Showcases

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City wetland park for surface water co-creation in Barcelona, Spain

  • Climate: Mediterranean
  • Urban
  • Country: Spain

In the heart of Barcelona, a new urban wetland park is redefining how Mediterranean cities manage water. Spanning 30,000 m² across three city streets, this system captures rainwater through sustainable urban drainage. The water is stored for irrigation, street cleaning, and groundwater recharge during drought periods.

Beyond water reuse, the park enhances biodiversity, transforms grey spaces into green ones, and offers recreational and wellbeing benefits to citizens. With two phases already completed by the municipality, the next expansion within our project will serve as a model for urban water resilience through nature

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Tertiary treatment wetlands for water quality control in Granollers, Spain

  • Climate: Mediterranean
  • Urban
  • Country: Spain

In drought-prone Granollers, a tertiary treatment wetland system transforms treated wastewater into a safe and sustainable resource. Capable of producing up to 500 m³ of reclaimed water per day, it supports agriculture, gardening, and urban cleaning. At the same time, this wetland enriches the nearby Can Cabanyes natural area. For our project, the municipality will build a second wetland that focuses on removing emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and pathogens, ensuring water safety for reuse. Throughout the project, we will gather scientific evidence on system performance to help the municipality make informed decisions

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Rewetting low-lying organic soils to create a green circular corridor around the city of Aarhus, Denmark

  • Climate: North temperate zone
  • Peri-Urban
  • Country: Denmark

Around the city of Aarhus, approximately 350 hectares of low-lying organic soils are being transformed into wetlands. They connect natural habitats and create green circular corridor that link several sites. This initiative enhances biodiversity, carbon capture, and groundwater recharge while offering new recreational spaces for citizens.

This showcase also investigates how municipal governance and financing can support NBS implementation, providing a replicable model for integrating wetland restoration into local land management and climate adaptation strategies.

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Constructing wetland reservoirs to secure agriculture production on Samsø island, Denmark

  • Climate: North temperate zone
  • Peri-Urban
  • Country: Denmark

On Samsø Island, farmers created small wetland reservoirs to collect drainage water during rainy seasons and reuse it for irrigation in dry periods. These “water batteries” help preserve groundwater for drinking while sustaining local agriculture. They are hence very important to tackle the island’s limited freshwater resources.

This showcase will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of these farmer-led solutions, while co-developing models for collaborative water management. The reservoirs also bring added benefits for carbon storage and biodiversity, offering a replicable example for other European islands facing drought challenges.

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Small wetlands water bodies to maintain biodiversity and water resilience around Lake Constance, Germany

  • Climate: Warm and humid continental
  • Rural
  • Country: Germany

Around Lake Constance, a tri-border region shared by Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, small wetland ponds form an essential network of biodiversity hotspots and water retention zones. Over time, many of these natural features have degraded due to sedimentation and drought.

NBS4Drought supports the restoration and long-term maintenance of these wetlands in partnership with local stakeholders, developing best practice guidelines for their design, management, and ecological performance. The results will strengthen water resilience and biodiversity across Central Europe’s shared landscapes.

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Riparian Wetlands Restoration to sustain downstream water resources around Świniobródka River, Poland

  • Climate: Temperate
  • Rural
  • Country: Poland

Located within the Świniobródka River catchment in northeastern Poland, this site demonstrates how riparian wetland restoration can revitalise forest ecosystems and secure downstream water resources. Actions carried out during the project include blocking drainage ditches and enhancing natural water retention to mitigate flow interruptions caused by increasing droughts.

By combining forestry and water management, this showcase as an example for cost-effective, scalable NBS for improving water storage and groundwater recharge. The outcomes will guide national wetland restoration policies and provide models for sustainable forest-water interactions across Eastern Europe.

Trail 'Czahary' photo by Michał Arciszewski (PPN Archive)
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Polesie National Park Peatbog Conservation to safeguard sustainable water management, Poland

  • Climate: Transitional
  • Rural
  • Country: Poland

Polesie National Park, home to Europe’s largest peatbog system, plays a vital role in regional water regulation. Climate change has lowered water levels, threatening the park’s biodiversity and ecosystem balance.

This showcase expands multifunctional retention ponds to enhance rainwater harvesting and maintain peatbog hydration. By assessing their performance as engineered NBS, the project aims to secure long-term ecological resilience and develop a replicable model for managing protected wetland areas across Poland and Europe.