Creating a National Plan for Ponds

 
Cover slide of the presentation titled "Creating a National Plan for Ponds: Recommendations from the PONDERFUL Programme." The background image shows a tranquil landscape featuring shallow ponds surrounded by grassy fields and scattered trees under a blue sky with light clouds. The title and subtitle are written in white text, with authors Jeremy Biggs and Hugh McDonald listed below, along with their affiliations: Freshwater Habitats Trust, UK, and Ecologic Institute, Germany.

© Ecologic Institute, 2024

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Creating a National Plan for Ponds

Recommendations from the PONDERFUL programme

Presentation
Date
Location
online
Speech
Prof. Jeremy Biggs (Freshwater Habitats Trust)
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On 8 November 2024, the final practitioners webinar of the EU project PONDERFUL took place. Led by Professor Jeremy Biggs (Freshwater Habitats Trust) and Hugh McDonald (Ecologic Institute), it discussed how national and regional plans can be developed to protect, restore and create ponds and ponded landscapes. The aim was to inform policymakers on how these small but effective ecosystems can be used as nature-based solutions (NbS) to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Presentation of new publications and guidelines

During the webinar, two key publications of the PONDERFUL project were presented: the technical manual and a guideline for policymakers. These publications provide practical advice on identifying pond sites, setting up monitoring programs to assess the condition of ponds, allocating resources to protect relevant sites and setting realistic targets.

Insights and discussion for practice

The discussion highlighted how decision-makers can use these tools to plan priority conservation measures for ponds. Particular emphasis was placed on the establishment of monitoring programs and the role of ponds in regional biodiversity and climate adaptation strategies. In addition, the importance of a sound data basis to support political decision-making was emphasized.

The event was part of the EU-funded PONDERFUL project, which focuses on the importance of ponds and ponded landscapes.

The systematic planning and implementation of protection and restoration measures for ponds can play a central role in adapting to climate change. The new PONDERFUL guidelines offer concrete tools and approaches for this.

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Event
Final technical webinar of the PONDERFUL project
Speech
Prof. Jeremy Biggs (Freshwater Habitats Trust)
Team
Date
Location
online
Language
English
Project
Project ID
Keywords
Financing of ponds, pond landscapes, nature-based solutions, NbS, biodiversity, climate adaptation, public financing, private financing, environmental goods market, landscape projects, cost-benefit analysis, sustainable financing, European pond landscapes
Europe, Turkey, Uruguay
Cost-benefit analysis, market analysis for environmental goods, evaluation of financing instruments, data collection from case studies, analysis of financing models, integration into profit-oriented projects, cooperation between public and private actors
PublicationBrochurePonds and Pondscapes: A technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation
 
Cover of the "Ponderful: Ponds for Climate" technical guide. The top section shows a serene pond surrounded by lush greenery and a large tree in the foreground. Below, the title "Ponds and Pondscapes" appears on a blue background, followed by the subtitle: "A technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation." The bottom section features an underwater image of a colorful newt among aquatic vegetation.

© PODERFUL project, 2024

The technical handbook of the PONDERFUL project shows how ponds and pond landscapes can be used as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to tackle societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity. Ponds – small standing bodies of water with an... Read more

Biggs, J., Hoyle, S., Matos, I., McDonald, H., Nicolet, P., Oertli, B., Teixeira, J. (2024). Ponds and pondscapes: a technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, EU Horizon 2020 Ponderful project, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13844497

PublicationBrochureUsing Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions
 
Cover of the "Using Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-Based Solutions" guidance document. The left side shows a young girl sitting on a wooden pier extending into a calm pond surrounded by lush greenery. The right side features the title and subtitle in bold white text on a green gradient background: "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."

© PONDERFUL project, 2024

The recently published guide "Using ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions" is a practical guide for policy makers. The guide provides detailed recommendations on using ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions, in particular to adapt to climate change and... Read more

Biggs, J., Hoyle, Matos, I., Oertli, B., Teixeira, J. (2024). 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, EU Horizon 2020 Ponderful project, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13847395