SpongeScapes Comic - Exploring the Meaning of "Sponge"

With louis bonhoure Louis Bonhoure, a master's student, explores the recent use of the term “sponge” in relation to flood and drought mitigation. He examines how this word's simple imagery makes it an engaging way to communicate complex natural processes. He shows how, by turning a technical concept into something instantly visual, the word “sponge” helps bridge science and society. Credits : SpongeScapes has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement n°101112738 and from the UK Research and Innovation/HM Government. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the UK Research and Innovation / HM Government. © 2025 - International Office for Water for the SpongeScapes project. Script, drawing and colouring of the comics: Élisa Bézier and Jean Combette (OiEau) Louis Bonhoure MSc thesis : University of Montpellier and AgroParis Tech Proofreading : Benoît Fribourg Blanc (OiEau) Dr. Ellis Penning (Deltares) Text before script : Chloé Déchelette (OiEau) exploring the thanks to their capacity to store water, they attenuate major floods, And maintain water levels during periods of drought-- Have you heard of this word “sponge”? What does this word mean? Who are you talking to? Where did it come from? Recently, it’s been coming up in a lot of media to talk about flood and drought management… Let’s look at why this new term has emerged, and how it is understood by people from different backgrounds. It’s adding to the words that we’ve also been hearing a lot, like nature-based solutions... wetlands, are real “sponges” First I analysed the use of the word sponge in print media, scientific articles, and EU publications… Excluding certain irrelevant associations and uses... I spotted that the use of “sponge” in media has increased since 2014. It’s heavily associated with the sponge city concept*, as well as with wetlands and soil. I noticed that everyone can appropriate the term “sponge”, in association with their expertise. ...So they switched to talking about what these ecosystems do for us: store water, prevent floods, fight droughts... Before, people tried to protect ecosystems like wetlands, rivers, lakes, by talking about biodiversity. But it didn’t click with policymakers or people in general... Wetlands, of course! That’s the sponge of the landscape. *The Sponge City concept is about designing cities that soak up rain like a sponge -reducing floods and keeping green spaces to beat the heat. Soil’s the real sponge. healthy soil keeps water in the field when you need it. tO ME, A SPONGE IS A FOREST! Trees soak up water, simple as that. But does that mean it’s clear to everyone? “Sponge” was born as a metaphor - easy to picture, easy to explain. I asked 30 people how they understood “sponge”. Turns out, the word unites us - but also means different things to different people. wetlands have traditionally been described as acting like sponges. We need to do more scientific research to better understand the sponge function in natural ecosystems. But their sponge function isn't always consistent. It makes communication easier… but also more slippery. When a sponge is full, it’s full! We can’t expect a single sponge measure to soak up the kind of rain you get once every 10 or 100 years! And when a sponge is empty, it's empty! You can't expect a single sponge measure to provide water for an entire area during a prolonged drought. WhaT...? Sponge is the new chic! Yay! No more water for me, thanks We need clear definitions What counts as a sponge measure? What does it really do? And bonus! Sponge measures often support biodiversity, improve soil health, and protect water quality. It’s more about functions Water experts I interviewed didn’t talk about specific ecosystems or sponge solutions. Sponges everywhere!! Here’s the tricky part: when a word gets too popular, it risks being overused - or misused. Everyone has their own sponge… which is great but also confusing. Youhou! *clap* *clap* *clap* Sponge everywhere! Will people who give up land or income be compensated? Farmers, industries, tourists, nature… everyone sees the land in different ways. We need to plan together, so there’s space for everyone, including nature! How urban is the area? What's the climate like - wet or dry? and what about the soil, does it absorb water easily or not? What are the local problems? What kind of future do local stakeholders imagine? Words we use change how we think about water, and how we live with it. but there is no "ready-made" sponge solution. It's all about testing in your specific context and having a bit of patience. “Sponge’ might just be a word, but it’s helping us imagine a future where humans and nature share the landscape - more wisely, more fairly. Nothing’s perfect. Sponge measures can take space. Sometimes that means giving up land for farming or housing. We have to make thoughtful choices. Who pays to set it up and to maintain it in the long-term? Sponge measures can be natural, like wetlands, rivers, forests, or healthy soils - or man-made, like eco-friendly farming or clever urban designs. But they only work if they fit the local context. And to make a difference, we need many of them working together across the landscape.