Drought, water scarcity, and extreme weather fluctuations are becoming increasingly urgent challenges across Europe. In response, the Bioclimatic Park Drienová, within the framework of the
WATERGRID project, is emerging as a model of good practice. Lessons learned from this Slovak site will be shared across Europe, supporting the implementation of water retention measures.The project’s goal is simple yet ambitious: to retain as much rainwater in the landscape as possible, use it wisely and efficiently, and strengthen the resilience of our environment against drought.
A European initiative for smarter water management
The Civic association Ecoenergy is one of 22 partners involved in the project WATERGRID. This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon EUROPE research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101180636.
Another key partner is the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, which will monitor how effective the measures in the Bioclimate Park Drienová are at retaining rainwater and protecting the landscape from drought.
The work in Bioclimate park is based on the New Water Paradigm, which highlights the importance of holding rainwater directly in the landscape and using it as our most valuable natural resource. Without water, there can be no fertile soil, healthy ecosystems, or stability in society and the economy. That is why caring for water must become a shared priority for individuals and communities alike.
Nature-Based Solutions instead of heavy engineering
Rather than investing in costly, time-consuming, and often unsustainable technical constructions, the project focuses on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). These measures—such as wetlands, soil retention systems, and small water reservoirs—slow water runoff, keep rainwater in the soil, and allow it to be reused during dry periods.
Although such methods were once widely used by our ancestors, many were destroyed during collectivization, leading to landscape degradation. Now, by restoring them, WATERGRID aims to create a “smart water grid”: a network of adaptive, nature-friendly measures that respond to local conditions and needs.
The project, launched in September 2025, will run for four years in eight European locations, from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean. Five of these, including Drienová, will serve as demonstration sites, while three others will test the transferability of the models. Altogether, 58 innovative measures will be introduced to slow down, retain, and reuse water where it is most needed.
The European Commission defines nature-based solutions as “Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions.” Nature-based solutions must benefit biodiversity and support the delivery of a range of ecosystem services.
For the Bioclimatic Park Drienová, biodiversity support is a top priority.
First meeting in Plymouth
The project partners met for the first time from September 30 to October 1, 2025, in Plymouth, a historic port city in the UK proudly known as “Britain’s Ocean City.” After a long journey from Žilina, the Slovak team presented its decade-long experience in nature-based restoration measures implemented since 2014 in Drienová.
The first day was filled with exchange and inspiration as representatives from 22 organizations shared knowledge and explored strategies for implementing NBS across diverse regions—from mountains to coasts. The setting of Plymouth, with its Atlantic horizon, bustling harbor, and historic seafaring streets, underscored the maritime dimension of resilience.
On the second day, the project leader, Westcountry Rivers Trust, hosted a working session at Duchy College in the Cornish countryside. Discussions centered on methodologies, digital tools, and community involvement. The challenges highlighted—soil erosion, drainage, and biodiversity loss—mirrored issues also seen in Slovakia.
Bioclimate park: A living laboratory
Since 2014, the Bioclimate Park Drienova has shown that degraded landscapes can be revived and made more resilient to drought. Within WATERGRID, a new system of water-retention measures will be installed in an orchard of traditional fruit varieties. All solutions are designed to be easily transferable and adaptable to different local contexts, without complex engineering or large financial investments.
The ultimate goal of WATERGRID project is to produce replicable methodologies and tools for municipalities, water managers, farmers, and community groups. The tested solutions from demonstration sites will serve as practical guidelines on how to implement nature-based water retention measures across Europe.
