Central Europe faces drought risks as historical riverbed markings reappear

Low water levels in Central Europe have caused historical riverbed markings, known as ‘hunger stones’ (kamenje gladi), to reappear. These stones, inscribed with dates ranging from the 15th to the 20th centuries, served as warnings of severe droughts that threatened navigation, agriculture, and livelihoods. Notable examples have recently emerged along the Elbe River near Dresden and near the Rhine River in Leverkusen.

In response to increasing climate risks, three EU-linked projects—SpongeBoost, SpongeWorks, and SpongeScapes—have released a policy brief advocating for the restoration of the ‘sponge function’ of landscapes. This concept refers to the ability of soil, wetlands, forests, and floodplains to absorb, store, and slowly release water.

The brief highlights that 70 percent of European wetlands and over half of peatlands are degraded, reducing natural water retention and increasing the risk of both droughts and floods. The proposed strategy includes integrating landscape restoration into river basin management, aligning EU agricultural and cohesion policies, and utilizing the Sponge Fund to finance these ecological efforts.