch up on the latest updates from our sister projects SpongeScapes and SpongeWorks.
👉Full issue: preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1004...
October 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
🌿 Do you have, or do you know of, a project that restores our sponge landscapes?
The SpongeBooster of the Year 2026 award is here to celebrate those who make a real impact on the ground.
🗓️ Applications open: 27 October – 30 November 2025
👉 Apply now: events.pensoft.net/events/spong...
October 28, 2025 at 6:31 AM
SpongeBoost's next newsletter is coming soon. 😊
✍🏻 Make sure to subscribe to join our community and stay on track with the latest updates and insights: dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/100477...
October 27, 2025 at 11:56 AM