As PONDERFUL draws to a close, some of the principal investigators reflect on the project’s key discoveries and what they have learned about ponds and pondscapes.

Associate Professor Malgorzata Blicharska – Uppsala University

Our work in WP1 was focused on the socio-economic, policy, and financial aspects of implementing ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions.

Regarding the social values of ponds, we analysed pondscapes’ efficiency and effectiveness in delivering ecosystem services and developed an approach for measuring their performance.

Key insights from our policy analysis are that there is general policy support for nature-based solutions but there are also many limitations and they often lack legal backing. On the other hand, conservation status can help in implementing pond/pondscape nature-based solutions. Our study also showed that local leadership may be more important than policies.

We identified 22 financing instruments for pond and pondscape nature-based solutions, which can be applied to different contexts. Our work also show that it can be difficult to calculate costs and benefits of nature-based solutions.

Dr Joël Robin – ISARA

Our surveys conducted with people living near ponds and pondscapes showed that these habitats greatly enhance quality of life. Focusing on the Nature’s Contributions to People (IPBES), local residents and stakeholders particularly value:

1. Biodiversity maintenance
2. Physical and psychological experience
3. Maintenance of options.

Our work on fishponds has generated new data to help us understand more about these kinds of ponds as carbon sources or sinks. Working with colleagues from Aarhus University, we confirmed that some of these ponds are carbon sinks, while others are carbon sources.

We have also confirmed that a long (one year) period of drying-out allows a regeneration of biodiversity.

Dr Sopan Patil – Bangor University

We focused on percentage changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services indicators at the pondscape level under various climate and land use change scenarios. We also produced maps that identify high-priority areas at the European level where interventions are likely to have the greatest impact under different land use and climate scenarios. These could be used to target pond restoration or creation projects where they could make the most difference to climate change adaptation.

Through our work, we published new results on downscaling global scale land use projections so they can be viewed at local and regional scales.

In work led by Aarhus University, we also developed of an integrative modelling framework to predict the impact of climate and land use change on multiple indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem services. We used the extensive pond data, collected through PONDERFUL fieldwork, to train models that connect the pond ecosystem variables (e.g., Total Nitrogen, Methane and Carbon Dioxide flux, amphibian species richness) with land use and climate variables. The models were then used to predict these variables for multiple future scenarios at both local and continental European scales.

Professor Sandra Brucet – University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia

Our research showed that preserving a pond’s biodiversity (especially in terms of macrophytes and zooplankton) has a positive effect on maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality. In contrast, the deterioration of ponds, both directly and indirectly related to land use (e.g., increased of nutrient concentration in the water) can have a detrimental impact on the conservation of a pond’s ecosystem functions.

We found that conservation status and land use shape biodiversity in temporary ponds, while sediment moisture and temperature drive CO₂ emissions during the dry phase.

Our work also demonstrated that ponds have a high potential as cost-effective nature-based solutions for enhancing ecosystem and societal resilience to climate change and biodiversity.

Professor Mariana Meerhoff – Universidad de la República, Uruguay  

Our research focused on rural artificial ponds, primarily used for watering cattle. The construction of rural ponds has increased significantly over the last three decades, driven by the intensification of agricultural production in Uruguay. However, there is a notable lack of knowledge regarding the ecological status and ecosystem services provided by these ponds beyond water supply.

We found that the water quality of rural ponds varies significantly depending on the intensity of land use within a 100-meter perimeter around the pond. Low-intensity land use (extensive cattle production) was associated with greater aquatic biodiversity, higher habitat complexity, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, we discovered that local interventions, such as fencing to prevent direct cattle access and measures to mitigate erosion, can partially counterbalance the overarching effects of land use intensity.

In contrast, rural ponds situated in areas with intensive land use (high density of grazing cattle) and lacking ecological management can serve as sources of cyanobacteria and facilitate the spread of invasive exotic species.

Our findings underscore that, under certain regional and local conditions, rural ponds hold high potential as cost-effective, nature-based solutions for enhancing both ecosystem and societal resilience to climate change and climate variability.

Dr Dani Boix – University of Girona

Our research focused on the biodiversity of macroinvertebrate community and the importance of the pond condition and the climate zone for their composition and structure. Moreover, we performed a study on the macroinvertebrate colonisation of newly created ponds in a coastal area.

The results of this study suggest that differences between old and new ponds only exist in the first year after creation for both taxonomic and functional composition, but differences between low- and high-connected ponds were observed even after six years after creation. Therefore, results highlight the crucial role of hydrology to understand the colonization process especially when assessing restoration success.

Professor Carl Sayer – University College London

Our case study work in WP2 was focused on pond ecosystem services and in particular the consequences of pond restoration for greenhouse gas emissions as well as the effects of varying pond hydrology on pollinator diversity and pollination services.

Pond restoration by removing woody vegetation and soft sediment has been shown to substantially increase pond and pondscape biodiversity, as well as reducing tree-associated evapotranspiration which makes ponds less likely to dry up. Building on this previous work, our pollinator case study showed that, when ponds possess water, they are more favourable to a higher number of pollinator species and in turn have more complex and resilience plant-pollinator networks. The greenhouse gas emissions case study showed that pond restoration significantly reduces pond-derived GHG emissions, with this especially true of methane.

We hence strongly concluded that pond restoration has two major ecosystem service-related benefits which adds more weight behind this approach as detailed in the PONDERFUL Technical Handbook.

Professor Thomas A Davidson – Aarhus University

Our research in the PONDERFUL focussed on how pond biodiversity is shaped by land use and climate. In addition, Aarhus University were responsible for the analysis of greenhouse gas samples collected as part of the stratified survey, case studies, experiment and demonstration sites.

We found that the ponds surveyed were in general sources of greenhouse gases emitting both methane and carbon dioxide, with carbon dioxide dominating emissions. Conversely most ponds were sinks of nitrous oxide. We recorded extremely large variation in emissions and the general pattern was that nutrient enrichment (in particular nitrogen) and higher annual average temperatures led to the largest emissions.

The study of our 20-year-old mesosocms experiment allowed us to quantify carbon burial and compare that with emissions. We showed that increased nutrients and higher temperatures can combine to turn ponds from potential sinks of carbon to overall sources by increasing methane emissions.

In a study led by UCL we also showed that pond restoration, by removing trees from terrestrialised ponds,  can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

We also learnt that a stand-up paddle board is the key to efficient pond sampling!

Professor Matías Arim –  Universidad de la República, Uruguay  

The PONDERFUL consortium undertook fieldwork and theoretical studies to learn more about the connection between land cover, climate conditions, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning.

Our research covered different spatial scales:

• An individual system, assessing the importance of the interaction of groups of species on the biodiversity of ponds and how they react to large-scale disturbances.
• Comparing different configurations of real pondscapes to analyse the characteristics of real landscapes and how they could enhance biodiversity.
• How temporary, seasonal, and permanent ponds connect and their combined impact on biodiversity.
• For each of the freshwater ecoregions of Europe, the importance of any single area (10km by 10 km) for the connectivity of freshwaters.
• The potential effects of climate-induced degradation of freshwater landscapes on biodiversity. Permanent, temporary, and ephemeral freshwater showed different sensitivity to landscape degradation. In general, species with larger dispersal distances that inhabit small, uniform habitats were more affected by the loss of water.

PONDERFUL research points to nature-based solutions features that could achieve greater impacts with the same resources in terms of Nature’s Contributions to People. These findings could guide ecosystem management and the implementation of nature-based solutions.

Professor Beat Oertli – HES-SO

We demonstrated how pond and pondscapes are efficient and cost-effective nature-based solutions for addressing societal challenges, especially those linked to climate change (biodiversity crisis, warming environment, water scarcity, flood risks and greenhouse gas emissions). This was achieved through an inventory of 183 nature-based solutions in Europe, coupled with eight PONDERFUL demonstration-sites (DEMO-sites) where 50 success stories have been evidenced.

Using the knowledge generated through PONDERFUL, we provided stakeholders and policy makers with a set of new science-based tools for implementing pond/pondscape nature-based solutions

The tools are:

• CLIMA-Pond designs presenting a prototype of a pond as a nature-based solution for addressing climate change challenges in natural, rural and urban landscapes.
• A technical handbook on restoring, managing and creating ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions. It includes results from the PONDERFUL project and expertise from across the consortium, presented through infographics, tables, text and photographs. The document includes contributions from across the partnership and was also developed using feedback from the third stakeholder workshop. The Handbook is fully illustrated and produced in colour in 11 languages, easily accessible as an electronic pdf. This allows its international reach among our target audience, which includes landowners, practitioners, policymakers, business owners.
• A guidance document for policy makers. It recommends steps that can be taken at local, regional, national or international level to effectively use ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Available to download, the policy guidance document is fully illustrated and has been translated into 11 different languages.
• A multi-criteria decision making tool that helps in the implementation of pond and pondscapes as nature-based solutions, by forecasting the potential Nature’s Contributions to People/ecosystem services and biodiversity benefits delivered under various scenarios of climate change and under different management actions.

Professor Jeremy Biggs – Freshwater Habitats Trust

Throughout PONDERFUL, we’ve shared insights on ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions, stimulating discussions on their role in climate change adaptation. Through social media, our newsletter and stakeholder engagement, we’ve highlighted the importance of small waters. The PONDERFUL consortium united 50 leading freshwater experts to welcome the resolution on Conservation and Management of Small Wetlands, introduced by The Convention on Wetlands.

Members of the consortium contributed to the PONDERFUL technical webinars and the International Pond Conference, co-hosted with the European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN), which drew more than 500 attendees.

Project partners also created two animated videos, Exploring the Importance of Ponds and How to Create a New Pond, available on YouTube in multiple languages. The former won the Audience Award at the Braga Science Film Fest. These videos, alongside new information posters and policy briefing notes, ensure PONDERFUL’s legacy, promoting the role of ponds and pondscapes in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

PONDERFUL research papers can be viewed here, with more due for publication in the future.

Here I review some recent research papers that caught my eye and got me thinking, or suggested some practical actions we could take for ponds. Results from PONDERFUL are also now beginning to make valuable additions to our understanding of ponds so keep an eye out for the project’s scientific publications.

Ponds and other small freshwaters

Andy Green and colleagues working on seed dispersal by water birds have developed a truly impressive understanding of the substantial role that birds play in moving both wetland and terrestrial plant propagules around the landscape. A recent addition to this work charts the history of our understanding of seed dispersal by water birds, including an interesting analysis of what we still believe (incorrectly) about seed dispersal as a result of rather uncritically repeating some of Charles Darwin’s original ideas. Of course, Darwin got the most important thing right – that water birds transport plant propagules – but for several other of his hunches, still repeated in the scientific literature, we now know better. So, Darwin thought that seeds eaten by water birds were destroyed by digestion, that dry-fruited seeds are mainly dispersed on fur or feathers (i.e. on the outside of animals) and waterbirds only disperse aquatic plants, all things we now know not to be true. I’m sure Darwin would have been the first to appreciate that science ever grows and would love the fact that his observations, as has so often been the case, opened up a whole new branch of Conservation Biology.

As well as observations on seed dispersal, Green and colleagues have continued to make valuable observations on the ponds of the Doñana National Park, including both the basic ecology of the ponds and the need for their protection. In the paper ‘Hydroperiod length, not pond age, determines zooplankton taxonomic and functional diversity in temporary ponds, they evaluate the influence of different environmental factors on zooplankton community structure in 96 ‘new’ (created in 2005) Mediterranean Temporary Ponds. They suggest that, overall, future restorations of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds should aim to increase pond heterogeneity in order to maintain zooplankton diversity, and also to benefit other aquatic taxa. Additionally, to maintain and restore adequate hydroperiods in the face of climate change, water supplies to ponds should be guaranteed by restoring their catchment areas and preventing groundwater overexploitation, a particular problem in the Doñana National Park that is likely to be significant elsewhere. The experimental temporary ponds dug in the park in 2005 were only 30 cm or 60 cm deep when created and the authors suggest that greater depth would help increase the length of time for which they hold water, helping to counteract the effects of climate change.

Given the condition of the Doñana National Park, a recent publication from the same team provides an important lesson on the importance of talking to the locals when diagnosing environmental problems. In this high-profile location they emphasise the importance of local technical knowledge of the effects on ponds and other wetlands of groundwater abstraction for fruit farming, and the need to build that knowledge into the identification of solutions.

We have often in PONDERFUL remarked that ponds occur from high mountains to low-lying coasts, where the land meets the sea. But the distribution and ecology of mountain ponds is not well-known so a recent study mapping high-altitude Italian ponds provides useful practical information on the location of these important waterbodies. ‘High-altitude’ was defined as land above 300 m and ponds were identified using satellite images of Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Copernicus Sentinel-2, which provided data on area, perimeter and altitude of the ponds. A total of 2156 ponds were found with 62% in the Alps and 38% in the Apennines. The authors not that the list is not complete as a result of the difficulties of seeing ponds under trees.

Most readers of this newsletter will have a clear idea that adding non-native Goldfish (Carassius auratus) to ponds is not likely to be good for pond biodiversity, but perhaps not know so much about the detailed effects. So it is useful to have a detailed study of the effect of adding Goldfish to ponds and the impact this has on pond biodiversity. In the study of Benjamin Lejeune and colleagues, introduced Goldfish replaced Palmate Newts (Lissotriton helveticus) as the top predator. Global trophic diversity of consumer communities was reduced by a factor of three in Goldfish compared with newt ponds. Proxies of food chain length, basal resource diversity use and trophic redundancy were also all reduced by a factor of two. Consistent with theories of Food Chain Length, newt ponds displayed higher abundance and diversity of predatory macroinvertebrates, with ‘predator’ and ‘macroinvertebrate’ being the dominant modalities of the ‘feeding’ and ‘food type’ traits in these communities, respectively. By contrast, Goldfish ponds were almost completely devoid of predatory invertebrates, with trait modalities related to low trophic levels (i.e., ‘detritus’ food type, ‘deposit feeder’ and ‘filter feeder’ feeding types), indicative of a truncated food web, or trophic downgrading. Rightly the authors conclude that in such small size ecosystems, the consequences of alien omnivore introductions such as Goldfish can be particularly dramatic, requiring greater recognition and warranting conservation actions.

In South Africa, Charl Deacon and colleagues provide valuable evidence of the role of the whole networks of ponds and other small freshwater habitats for biodiversity. They considered the contribution of 10 freshwater biotypes in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa in maintaining dragonfly communities. The waterbody types were open natural ponds, forested natural ponds, open marshes, vegetated marshes, forested marshes, open wallows, forested wallows, open streams, forested streams and the habitats associated with one large lake. They conclude that it is the variety of habitats that is important for maintaining dragonfly functional diversity, both in protected areas and in the conservation corridors among forestry plantations. They note that traditional freshwater conservation efforts have placed strong emphasis on large waterbodies such as lakes but conclude that, in the study area, a wide variety of lentic and lotic biotope types, both small and large, and in both in protected areas and ‘conservation corridors’ in modified landscapes, must remain intact to maintain the full diversity of dragonfly species in the region. In other words, dragonfly conservation in this area requires a full waterscape approach.

Other interesting papers

The use of inappropriate analytical methods may be leading to overestimation of global freshwater invertebrate recovery according to a recent (October 2024) report by Laurence Gaume and Marion Desquilbet. Many people reading this newsletter will be aware of the on-going debate on whether freshwater invertebrate communities are becoming richer or declining in diversity and this paper adds some detailed notes of caution about methodological approaches to the analysis of long-term trends in large datasets. With reference particularly to a prominent paper in the journal Science, which reported declines in terrestrial, but increases in freshwater, insect abundances, the authors document numerous methodological problems with this analysis. Specifically, they found more ‘problem types’ per dataset in the freshwater realm than in the terrestrial realm. Overall, they conclude that, in its current state, the database neither enables the study of temporal trends of insects worldwide nor their drivers.

Practical actions

A recent update on the need to bend the curve on the loss of global freshwater biodiversity, by David Dudgeon and David Strayer, makes gloomy reading. The authors comment on the likelihood of reducing the seemingly inexorable decline of freshwater biodiversity, particularly through the adoption of the recommendations of the Emergency Recovery Plan (ERP) for freshwater. They conclude that, although ‘hopefulness is a defining feature of the ERP’, ‘we may be unable to bend the curve as much as is needed. Further commenting that ‘implementation of established methods for protecting freshwater biodiversity may not…[be]…enough to prevent continued ecosystem degradation and species loss’, suggests that something urgently needs to change.

Practically, a major new publication by IUCN on ‘Designing and managing protected and conserved areas to support inland water ecosystems and biodiversity’ will be of interest to everyone protecting freshwater biodiversity. Although the guide is a bit light on ponds, the approaches and methods recommended provide a useful international checklist – and now of course with the PONDERFUL Technical Handbook much of the pond detail is readily available.

More optimistically, a study on the value of small water bodies in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes for farmland birds provides quantitative data on the value of these habitats for conservation-priority and threatened species. Considering cattle ponds, drinking troughs and artificial pools, the authors document the role of these habitats in providing water, food, refuge and nest material resource, finding that different trophic groups of birds used small water bodies in different ways. Overall, the ponds and pools were used by 80 species from 34 avian families including nine species listed as conservation-priority in the EU Birds Directive and 12 species threatened at national or regional scale. The authors conclude that agri-environment schemes should (1) ensure the protection and sustainable management of the existing traditional small water bodies, (2) foster the creation of near-natural small water bodies (e.g., ponds with smooth shoreline and muddy bottom to provide birds with safe access for bathing and abundant emerging insects or nest-building material, respectively) in those regions where natural ponds are vanishing, and (3) promote the diversity of microhabitats at SWB scale (e.g., adjacent trees and scrubs, small ground-level puddles and non-vegetated open shoreline zones). These management measures would also benefit other threatened animal groups which are frequently associated to SWB, such as bats and amphibians. All of these recommendations would be valuable suggestions for the new Nature Restoration Plans that EU states have to make for agricultural areas for the new Nature Restoration Law.

Professor Jeremy Biggs, Freshwater Habitats Trust

One of the key innovations of PONDERFUL is the CLIMA-pond concept and protocol. Alfred Figueras Anton and Dr Lars Briggs (both of AMPHI Consult in Denmark) explain how the concept could help people worldwide harness the power of ponds as a nature-based solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

How did CLIMA-ponds come about and what was the original thinking behind the concept?

The idea of developing the CLIMA-Pond concept originated at the beginning of the PONDERFUL project. The goal was to conceptualise and create a marketable product based on specific conditions enabling ponds to store carbon, emit lower greenhouse gases than average, and simultaneously provide additional climate adaptation functions, such as water storage.

What specific challenges are CLIMA-ponds designed to address as we adapt to climate change?

CLIMA-Ponds are designed to tackle challenges related to climate change adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity conservation, while also benefiting local communities. Specific challenges include water retention during storm events and droughts, enhancing water quality and availability at the landscape level, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ponds.

How did the AMPHI team use its background in pond creation to develop the CLIMA-pond design?

With over 30 years of practical experience in creating ponds and restoring small freshwaters, AMPHI combined this expertise with the latest scientific findings from the PONDERFUL project. Additionally, state-of-the-art best practices for pond creation, restoration, and management were compiled into “design briefs,” which guided the development of the CLIMA-Pond concept.

How did you approach the research for CLIMA-ponds?

The CLIMA-Pond concept was enriched by four years of research under the PONDERFUL project. Most of the key findings emerged during the final year, enabling the refinement of CLIMA-Pond designs and the development of standardized parameters that define what constitutes a CLIMA-Pond.

You have come up with three main designs: urban, rural and nature ponds. Why did you take this approach?

We created three types of CLIMA-Ponds to address the varying conditions found in different locations. Drawing on AMPHI’s experience in natural habitats, agricultural landscapes, and urban environments, we developed:

• Nature CLIMA-Pond: Focused on providing clean water for breeding protected amphibian species while contributing to climate change mitigation.
• Rural CLIMA-Pond: Integrated natural pond characteristics into agricultural landscapes, incorporating features such as drawdown zones, buffer zones, and pre-ponds with macrophytes and helophytes to retain nutrients and improve water quality.
• Urban CLIMA-Pond: Adapted to urban settings, using clean water sources like rainwater from roofs. These ponds may include cleaning and inlet modules to prevent stormwater flushing and were designed to help mitigate urban heat islands.

What makes a CLIMA-pond different from any other pond?

CLIMA-Pond is per se a Nature-based solution, with four main pillars: Good water quality, Water storage (Climate adaptation), Low emission of greenhouse gases (Climate mitigation) and Abundant and diverse flora and fauna (Biodiversity conservation).

What are the key design features of a CLIMA-pond and how could these help us tackle climate change?

The most critical feature is maintaining good water quality by ensuring clean water sources and incorporating design elements like pond buffers and pre-ponds in areas impacted by nutrients or pollution. Additional features, such as varied depths, large drawdown zones, macrophyte diversity, and partial sun exposure, help sustain water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What were the main challenges you faced when developing the CLIMA-ponds designs and how did you overcome them?

The primary challenge was reaching a consensus on the conditions required for a pond to qualify as a CLIMA-Pond. Since ponds are highly site-specific in terms of biodiversity and climate benefits, standardising a concept applicable to diverse situations and geographical contexts was challenging. Collaborative discussions and detailed criteria development helped address this.

How did you deal with geographical and cultural differences when approaching the design for an international market?

We addressed geographical diversity by defining minimum requirements for CLIMA-Ponds based on the concept’s four main pillars. Standardised values for certain parameters, such as water quality or habitat features, were adapted to regional contexts, including Northern, Central, and Southern Europe. For international markets, some parameters remain universal, while others are tailored to local conditions to ensure relevance and recognition.

What is your vision for CLIMA-ponds in the future?

Our vision is for CLIMA-Ponds to become a best practice standard for low-emission ponds. We aim for pondscapes to be evaluated using this framework, enabling ponds to serve as tools for biodiversity conservation and climate action by a wide range of stakeholders.

Policy makers and practitioners around the world can now access free guidance on how to harness the power of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions. Two major new publications, developed through PONDERFUL, bring together the latest knowledge and practical advice on restoring and creating these habitats for the benefit of biodiversity, people and climate.

Ponds and Pondscapes: A technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation is a 130-page technical handbook. Featuring infographics and photographs, it is aimed at anyone planning, designing and implementing practical projects that use ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions.

Bringing together expertise from across the PONDERFUL consortium and new research findings from the project, it includes practical guidance on managing, restoring and creating ponds. It features the three new CLIMA-Pond designs, guidance on funding a pond project, and ‘success stories’ from across Europe and South America, which demonstrate how ponds and pondscapes are helping to solve societal challenges.

The book was shaped by stakeholders who provided feedback at PONDERFUL workshops in autumn and winter 2023-24.

Policy makers and legislators can also access a new policy guidance document: Using ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions: Guidance for policy makers on the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Complementing the technical handbook, this document provides policy makers with an international overview of how ponds and pondscapes are protected under current legislation. It also sets out guidance on how to create a national plan for ponds.

The publications were launched at a technical webinar on 8^th November, at which Professor Jeremy Biggs, CEO of Freshwater Habitats Trust and Hugh McDonald of Ecologic Institute shared their knowledge of policies affecting ponds and pondscapes and presented a vision for national plans for ponds.

Professor Jeremy Biggs, said: “Together, these two documents provide the latest guidance on restoring, managing and creating ponds and pondscapes, based on new evidence from PONDERFUL. The project has generated exciting results demonstrating how these small waterbodies could help us adapt to climate change.

“These two documents present the reader with practical solutions based on that new knowledge, helping ensure that what we have learned through PONDERFUL will deliver real benefits for society and the environment over many years to come.”

The documents are available to download in several languages here on the PONDERFUL website.

In October, the historic Catalan city of Vic provided the backdrop for the last official meeting of the PONDERFUL project. Members of the PONDERFUL consortium gathered over three days to share the project’s outputs and discuss future collaboration to ensure the project’s legacy continues far beyond its conclusion in November.

Hosted by project coordinators, the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia, the gathering brought together project partners from across Europe and South America. The European Commission’s Project Manager, Piret Noukas reviewed and gave feedback on the outputs of PONDERFUL.

Over the last four years, freshwater scientists working on PONDERFUL have gathered a significant amount of new data on ponds, which is helping us to understand the contribution of ponds to climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation. At the meeting, partners discussed future collaborative opportunities and plans to continue working with the project data.

The meeting included several workshops, focused on how to further improve and disseminate innovative tools developed during the project to increase the reach and impact of the project. These include:

• Two videos addressing the importance of ponds, and recommendations on how to build a pond.
• A Technical Handbook which provides practical advice on the protection, management, restoration and creation of ponds and pondscapes to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
• A Policy Guide directed at regional, national and international policy makers with the tools to design effective plans for ponds and pondscapes.
• Leaflets in 16 languages presenting a selection of evidence-based success stories from the so-called DEMO-sites, identified as part of the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for addressing societal challenges in those pondscapes (such as climate change and biodiversity loss).
• The CLIMA-Pond designs for new ponds for climate change adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
• The Decision Support Tool – a web-based system that will enable people to compare different potential nature-based solution (NBS) implementations linked to pond or pondscapes.

The PONDERFUL project has generated new knowledge on ponds and pondscapes, as well as tools and resources for practitioners and policy makers to harness the power of these habitats as nature-based solutions.

The project ends on 30^th November, but these resources remain available on the PONDERFUL Information System, providing an important legacy for PONDERFUL.

The Information System hosts data generated by PONDERFUL via a centralised database on aquatic ecosystems, mostly at European level. This is an open access repository for long-term archiving and preservation which meets EU data management standard. The primary focus is on data used in PONDERFUL DEMO-sites and case studies, and resulting maps, model outputs and tools.

A repository of data and other outputs from the PONDERFUL and AQUACROSS projects, the Information System is a resource for anyone seeking to implement nature-based solutions using aquatic ecosystems to deliver ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

As much of the work is ongoing, new resources will gradually be uploaded after the project.

Key outputs of PONDERFUL, including the technical handbook and policy guidance document, are available in several languages on Zenodo.

The two project videos, also translated into several languages, can be streamed on the PONDERFUL YouTube channel.

Access the PONDERFUL Information System: Info System – Ponderful

More than 500 people gathered for the International Pond Conference: ponds for biodiversity, climate and people, on 12th and 13th November 2024. Co-hosted by PONDERFUL and the European Pond Conservation Network (EPCN), the virtual event attracted freshwater scientists, policymakers and practitioners from around the world.

The conference was officially opened by PONDERFUL co-ordinator Professor Sandra Brucet, EPCN representative Professor Sandro Lanfranco and Piret Noukas from the European Commission.

With nearly 100 presentations from a global panel and 25 posters, the conference featured keynote speakers from leading institutions. Highlighting the need for more research on ponds, Dr Meredith Holgerson from Cornell University provided an overview of carbon cycling in ponds, including the importance of ponds for global greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage.  Dr Hannah Druckenmiller from Caltech discussed the potential for using machine learning to better manage water resources and introduced a new tool for mapping waterbodies, including ponds. Describing ponds as ‘battery packs for nature restoration’, Dr Pete Brotherton from Natural England discussed the integration of pond conservation in environmental policies. Underlining the fact that small habitat patches, including ponds, contribute more to biodiversity than large patches, Professor Lenore Fahrig of Carleton University explained how pondscapes can enhance biodiversity at a landscape scale.

The event showcased some of the key results from the Horizon 2020 PONDERFUL project. The project’s findings, presented by members of the consortium, highlighted how ponds act as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, including their capacity for carbon storage and contributions to biodiversity conservation. PONDERFUL partners also shared innovative tools for pond management, such as remote sensing technologies, predictive models and interactive decision tools, which have been explored in the project and are helping shape policies and practical applications.

The International Pond Conference was organised during the 20^th anniversary year of the EPCN. Freshwater Habitats Trust CEO and EPCN co-founder Professor Jeremy Biggs delivered a special session celebrating the network’s achievements in forging international collaborations and raising awareness of the importance of ponds. Professor Biggs also officially closed the conference, thanking speakers and attendees and reflecting on the event’s significance.

PONDERFUL Coordinator, ICREA Research Professor Sandra Brucet of University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia said: “We were thrilled that more than 500 people attended this conference, which was a major event for freshwaters and for ponds in particular”.

“Our speakers shared the latest evidence and innovative approaches for harnessing the potential of ponds to help us adapt to our changing climate – including many of the PONDERFUL project outputs”.

“Although the EU Horizon 2020 PONDERFUL project is coming to an end, in many ways, it feels like the beginning of something much larger. The conference helped to cement many of the international partnerships established through the EPCN and PONDERFUL. Together, we’ll keep sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and advocating for greater recognition of ponds and pondscapes”.

Professor Sandro Lanfranco of the EPCN said: “The EPCN was honoured to co-host the International Pond Conference. This milestone event underscored the vital importance of ponds for biodiversity, climate resilience, and water management”.

“As the EPCN celebrates 20 years of dedicated work in the conservation of ponds and small water bodies across Europe, our vision is to continue building upon these successes and to remain an active and pioneering network for pond conservation. Together, we can ensure that the next 20 years of EPCN are as impactful as the last”.

View the conference programme and the poster gallery.

For more information on the EPCN or to get involved, please contact [email protected].

Can you explain what your role in PONDERFUL has involved?

My role in PONDERFUL has involved the coordination of the management of the consortium, the scientific coordination of the project and the communication with the European Commission. I am also a leader of two tasks: one focused on the temporary ponds and the role of hydroperiod and another about the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in ponds.

Ever since I worked in policy support at the European Commission, I realised that the Water Framework Directive had very little focus on small waterbodies, although they are important and abundant ecosystems. So, I thought that, one day, I should apply for funding to overcome this issue. The perfect call was opened just when I was about to have my daughter, but still I established a consortium and started the PONDERFUL adventure.

How did you come to be interested in ponds and pondscapes?

I am an aquatic ecologist working mainly in lentic waters (ponds, lakes and wetlands) and with interest in the biodiversity and food web structure of these ecosystems and their response to global changes, including climate change and pollution. I am also interested in the factors influencing freshwater biodiversity across continental gradients. Ultimately, I aim to apply my research to solving problems related with the conservation of nature and to do so I pay particular attention at transferring my knowledge into European policies and platforms.

After completing my PhD at the University of Girona (Spain) onthe zooplankton of Mediterranean ponds, I did my postdoc at the University of Oslo (Norway) and the University of Aarhus (Denmark), as a Marie Curie Fellow in the group of renowned freshwater ecologist Erik Jeppesen. I also worked as a research scientist at the European Commission-Joint Research Centre (Italy) where I was doing policy support research within the Water Framework Directive and also had the opportunity to participate in several European projects.

Since 2015, I have been a ICREA Research Professor at the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (Spain), where I am Coordinator of the Aquatic Ecology Group. I have also recently established Bionexus charity, with the objective to protect, restore and manage aquatic ecosystems in our Mediterranean region.

What have you enjoyed most about the project?

I have particularly enjoyed collaborating with a large international and multidisciplinary (and highly efficient!) team. This has given me the opportunity to learn about other disciplines outside mine and discover more about the ecology and biodiversity of ponds in other regions.

PONDERFUL is now at its final stage and we have achieved so much in furthering our understanding of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions. It is exciting that our results are being widely disseminated and will reach a wide audience. My hope is that this will make both decision makers and regular people more aware of the values that small waterbodies provide and support their future creation, restoration and management.

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What is the legacy of PONDERFUL?

When I was asked in an interview four years ago about which could be the main impact of PONDERFUL, I said it would be to raise the profile of ponds and make policy makers aware of the benefits of preserving ponds for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity, the adaptation to climate change and the well-being of the society in general. Now that we have almost finished the project, I think we can be proud of our achievements because, thanks to PONDERFUL, we have been able to reach society at large, raising awareness and providing concrete proof concerning the importance of pond ecosystems.

The legacy of PONDERFUL is a set of tools, like the technical handbook and policy guidance document, the decision tool, the demo-site leaflets, the CLIMA-pond concept, and many more outputs that will support scientists, policymakers and practitioners to get the maximum value when using ponds as nature-based solutions to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.

How does the future look for ponds and pondscapes?

Now that we have more tools and more knowledge to preserve ponds and pondscapes – and with decision makers being more aware of the benefits of preserving ponds – I can see a brighter future to these small ecosystems.

But, on the other hand, we are in a climate crisis. In some regions, like mine in the Mediterranean, there is less water, and ponds are disappearing at an alarming rate. In other regions the increase in temperature, extreme events and water runoff can exacerbate eutrophication. Therefore, more effort will be needed to preserve these unique ecosystems.

This is the end of the PONDERFUL project, so what happens next?

While this is formally the end of PONDERFUL, it is the beginning of an exciting period when there will be a flourishing of international publications about many different aspects of ponds, including the relation to society and the use of ponds as nature-based solutions. PONDERFUL has also promoted several international collaborations that will maintained through the European Pond Conservation Network.

The consortium is keen to look for future collaborations, particularly outside Europe, as well as new projects – because there is still much to discover about these small but mighty habitats.

We are hosting the final technical webinar of the PONDERFUL project this next friday 8th November at 16.00 (CET).

Professor Jeremy Biggs from Freshwater Habitats Trust, and Manuel Lago and Hugh McDonald from Ecologic Institute, will discuss the steps to developing national and regional plans to protect, restore and create ponds and pondscapes. The webinar will explore how policymakers can use these small but mighty habitats as nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

At the event we will launch two major new publications: the PONDERFUL Technical Handbook and Policy Guidance document.

The webinar will take place on 8th November 8 at 16.00 CET via Zoom.

You can sign up for free here.

We are thrilled to announce that the latest PONDERFUL animated video is now available on YouTube! This engaging video walks viewers through the various steps involved in building a new pond for biodiversity, making it an invaluable resource for anyone interested in contributing to nature conservation.

José Teixeira of PONDERFUL partner CIIMAR said:

“YouTube has become an increasingly effective platform for science communication. In PONDERFUL, it is helping us reach a broader audience and convey the significance of ponds and pond landscapes. Our latest animation video offers easy-to-follow instructions for the process of building ponds, mixing the latest scientific evidence with a touch of humour to make the learning experience enjoyable and accessible to all. By communicating in a straightforward and entertaining manner, we aim to enhance public and policy makers understanding of the vital role small water bodies play in our ecosystems and the importance and tools for building new ponds”.

In our commitment to making PONDERFUL accessible to a global audience, they are available in nine different languages: Catalan, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. This multilingual approach ensures that different countries can benefit from the valuable insights shared in the video and that it can serve as an effective education tool for younger generations at a wider geographical range.

YouTube’s enduring presence as a video-sharing platform means that our content can be viewed anytime, making it a lasting resource for educators, students, and nature enthusiasts alike.

We invite you to watch our video and help us in spreading the word about the importance of pond conservation here. Check it out on our YouTube channel: @ponderful4601.