Overcoming Barriers to Pondscape Nature-Based Solutions

Dr. Manuel Lago; Hugh McDonald; Malgorzata Blicharska; Simon Ryfisch; Fabian Frick; Jacques-Aristide Perrin; Joël Robin; Pietro Sala; Johannes Sauer; Maria Vrachioli

Overcoming Barriers to Pondscape Nature-Based Solutions

Key Insights from PONDERFUL

Publication: Report
Citation: Lago, M., McDonald, H. (2024). Overcoming Barriers to Pondscape Nature-Based Solutions. A synthesis and final PONDERFUL Framework. PONDERFUL Project (EU Horizon 2020 GA no. ID869296), Deliverable D1.6

The report, "Overcoming policy, financial, social, and economic barriers to pondscape NBS for climate change mitigation and adaptation", has been released as part of the PONDERFUL project. Commissioned under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, this synthesis report refines and presents the final PONDERFUL framework – a comprehensive strategy for scaling up pondscapes as effective nature-based solutions (NbS).

Co-authored by Dr. Manuel Lago and Hugh McDonald from Ecologic Institute, along with an international team of researchers, the report highlights the essential role of ponds in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem service delivery. Despite their ecological significance, ponds remain overlooked in policy frameworks, with financial and governance barriers limiting their widespread implementation.

This report provides a final overview of PONDERFUL's investigations into social, policy, economic and financing barriers to implementing ponds as nature-based solutions. Based on these, the report concludes with key lessons learned. The report also considers methodological reflections, including a critical appraisal and recommendations for stakeholder engagement in large-scale, international research projects.

The PONDERFUL project

The PONDERFUL project explores the socio-economic, policy, and financial dimensions of pondscapes. Through field research at multiple demonstration sites across Europe and beyond, the project assesses stakeholder engagement, financing mechanisms, and policy gaps, offering actionable recommendations to promote pondscape NbS.

Key findings of the report

Ponds are underrepresented in EU and national policies, despite their high ecological value.
Stakeholder engagement is crucial for successful pond NbS implementation, requiring better communication and governance structures.
Financing challenges persist, with a need for innovative funding models and better integration of ponds into conservation and climate adaptation strategies.
The refined PONDERFUL Framework provides a multidimensional approach to overcoming barriers, ensuring efficient, equitable, and effective implementation of pond-based NbS.

By enhancing awareness, policy alignment, and funding strategies, the findings of this report aim to boost the recognition and application of pondscapes as a climate resilience tool.

This report provides a final overview of PONDERFUL's investigations into social, policy, economic and financing barriers to implementing ponds as nature-based solutions. Based on these, the report concludes with key lessons learned.

Contact

Dr. Manuel Lago

Senior Fellow

Creating a National Plan for Ponds

8 November 2024
Hugh McDonald

Presentation:Speech

At the International Pond Conference 2024, which took place online from 12 to 13 November 2024, Hugh McDonald from the Ecologic Institute in Berlin presented the results of a comprehensive study on the financing of ponds and pond landscapes as nature-based solutions (NbS). The work analyzed public and private financing models and assessed their suitability for the implementation of pondscapes, and for financing NbS more broadly.

Financing Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions

13 November 2024
Hugh McDonald

Publication:Brochure

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 promote biodiversity. In addition to the policy dimension, it contains practical suggestions for monitoring, management and restoration of ponds.

Using Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions

Guidance for policy makers

Year 2024

Publication:Brochure

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.

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. The PONDERFUL handbook provides practice-oriented guidelines for dealing with these valuable ecosystems and shows how ponds can be integrated into existing landscapes so that nature and people benefit equally.

Ponds and Pondscapes: A technical guide to the use of ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Year 2024

Publication:Report

Financing has been identified as a key barrier that limits the upscaling of nature-based solutions (NBS), including pondscapes. This report aims to address this challenge by supporting pondscape developers to answer a simple question: how can I pay for my pondscape project?

Synthesis Report on Sustainable Financing of the Establishment of Ponds and Pondscapes

Year 2023

Publication:Fact Sheet

The PONDERFUL Sustainable Finance Inventory consists of a total of 22 financing instruments for nature-based solutions (NBS). Each instrument is matched by at least one concrete example of the financing instrument in action. Different financing instruments have different strengths and weaknesses, making them more or less appropriate for different contexts and actors. The Inventory aims to support pondscape developers to understand financing options and identify the finance instruments best suited to their pondscape NBS project.

Nature-based Solutions Sustainable Financing Inventory

Year 2024

Publication:Article

Recognizing the European Union's (EU) influential role in shaping NBS conceptualization, we undertook a qualitative content analysis of 38 EU policies to discern opportunities and limitations in implementing ponds and pondscapes as nature-based solutions (NBS). While our primary focus is on these aquatic habitats, their ubiquity and diverse benefits enable extrapolation to broader implications for NBS in the EU.

Opportunities and Limitations for Nature-Based Solutions in EU Policies

Assessed with a focus on ponds and pondscapes

Year 2023

Publication:Article

This article reviews the role of ponds and pondscapes in delivering Nature's Contributions to People and provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities for their broader implementation as Nature-based Solutions. The authors, among them Manuel Lago (Ecologic Institute) propose a conceptual framework that can help the implementation of pond Nature-based Solutions, and that outlines future research needs.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Use of Ponds and Pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions

Year 2023

Project:Horizon 2020

The H2020 EU-funded PONDERFUL project will investigate how ponds can be used as nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate change. It will evaluate the interaction and feedback between biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate in pondscapes.

Pond Ecosystems for Resilient Future Landscapes in a Changing Climate (PONDERFUL)

Dec 2020 - Nov 2024

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Manuel Lago

Hugh McDonald

Malgorzata Blicharska (Uppsala University)

Simon Ryfisch (Uppsala University)

Fabian Frick (Technical University of Munich)

Jacques-Aristide Perrin (ISARA)

Joël Robin (ISARA)

Pietro Sala (Technical University Munich)

Johannes Sauer (Technical University Munich)

Maria Vrachioli (Technical University Munich)
Credits: Contributors: Alfred Figueras (AMPHI), Beat Oertli (HES-SO), Anubhavi Tiwari (AMPHI)
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International
Year: 2024
Dimension: 66 pp.
Project: Pond Ecosystems for Resilient Future Landscapes in a Changing Climate (PONDERFUL)
Project ID: 33005
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

1 Introduction
1.1 The PONDERFUL project, ponds and pondscapes
1.2 PONDERFUL evaluation and implementation framework

2 Challenges and opportunities for pond implementation – key results
2.1 Stakeholder engagement (Task 1.2)
2.1.1 Background Rationale Introduction Research Questions
2.1.2 Methodology
2.1.3 Results and recommendations
2.2 Social perception of ponds (Task 1.3)
2.2.1 Background Rationale Introduction Research Questions
2.2.2 Methodology
2.2.3 Results
2.3 Policy analysis (Task 1.4)
2.3.1 Background Rationale Introduction Research Questions
2.3.2 Methodology
2.3.3 Results
2.4 Possibilities for financing (Task 1.5)
2.4.1 Introduction
2.4.2 Analytical framework
2.4.3 Methodology
2.4.4 Results
2.5 Assessing the socio-economic benefits of ponds (Task 1.6)
2.5.1 Background Rationale Introduction Research Questions
2.5.2 Choice of Criteria
2.5.2 Methodology
2.5.3 Data collection
2.5.4 Results

3 PONDERFUL Framework
3.1 Summary of lessons learned and recommendations from the workshops
3.2 Assessing ponds and pondscapes – lessons learned and recommendations
3.3 Insights for improved implementation
Keywords: Adaptation

Biodiversity

Nature-based Solutions and Green Infrastructure

Water

pondscape nature-based solutions, pond NbS, climate change adaptation, climate resilience, PONDERFUL project, Horizon 2020 research, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, policy barriers, financial barriers, governance challenges, stakeholder engagement, pond ecosystem, sustainable water management, EU environmental policy, nature-based climate solutions, wetland restoration, innovative funding models, NbS financing, conservation strategies, ecological restoration, sustainable land use, climate mitigation, environmental governance, water conservation, climate adaptation strategies, EU Horizon 2020, nature-based infrastructure, environmental policy gaps, sustainable development, pond management, NbS implementation, ecological sustainability, policy frameworks, green infrastructure, pond biodiversity, water sustainability, nature conservation, NbS best practices, sustainable ecosystems, environmental policy recommendations

Europe, pond

qualitative content analysis, literature review, targeted search, snowball sampling, policy document analysis, stakeholder engagement, structured interviews, semi-structured interviews, stakeholder workshops, financing workflows, analytical framework, data envelopment analysis (DEA), benefit-of-the-doubt (BoD) aggregation, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), case study analysis, socio-economic assessment, cost-benefit analysis, policy gap assessment, inventory of financing instruments, impact evaluation, scenario analysis, participatory research methods, expert consultation, financial modeling, governance analysis, regulatory review, empirical data collection, comparative analysis, ecosystem service valuation, social perception analysis

Attachments

33005-PONDERFUL-overcoming-barriers-to-pondscape-nbs-pond-ecosystems.pdf (3.63 MB)

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