Author: Marta Rake-Lasmane

Climate change is no longer a future challenge for cities – it is already shaping urban life today. Heatwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding, and drought are becoming more frequent, putting pressure on urban infrastructure and affecting people’s health and wellbeing. One of the most effective ways cities can adapt is by strengthening urban green infrastructure and ecosystem services it provides.

Green infrastructure (GI) refers to strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas that includes green and blue spaces of all types and sizes. GI elements are not just “nice to have” – they perform ecological, as well as social functions essential for well-being of citizens.

Functions that green infrastructure provides, often referred as “ecosystem services” (ES) include:

• cooling the city during summer heat,
• absorbing and slowing down stormwater to reduce flooding,
• improving air quality,
• supporting biodiversity,
• providing spaces for recreation and benefits for the mental wellbeing of people.

What does it mean to map and assess GI and ES?

Mapping GI means identifying where green elements are located across the city and how they are connected. This can include everything from large urban forests and parks to small but important features like roadside trees, green yards or pocket parks. Mapping of the ES mean identifying what services are supplied by which elements and where.

Why is this important for planning of climate change resilient cities?

Mapping of GI and ES provides crucial information for cities in climate adaptation context. First, mapping of GI and ES enables assessing the current situation. By understanding where GI exists already and where it is most needed, city can make several key decisions, including ones that:

• help to protect important GI areas from other development interests by adjusting zoning,
• prioritize greening actions where climate risks are the highest,
• design nature-based solutions and other interventions that help to address real local problems based on data and scientific evidence,
• use limited space and resources more strategically.

In short, assessing green infrastructure and ecosystem services helps cities move from general ambitions to smart, climate-responsive greening. It ensures that Greening Plans are not only about adding more green, but about placing the right green in the right places to support climate adaptation and improve quality of life for everyone.

Mapping of green infrastructure and ecosystem services in LIFE LATESTadapt

Within LIFE LATESTadapt project three Latvian cities – Riga, Cēsis and Valmiera – are developing Greening plans with aim to increase their climate resilience. Mapping of GI and ES was performed for all three municipalities by Baltic Environmental Forum – Latvia team in order to provide crucial background information that will help to guide further development of the Greening plans in an evidence-based way. The assessments helped to identify the contribution of existing GI to climate adaptation through the supply of key ES – such as microclimate regulation and regulation of water flows. Assessment of ES also included participatory mapping as urban GI provides a wide range of non-material benefits for the well-being of people or so called “culture ecosystem services”. Furthermore, a prioritization of areas with high risk of flooding and heat island effects were carried out, highlight locations where additional greening measures and nature-based solutions are most needed.

Currently all three cities are doing extensive work to draft their Greening plans that are expected to be finalised by August 2026. Strategic goals and measurable targets, as well as a list of actions and priorities for urban greening, are developed by municipalities based on the results of GI mapping and assessment, as well as proposals form series of expert meetings, stakeholder engagement events, and scenario-building workshops organised by the LIFE LATESTadapt project.

Results on the mapping of ecosystem services and green infrastructure is available in geoportal (in Latvian): https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5b1e464b657846078fd03eb237d1fc3c/page/Galven%C4%81_lapa?draft=true

On 28 January, a large‑scale co‑creation event “Green Urban Structure” took place at the Valmiera Cultural Centre, bringing together residents, industry experts and local government representatives to jointly plan the development of the city’s green infrastructure. The event was part of the activities of the European Union’s LIFE programme project “LIFE LATESTadapt”.

The main goal of the event was to present the latest research findings to the public and promote discussion on urban climate resilience, the preservation of natural foundations and smart, nature‑based solutions.

In the first part of the discussion, representatives from Valmiera and Cēsis municipalities shared their practical experience in implementing green infrastructure. Valmiera highlighted both completed and planned projects, such as Strauta Street, the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences square and the planned changes on Cēsu Street. Meanwhile, the experience of Cēsis showed that greenery in the city is not evenly distributed – heat‑island maps indicate problematic areas around the market, the stadium and the old town, where improvements are needed to enhance residents’ well-being. Cēsis also shared its innovative methods used during expert discussions, including artificial intelligence (AI) visual illustrations.

SIA “Grupa93” presented the concept for Valmiera’s green infrastructure development plan, based on a unique four‑ring system designed to create optimal “well‑being corridors”:

– Gauja Ring: Preservation and balancing of the natural foundation;
– Central Ring: A multifunctional environment for recreation and health;
– Neighbourhood Ring: Improvement of street space, giving priority to pedestrians and mobility;
– City Ring: Street‑space improvements and mobility solutions.

During the discussions, experts and residents focused on specific aspects of urban planning. Regarding stormwater management, it was recognised that instead of expensive treatment facilities, it is more effective to use bioswales and rain gardens, where plants naturally purify the water. Permeable surfaces were recommended for parking areas. Experts emphasised the need to “mix” tree species in urban areas (such as linden, hornbeam and black pine) to reduce the spread of plant diseases and stressed that the work should be entrusted to professional arborists.

One of the proposed solutions for creating space for green zones or cycling infrastructure was the introduction of one‑way streets in the city’s traffic system. “Society is changing – young people are increasingly choosing bicycles, so we need to create a suitable and safe environment, adapting standards to the specific scale and intensity of Valmiera,” participants concluded.

The event was organised as part of the LIFE programme project “LIFE LATESTadapt”, co‑financed by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development and Valmiera Municipality.

One of the key outcomes of the LIFE LATESTadapt project is the development of integrated guidelines for the planning and management of nature-based solutions, building on the experience gained during the project implementation in Latvia and Estonia. The guidelines will be developed in Latvian, Estonian and English and will be available in both electronic and printed formats.

The Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of Latvia is the leading partner of Work Package 7, which aims to ensure the sustainability, replicability and long-term practical use of the project’s results. The development of the integrated guidelines is being carried out within the framework of this work package. As a result of a public procurement procedure, ALPS ainavu darbnīca Ltd. was selected as the developer of the guidelines and a contract for the commencement of work was signed in January 2026. Several meetings have already taken place with both the developers and the work package partners. The guidelines must be developed by the end of this year.

The guidelines will serve as a practical support tool for municipal specialists, spatial planners, architects, project managers, representatives of public administration and other stakeholders involved in urban development and the implementation of climate change adaptation measures.

The guidelines will compile the results of the project’s work packages, including data, conclusions, training materials and experiences from municipalities where demonstration sites are being implemented. They will cover the entire life cycle of nature-based solutions – from problem identification and public engagement to implementation, maintenance, monitoring and promotion of the solutions.

The guidelines will provide a clear roadmap for municipalities, describing sequential planning and governance steps, data use, cost–benefit analyses and the impacts of the solutions on flood and heat risk reduction, biodiversity enhancement and urban greening.

The material will include good practice examples from Latvia and Estonia as well as a wide range of nature-based solutions – such as parks, rain gardens, green roofs, tree rows, urban meadows, wetlands, green corridors and other solutions that are already being tested at the project’s demonstration sites.

In addition, the guidelines will develop criteria for the selection and evaluation of nature-based solutions, including their inclusion in participatory budgeting projects and European Union funding programmes, while ensuring compliance with the “Do No Significant Harm” principle.

The guidelines will be disseminated with the support of the project partners through municipalities, public authorities, seminars and other events, and will also be freely available online.

On November 25, an online seminar titled “Climate-Resilient and Nature-Based Stormwater Solutions” (in Estonian) took place in Estonia. The seminar invited architects, builders, and specialists interested in technical solutions.

The seminar was based on the results of several international projects, such as Interreg BSR NOAH, Interreg BSR CityBlues, Interreg CB MUSTBE, LIFE IP BuildEST, and LIFE LATESTadapt, to illustrate the risks and opportunities associated with implementing nature-inspired stormwater solutions. It was organized in cooperation with the Estonian project BuildEST.

The first part of the seminar focused on defining opportunities and needs for implementing sustainable stormwater solutions, considering Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). These can be defined as measures taken to protect, manage, and enhance the resilience of natural and modified ecosystems. They are often presented as universal, multifunctional, and unquestionable risk-reduction measures capable of addressing risks such as flooding, drought, water quality, biodiversity, public well-being, and more. The discussion also covered reasons why society hesitates to adopt NBS and the uncertainties that need to be considered.

Next, attention was given to specific solutions that could be implemented in the Baltic region, along with a risk analysis highlighting the main obstacles that sometimes prevent NBS from succeeding.

In the final part of the seminar, participants were introduced to integrated stormwater solutions that have already been implemented or are currently being implemented in Estonia. A brief overview was provided of each solution’s objectives and the overall process—how the solutions evolved during planning and design. Finally, the seminar presented a new tool developed under the LIFE IP BuildEST project, which helps select suitable NBS for stormwater management on land plots, taking into account current land use and available space for improvements.

Seminar materials are available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vZOIeFyRuBR5lDLWkKH___OnUuyx603a/view

Listen to the seminar recording here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWchaQrD780

👉 There you can learn more about: 

• Events and seminars that have already happened in Latvia and Estonia, and also planned events 

• Opportunity to give your recommendation what events or information you are most interested in upcoming seminars 

• Concluded project demo sites in Estonia 

• Development of integrated guidelines of nature-based solutions in Latvia and Estonia 

• Existing guidelines, manuals and catalogues about sustainable rainwater solutions, nature-based solutions for urban regeneration and resilience 

• A consultation forum where you can ask experts questions about nature-based solutions 

💡Read the second newsletter  here: https://mailchi.mp/4a53adadb409/life-latestadapt-2025-1-newsletter-eng-13428533

📩 Sign up to receive future newsletters in your email here! 

On October 16, two important events dedicated to landscape quality and urban adaptation to climate change will take place at Koka Rīga, Krāsotāju Street 12.

The seminar “Challenges and Solutions for Urban Heat Risk” will be held over two days. On October 16, environmental and urban planning experts will share the latest research, data and practical solutions for mitigating heatwaves in urban areas. On October 17, a guided walk will explore nature-based solutions in central Riga that address heat risk.

In the afternoon of October 16, the closing event of the national selection for the 9th session of the Council of Europe Landscape Award will take place. Eight projects from Latvian municipalities and organizations will be presented, competing for the opportunity to represent Latvia in the international competition. The winner of the national selection will be announced at the end of the event and will continue to the European level.

The events are organized by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of Latvia in cooperation with partners from the environmental and landscape sectors.

Places are limited, so registration is required: https://forms.gle/JZLkhtBRKFgZFF98A

On the morning of July 24, Vecpuišu Park in Valmiera was filled with the laughter of children – pupils from the Valmiera preschool educational institution “Pienenīte” and the Valmiermuiža preschool educational institution “Burtiņš” took part in creative activities to learn more about the importance of water in nature, its use, circulation in nature and purification.

The youngest children studied the path of water and how it is absorbed into the ground. To learn how water is absorbed into different types of surfaces, the children imitated “rain clouds” by pouring water on the lawn and flowers. Afterwards, they drew objects that need water on a daily basis on the pavement with chalk.

In another group, the children divided into teams and took part in a competition to see which team could transfer water from one bucket to another faster using different containers. Each participant could choose which container they thought was most suitable for this task. Some chose a jug, others a cup or a spoon. After the activity, the children concluded how much water could be carried with each container, which was more suitable, and also concluded what influenced the suitability of the container for this task. After the activity, everyone drew something related to the theme of rainwater.

The oldest children conducted an experiment by making a water purification filter. Following the instructions, each group created their own filter using cotton wool, charcoal, sand, and small stones. Once the filters were ready, dirty water was poured into them. The children could watch the water flow through each layer of the filter until it finally flowed into a container, significantly cleaner than before. Afterwards, each child drew a picture of the filter they had made. The drawings were displayed in Vecpuišu Park, next to the environmental exhibition “A Tree – More Than Just a Shadow”.

On the afternoon of July 24, residents were invited to visit the exhibition “Tree – More Than a Shadow” and vote for the solutions they would like to see in the urban environment in Valmiera. The idea of planting trees along the sidewalk near the Valmiera bus station received the most votes. Reducing the width of the paved sidewalk and adding a row of greenery would not only provide shade but also a cooling effect. There is a large ditch in the green area near the Valmiera Olympic Center, and residents particularly appreciated the possibility of creating a wetland there. This would serve as a habitat for various wild species, thus promoting biodiversity, as well as filtering and purifying water. Residents also appreciated the idea of creating a rain garden at the intersection of Rīgas and Kārļa Baumaņa streets. During heavy rainfall, the rain garden fills with water, promoting infiltration and slowing down the flow of rainwater into the sewer system. This would be particularly relevant at the proposed intersection, as it floods during heavy rainfall.

Visitors to the exhibition appreciated the opportunity to see how various places in the city could look if nature-based solutions were implemented there. The proposed solutions would not only help to reduce environmental problems, but also make the urban environment more attractive.

The activities took place within the framework of the European Union’s LIFE program project “Developing and demonstrating portfolio of nature based and smart solutions for improving urban climate resilience in Latvia and Estonia” (LIFE LATESTadapt).

Prepared by:
Elizabete Brūvere
Valmiera Municipality Government
Branding and public relations department
Environmental communication project manager

In the first newsletter learn more about:

• Nature-Based Solutions Cost-Efficiency Tool;

• A consultation forum where you can ask experts questions about nature-based solutions;

• Publications on naturally occurring plants for urban flood resilience, solutions for reducing rain-induced flooding, and the identification and testing of new sensor technologies;

• Organized events, hackathons and workshops with different target audiences;

• Urban greening plans and activities in Latvia and Estonia.

Read the first newsletter in 3 languages here:

• English
• Latvian
• Estonian

Sign up to receive future newsletters in your email here!

Our climate is changing, we must adapt to the new situation with sustainable and effective solutions.

• How to use urban rainwater harvesting for our advantage?
• How to limit heat islands in cities?
• What are nature-based solutions and how can municipalities implement them?

🌿🌳🌧️ You want to know more about nature-based solutions and to be the first to know about upcoming events?

➡️ Subscribe for the project’s newsletter now! 📬 Subscribe!

(You will receive the first newsletter already in this July, but the next in November!)

On June 5-6, more than 60 experts from various municipalities, ministries and other sectors gathered at a seminar entitled “Planning nature-based solutions for climate resilience – from local to regional level”.

The aim of the seminar was to promote the exchange of knowledge on the planning and implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) – from the development of urban green infrastructure to regional climate resilience.

The effects of climate change – increasing flood risk, extreme weather conditions and heat waves – particularly affect the urban environment. To ensure a sustainable and safe living environment in the future, it is essential to develop solutions that both protect people and strengthen nature’s ability to regulate itself. This is where nature-based solutions play a key role – they use natural processes such as rainwater absorption or the cooling effect of green areas.

On the first day of the seminar, participants learned about good practice examples and approaches from the LATESTadapt and IMPETUS projects, the experience of Riga, Valmiera and Cēsis in developing green infrastructure, as well as climate change adaptation measures at the regional level, learning about the plans of the Zemgale planning region.

On the second day of the seminar, a joint study trip was organized, where we were delighted to see how many and how varied DBRs have already been implemented in Riga in both the private and public sectors, for example, as the best option in a city where, due to various circumstances, it is not possible to connect to the city’s rainwater drainage system. What we saw in several neighborhoods of Riga reinforced our conviction that nature-based solutions are not just “green thinking” — they are practical, sustainable, and forward-looking measures that help adapt to climate challenges while improving quality of life.

More information is available on the Baltic Environmental Forum website

The seminar was organized by the Baltic Environmental Forum in implementation of the following projects:

“Dynamic information management for climate change adaptation measures in a cross-sectoral context in European regions” (IMPETUS, NR 101037084), funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, https://climate-impetus. eu/
“Development and demonstration of a portfolio of nature-based and smart solutions for improving urban climate resilience in Latvia and Estonia” (LIFE21-CCA-EE-LIFE LATESTadapt, NR 101074438), co-financed by the European Union’s LIFE programme, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development and the Estonian Ministry of Climate https://lifelatestadapt.viimsivald.ee/lv/sakuma-lapa/

The report of the seminar is available here