Border region joins forces for climate-resilient landscape with SPONGE project
International cooperation in Euregio Meuse-Rhine against drought and flooding
Governments, landscape parks and nature organizations from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands are joining forces to make the landscape in the Meuse-Rhine border region resilient to climate change. The new SPONGE project will tackle drought and flooding in the area around Hasselt, Aachen, Liège and Maastricht using natural solutions. The project is receiving a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE) program and has a budget of €6.5 million. Preparations for an official launch in October are already underway.
Restoring natural sponge effect
The SPONGE project – in full: Upstream-downstream Solidarity and Partnership for Nature-based adaptation and Governance in cross-border river basins – focuses on strengthening the natural sponge effect of the landscape. The Meuse-Rhine Euroregion has traditionally played an important role in absorbing and gradually draining rainwater. Forests, valleys, and grasslands ensured that rainwater could slowly seep into the ground, preventing flooding and replenishing groundwater for dry periods. This natural dynamic kept the water system in balance and protected people and nature.
That balance has been seriously disrupted. Decades of human intervention – such as deforestation, agricultural drainage, and construction in floodplains – have severely impaired the landscape’s sponge effect. Combined with the increasing effects of climate change, this increases the risk of both flooding and water scarcity.
Cross-border cooperation is a necessity
The need for a joint approach became clear during the devastating floods of 2021. In Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, a total of 238 people lost their lives and billions of euros worth of damage was caused. In recent years, there have also been several periods of persistent drought with negative consequences for agriculture, nature, and drinking water supplies. These events underscore the need for cross-border cooperation. Until now, there has been a lack of coordinated action across national borders, even though the problem does not stop at national borders.
SPONGE aims to change this by setting up concrete actions on a landscape scale and promoting cooperation between communities on both sides of the borders. The project helps municipalities, landowners, and governments to use natural solutions to combat flooding and drought. This is done by providing examples, offering financing, and jointly drawing up a cross-border plan. The project coalition is delighted that the project has been selected for funding.
Strong coalition for a climate-resilient landscape
The project partners are: WWF-NL, Drielandenpark, Landscapepark Bocage without Borders, the municipalities of Plombières, Dalhem, Raeren, Welkenraedt, Valkenburg, and the province of Limburg (NL). Together, they have the knowledge, network, and commitment to make a difference. With support from the ERDF fund through the Interreg Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE) programme, a series of measures are being developed that will not only make the landscape more resilient to extreme weather conditions, but also more attractive for people and nature.
More information?
For more information, please contact program management and project manager Marjon Heutmekers at: mheutmekers@wwf.nl
For the SPONGE project, we are looking for external expertise to assess project proposals in the field of Nature-Based Solutions and to provide support and advice in the field of communication. You can express your interest until September 20. See the documents below for more information:
