Mathias Scholz - UFZ, project coordinator of the EU SpongeBoost project
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SpongeBoost partners Carina Darmstadt and Sabrina Schulz from the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) gave this year's award for special commitment to the restoration of sponge landscapes to Jens Eligehausen and his colleagues of Planar e.V. at an on-site event, representing the EU-funded project. Thanks to their dedicated commitment and constructive cooperation with anglers, landowners and approval authorities, Planar e.V. voluntarily managed to effectively revitalise a 1.1 km section of the river Diemel within a short timeframe and at comparatively low cost. As a result, the Diemel is once again forming natural river structures, and approximately 20 hectares of floodplain have been reconnected to the river. This restoration has created valuable new habitats for more than 65 species, some of them highly endangered, and has enhanced both the area’s natural water retention (“sponge function”) and its recreational appeal. So, this project stands as a compelling example of how nature-based solutions can make effective use of limited resources to improve hydrological functioning and drive meaningful ecological transformation.
The implementation was integrated into the university's courses through cooperation with the University of Kassel, so that students can actively participate in monitoring measures and data analyses. In addition, the public is also involved through a citizen science approach. Interested parties can map their observations via the Diemel Datenaufkarten platform. All new findings are available free of charge.
Planar e.V. is a non-profit organisation founded in Kassel in 2009. The purpose of the association is to initiate and network projects promoting sustainable regional development and environmental and nature conservation. With their work, they aim to demonstrate that nature conservation and the use of ecosystems do not have to be mutually exclusive, provided they are conducted according to exclusively ecological criteria.
SpongeBoost partners Carina Darmstadt and Sabrina Schulz from the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) were able to present this year's award for special commitment to the restoration of sponge landscapes to Jens Eligehausen and his colleagues of Planar e.V. at an on-site event, representing the EU-funded project.