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<\/p>\nThe SpongeWorks project, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on Nature-based solutions (NbS) for natural water retention and climate resilience, marked a dynamic beginning with its Pinios River Basin demonstration kick-off meeting in Larisa, Greece, in November 27-28, 2024. GWP-Med is leading the Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation Work Package.<\/p>\n
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More than 50 participants, including local implementers, national and local authorities in Greece, and European SpongeWorks partners, gathered at the kick-off meeting of the Pinios River Basin demonstrator. <\/i><\/p>\n
The Pinios river basin, Greece\u2019s key agricultural hub, has recently suffered severe climate impacts from storms ILIAS, IANOS, and only fourteen months ago, storm DANIEL. As a region of intensive agricultural activity, it faces pressing challenges of water scarcity and biodiversity loss. SpongeWorks aims to mitigate these effects by enhancing water retention and increasing climate resilience.<\/p>\n
The Pinios river basin is one of three large-scale demonstration sites in SpongeWorks, alongside the L\u00e8ze (France) and Vecht (Netherlands\/Germany) basins. Local implementation capacity in the Greek demonstrator includes key local stakeholders such as the Tavropos Irrigation Organisation, The Municipality of Trikala (through e-Trikala development company), the Municipality of Agia, and the Melivia chestnut growers\u2019 Cooperative, as well as scientific contributors SWRI and WWF, who will monitor the outcomes of the applied measures.<\/p>\n
Innovative \u2018Sponge Measures\u2019 Across the Basin<\/b><\/p>\n
Over the next four years, the project will implement \u2018sponge measures\u2019 at more than 200 sites across the basin: these include buffer strips and systematic mulching in Karditsa\u2019s cotton fields, the creation of a narrow riparian forest and a \u2018Sponge demo Park\u2019 in Trikala, mulching in urban and peri-urban parks in Agia, and the restoration of terraces with soil water harvesting and reuse in Melivoia village.<\/p>\n
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Local Irrigation Organisation TOEV Tavropou will implement a number of Nature-based Solutions such as buffer strips, systematic mulching in cotton fields and soil water management through irrigation planning on a large scale<\/i><\/p>\n
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In Trikala, \u2019sponge measures\u2019 to be implemented include the creation of a narrow riparian forest, the replacement of the old flood gate barrier of the Lithaios river and cleaning from vegetation, and the creation of a \u2018SpongePark\u2019 for awareness-raising.<\/i> <\/p>\n
In his opening remarks, Dr. Panagopoulos, Research Director of the Soil and Water Resources Institute of ELGO-Dimitra, emphasized: \u201cImplementing sponge measures will ensure healthy soil and water resources, while fostering resilient societies capable of withstanding floods and droughts\u201d.<\/p>\n
Collaborative Efforts for a Sustainable Future<\/b><\/p>\n
Participants engaged in lively discussions on successful NbS implementations and exchanged insights on their benefits at the landscape scale. SpongeWorks partner University of Twente organized and led a session to collaboratively analyze governance frameworks in Greece. Group sessions identified key actors, their roles, and responsibilities, culminating in actionable next steps to ensure ownership and adoption of sponge measures and strategies at landscape scale.<\/p>\n
The event included a field trip to all four different implementation areas within the Pinios large-scale demonstrator. Participants observed and discussed the different measures to be applied in the future implementation sites, such as the Tavropos reservoir, Trikala\u2019s urban initiatives, Agia\u2019s orchard plots, and Melivia\u2019s chestnut fields.<\/p>\n
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Agia Municipality will implement large scale systematic mulching, soil water management through systematic irrigation scheduling and mulching in urban and peri-urban parks.<\/i><\/p>\n
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\u039dature-based Solutions to be implemented in the chestnut fields of the Melivia Cooperative include systematic mulching along with agroforestry, soil water management through irrigation scheduling and the restoration of terraces along with harvesting of soil water.<\/i><\/p>\n
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GWP-Med created \u2018sponge cards\u2019 and a \u2018sponge pack\u2019 to educate stakeholders in a fun and engaging way about the application method and benefits of different sponge methods.<\/i><\/p>\n
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