This summer, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM), in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Architects, organised three seminars on the use of nature-based solutions in urban environments as part of the LIFE LATESTadapt project. The aim of the seminars was to provide practical knowledge and introduce participants to solutions implemented in Latvia that help adapt urban environments to climate change.
The seminar series “Nature-Based Solutions: From Knowledge to Experience”, held in June, July and August, covered three topics: creating child-friendly environments, protecting water bodies, and sustainable rainwater management.
In the theoretical sessions, experts provided an overview of the challenges posed by climate change and the potential of nature-based solutions. During the practical sessions, participants visited various locations across Latvia to see implemented solutions first-hand.
At the first seminar, held in Zemgale in the areas around Salaspils, Jelgava and Dobele, participants explored solutions for creating child-friendly environments, including play and recreation areas, as well as opportunities to promote safety, sustainability, biodiversity and an aesthetically pleasing environment at the same time.
The seminar in Kurzeme, held in July in the Liepāja and Grobiņa area, focused on the impact of climate change on water quality and water levels, coastal erosion and solutions to reduce it, as well as the flooding and protection of water bodies.
Meanwhile, the seminar in Latgale, held in August in Daugavpils and Rēzekne, explored how nature-based solutions can help manage rainwater sustainably and adapt urban environments to climate change. Experts discussed the impact of climate change on precipitation, rainwater drainage in cities, the use of data and rainwater modelling, sustainable drainage, and rainwater reuse.
“These seminars are very valuable because they provide an opportunity not only to learn about nature-based solutions in theory, but also to see first-hand how they are already being implemented in Latvia. Practical examples and experiences help us better understand the potential of these solutions and provide ideas that can also be applied in our everyday work,” seminar participants said, expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to take part.
Certified architects also had the opportunity to earn continuing professional development credits by participating in the seminars.
Recordings of the theoretical sessions are available on VARAM’s YouTube channel, giving a wider audience the opportunity to listen to the experts’ presentations and learn more about the use of nature-based solutions.
The recordings are available here:
Child-Friendly Environments and Nature-Based Solutions | 11 June 2026 Watch the recording
Nature-Based Solutions for Water Body Protection | 23 July 2026 Watch the recording
Nature-Based Solutions for Rainwater Management | 6 August 2026 Watch the recording
On 7 August, a discussion titled “Whose Rain, Whose Flood?” took place at the Opinion Festival, focusing on how to cope with increasingly frequent heavy downpours and what roles the state, local governments, water companies, developers and property owners should play in stormwater management. Viimsi Municipality shared its experience and also demonstrated on site how a simple nature-based solution can retain stormwater while making the urban environment more attractive.
The discussion centred on how stormwater management should be organised so that the responsibilities of different parties are clear, costs are distributed fairly and urban areas are better able to cope with large volumes of rainwater. Nature-based stormwater solutions were an important topic, and Viimsi Municipality has gained increasing practical experience in implementing them in recent years.
Deputy Mayor Alar Mik, who presented Viimsi’s experience, emphasised that stormwater should not be seen merely as a problem to be disposed of as quickly as possible, but as a valuable resource that can be retained and used where it falls.
“We see stormwater in Viimsi more as a resource than a problem. With new solutions, the aim is no longer simply to drain water away or slow down its movement, but to find ways to use stormwater locally,” Mik said.
As one example, he highlighted Mereranna Pocket Park in Haabneeme, where stormwater is directed into a pond, buffered and collected in a storage tank. The collected water can later be used, for example, for watering vegetation or cleaning roads.
A pop-up rain garden built in just a few hours
At the Opinion Festival, stormwater solutions were not only discussed in theory. A pop-up rain garden was built on a small green space next to the street, demonstrating how easily an ordinary lawn can be transformed into an area that captures stormwater while also enhancing the urban environment.
Previously, the green space was covered by an ordinary lawn, and rainwater from the gutter of a neighbouring building flowed onto it. To create the rain garden, a shallow depression was dug between the benches and the existing low area. Different plants were planted there and granite stones were added.
A small stone cascade was created below the downpipe, allowing rainwater from the roof to flow into the lowered planting area. As the water collects at the bottom of the depression, it forms a temporary small pool, from which it can gradually infiltrate into the soil.
Additional low-growing vegetation was planted around the benches, transforming the former lawn into a more complete recreational space. At its centre is a temporary water feature that appears after rainfall, surrounded by flowering plants and providing an attractive sight for passers-by.
As a practical benefit, the rain garden also helps direct roof runoff away from the building’s foundation, while reducing pressure on the conventional stormwater system.
The speed of construction was also significant: the pop-up rain garden was completed in just a few hours. This demonstrates that nature-based stormwater solutions do not always require large-scale or expensive construction works. Relatively simple and affordable measures can be implemented quickly in urban areas to retain stormwater locally, improve growing conditions for vegetation and create more diverse public spaces.
A resilient system is built from many small solutions
According to Mik, however, individual facilities alone are not enough to cope with increasingly intense downpours. A resilient stormwater system is created through many interconnected solutions in both public spaces and on private properties.
“A stormwater system that is resilient to heavy rainfall is made up of many smaller solutions – they are needed both in the street environment and on the properties alongside it. Together, they form an integrated system that collects, delays and uses stormwater as much as possible where it falls. The more water we can retain and use locally, the lower the pressure on the rest of the stormwater system,” Mik explained.
The discussion also addressed how responsibility for stormwater management should be shared between different parties and who should bear the costs of constructing and maintaining the necessary solutions. Clearer roles are becoming increasingly important, as more intense rainfall linked to climate change poses new challenges to existing systems.
According to Mik, local governments need a clear but sufficiently flexible national framework for organising stormwater management.
“It is important that the framework created by the state gives all parties clarity while allowing local governments to organise stormwater management in a way that enables genuinely effective solutions to be implemented. The system must be flexible enough and encourage all parties to contribute towards a common goal,” Mik said.
The discussion “Whose Rain, Whose Flood?” was part of the Opinion Festival’s Water Day programme, which covered topics including climate change adaptation, the condition of water bodies, flood risks, water and food security, and crisis warning systems. The stormwater discussion was moderated by Kristo Elias and organised by Viimsi Municipality and Tallinn University of Technology.
At a presentation held in Mereranna Pocket Park in Haabneeme, a demonstration site for stormwater collection and reuse, established as part of the LIFE LATESTadapt project, was introduced. Tanel Mätlik, Project Manager at Viimsi Municipality, provided an overview of how the facility operates and demonstrated how water stored in underground collection tanks can be used both for street cleaning and for watering greenery in the surrounding area.
During the demonstration, an automatic pumping system was used to draw water from the underground collection tanks and transfer it to a road maintenance vehicle.
The collected stormwater was then used to clean the street. The practical test demonstrated that rainwater, which would normally be discharged into the drainage system, can instead be treated as a valuable local resource and used for tasks that do not require potable-quality water.
In addition to the solution designed for road maintenance vehicles, other water access options were presented on site. Landscaping staff can use the water stored in the collection tanks to irrigate plants growing along nearby streets. The solution allows water to be accessed both by watering trucks equipped with their own pumps and by vehicles without pumps. For this purpose, the system includes both a gravity-fed connection and a pressurised water take-off point.
Rainwater is put to use instead of simply being drained away
The Mereranna demonstration site is located in a green space near the intersection of Mereranna Road and Randvere Road. The site was selected because it previously had no stormwater management system and was affected by waterlogging after heavy rainfall. In addition, the green space in the centre of Haabneeme had previously lacked a clear public function.
The purpose of the new solution is not merely to drain rainwater away as quickly as possible. Instead, the flow of water is slowed down, the water is treated, and some of it is retained for later use. In this way, the system helps reduce the load on the stormwater drainage network during heavy rainfall while also creating a reserve of water for irrigation and maintenance work.
The system within the project area is connected to the main stormwater pipeline beneath Randvere Road. Under normal conditions, stormwater is directed to the demonstration site. However, during exceptionally heavy rainfall or when the system reaches capacity, an automatically controlled gate can open and allow water to flow into the existing stormwater pipeline. The solution also includes an emergency overflow for use in the event of an electrical, mechanical, or software failure.
The water passes through several treatment stages
Before reaching the underground tanks, stormwater passes through a sedimentation pond, a screening chamber, and a filter chamber. In the sedimentation pond, the flow of water slows down and heavier particles settle to the bottom. The screening chamber removes larger particles, while the filter chamber captures smaller particles. Sensors installed in the chambers provide alerts when sediment has accumulated or when the filter may be clogged.
The system also monitors the water’s turbidity, electrical conductivity, and temperature. These measurements make it possible to assess the properties of the collected water and to gather information about how this nature-based stormwater solution performs under different weather conditions.
The treated water is directed into two interconnected underground collection tanks. From the tanks, the water flows into a pumping and monitoring chamber, from which it can be pumped onwards to irrigation systems and water take-off points.
A technical solution combined with public space
Mereranna Pocket Park is not merely a technical stormwater facility. The project also aims to give the previously underused green space a new public function. A wooden boardwalk has been constructed and additional landscaping has been introduced to make the area more attractive and accessible to the public.
Due to budget constraints, not all elements included in the original construction design were implemented. Among other things, the public toilet and two backless benches were omitted, while the scope of the terrace, boardwalk, plant containers, irrigation systems, and other small-scale amenities was reduced. Despite these changes, the facility retained its primary functions: collecting, treating, temporarily storing, and reusing stormwater.
The on-site demonstration clearly highlighted the system’s practical value. The water stored in the underground tanks is not intended solely for future tests or measurements; it can already be used in the municipality’s daily maintenance work. In this way, Mereranna Pocket Park combines climate-change adaptation, the sustainable use of water resources, street maintenance, and the creation of higher-quality public space.
Why was Mereranna Pocket Park selected as the location of the LIFE LATESTadapt demonstration site, and what problem does the solution help alleviate there?
Tanel Mätlik: Mereranna Pocket Park was selected primarily because the area previously had no stormwater management system and the green space became waterlogged after heavy rainfall. At the same time, the area’s main stormwater collector runs beneath Randvere Road, making it possible to create a solution that combines stormwater collection, retention, and reuse. The green space had also previously been underused, and the project gave it a new public-space function.
How does the “smart” stormwater solution at Mereranna Pocket Park work, and how does it differ from conventional stormwater drainage?
Tanel Mätlik: In a conventional system, stormwater is carried away from the area through pipes as quickly as possible. At Mereranna Pocket Park, the water is first directed to the demonstration site, where its flow is slowed down, sediment is removed, and the water is collected in underground tanks. The system is controlled by water-level and water-quality sensors, as well as an automatic gate. This means that stormwater is not regarded merely as a problem that must be removed, but as a resource that can be reused for watering plants and carrying out road maintenance.
How much water can be stored in the underground tanks, and what is it used for?
Tanel Mätlik: The project includes two interconnected underground collection tanks, each with a capacity of 30 cubic metres. Their combined capacity is therefore approximately 60 cubic metres. The collected water is used to irrigate plants in the area, and watering and road maintenance vehicles can access it through the water take-off point. The amount of water actually available for use depends on rainfall, water levels, and seasonal demand.
How is the quality of the collected stormwater monitored, and how are sediment and other pollutants prevented from entering the water used for irrigation and road maintenance?
Tanel Mätlik: Before reaching the tanks, the water passes through several treatment stages. In the sedimentation pond, the flow of water slows down and heavier particles settle to the bottom. The water then passes through a screening chamber, where larger particles are removed, and a filter chamber, which captures smaller particles. The system also measures the water’s turbidity, electrical conductivity, and temperature. Sensors provide alerts when a chamber needs to be cleaned or when the filter may be clogged.
What happens during exceptionally heavy rainfall if the demonstration site can no longer accommodate all the water?
Tanel Mätlik: The system has been designed to ensure that it does not create a flood risk. Under normal conditions, stormwater is directed to the demonstration site. However, when the volume of water is exceptionally high, a gate in the stormwater pipeline beneath Randvere Road opens automatically. The excess water is then carried away through the existing main pipeline. The system also includes an emergency overflow in the event of an electrical, mechanical, or software failure.
What practical and financial benefits could stormwater reuse provide for the municipality?
Tanel Mätlik: The main benefit is that less treated drinking water is needed for watering plants and cleaning streets. This helps conserve water resources and may reduce the water costs associated with maintenance work. Temporarily retaining stormwater also reduces the load on the conventional stormwater drainage network. More precise financial savings can be assessed once sufficient data have been collected on the amount of water captured and used, maintenance costs, and the system’s reliability.
What changes were made to the original construction design due to budget constraints, and how do they affect the use of the area?
Tanel Mätlik: Due to budget constraints, the public toilet and two backless benches were not constructed. The scope of other amenities and landscaping was also reduced: fewer irrigation systems, plant containers, insect hotels, benches, and waste bins were installed, and the terrace and boardwalk areas were made smaller. The number of shrubs and perennial plants was also reduced. These cuts primarily affect the comfort of the area and the number of amenities provided, but the project’s main function—collecting, treating, and reusing stormwater—was retained. The overall appearance and purpose of the area also remained similar to what had originally been planned.
How will it be determined whether the demonstration site has achieved its objectives, and could the solution be used elsewhere in Viimsi?
Tanel Mätlik: The success of the demonstration site can be assessed using several indicators: how much stormwater can be retained and reused, how the system performs during heavy rainfall, the quality of the collected water, and how much water is used for irrigation and road maintenance. It is also important to monitor maintenance requirements and the system’s reliability. This is a demonstration solution, and the experience gained from it can be used when designing similar systems in other parts of Viimsi where there are problems with waterlogging, a risk of flooding, or a need for irrigation water. The project also allows the direction of flow through the sedimentation pond and other aspects of the solution to be adjusted later on the basis of operational experience.
On 23 July, representatives of Mozambique and Zimbabwe visited the Mereranna Road pocket park in Haabneeme, which was developed as part of the LIFE LATESTadapt project.
Tanel Mätlik, Project Manager at Viimsi Municipality, introduced the visitors to the pocket park and explained how nature-based solutions can support sustainable stormwater management, climate change adaptation and the creation of a more resilient and attractive urban environment.
The Mereranna pocket park demonstrates how public space can be designed to manage rainwater more effectively while also providing greenery, biodiversity and a pleasant environment for local residents.
As part of the visit, the delegation was also shown several other sustainable solutions implemented in Viimsi, including the stormwater-friendly car park at Karulaugu tee 16, the car parks at Haabneeme School and Viimsi Artium, the fountain square, and the Randvere Road test section paved with an asphalt mix containing lignin.
The representatives of Mozambique and Zimbabwe were visiting Estonia in connection with an event organised by the Ministry of Climate focusing on water management, climate change adaptation and the implementation of nature-based solutions. At Lake Harku in Tallinn, they also learned about biomanipulation and voluntary water monitoring.
The visit highlighted how the solutions developed within the LIFE LATESTadapt project can provide practical examples for communities facing the growing impacts of climate change.
The Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, together with the Baltic Environmental Forum, the association “Zaļā brīvība,” SIA “Rīgas meži,” and the European Climate Pact ambassadors, we invited everyone to the thematic stage “Green Comes to the City” at the LAMPA conversation festival, where the focus was on discussions about adapting to climate change, nature-based solutions in the city, the importance of environmental education, sustainable daily life, and an understanding of the benefits of a green urban environment.
This year’s festival theme, “What Shouldn’t We Be Afraid to Talk About?”, resonates particularly well with the content of the “Green Comes to the City” stage. Climate change, urban resilience to the risks it poses, and the role of nature in our health and quality of life are no longer just issues for environmental experts or policymakers—they affect everyone’s daily life, and we must not remain silent about them.
Over the course of two days—July 10 and 11—the “Green Comes to the City” stage served as a forum where representatives from national government, local governments, non-governmental organizations, the scientific community, and the general public exchanged views. While the summary of the event’s content is still being prepared, we are publishing the first photo gallery.
On June 9, project partners of the LIFE LATESTadapt project gathered in Valmiera, Latvia, for a partner meeting focused on activities taking place in the project’s demonstration areas and on innovative Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for urban environments.
During the first half of the day, all project partners presented updates on the activities being implemented in their demonstration areas, shared progress achieved so far, and outlined the next steps planned for the coming period. The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge on the implementation of climate adaptation measures across the project regions.
The second half of the meeting was dedicated to various NBS solutions applied in urban street design and construction. Christopher Peiritsch from Austria, representing ACO Group, delivered a presentation on sustainable stormwater management systems for urban environments. He introduced the company’s solutions designed to collect, treat, and direct stormwater to green spaces and urban trees, helping to improve growing conditions while enhancing urban resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.
The meeting concluded with a presentation by a representative of the City of Valmiera, who introduced a demonstration site that will soon be established as part of the project. Participants also visited the location, where they were able to learn more about the planned solutions and their implementation directly on site.
The seminar was highly informative and provided valuable insights into the activities taking place across the project’s demonstration areas, as well as the innovative Nature-Based Solutions that are increasingly being implemented in European cities to support climate adaptation and sustainable urban development.
On June 9, the Valmiera Integrated Library hosted an insightful seminar titled “Sustainable Rainwater Management in the Urban Environment.” The event brought together industry experts, local residents, and stakeholders to discuss smart, sustainable, and nature-based solutions designed to help modern cities adapt to the increasingly intense rainfall and heatwaves brought on by climate change.
The seminar was organized as part of the international project “LIFE LATESTadapt,” which features participants and speakers from Latvia, Estonia, and Austria. The primary goal of the project is to develop and demonstrate a portfolio of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) to improve urban climate resilience in Latvia and Estonia.
While project partners spent the morning in working session reviewing progress and planning next steps, the afternoon session at Cēsu iela 4 was fully open to the public, focusing on community awareness and practical experience exchange.
International experience and green infrastructure
During the afternoon’s theoretical session, guest expert Christopher Peiritsch from the “ACO Group” (Austria) shared his international expertise. Attendees were introduced to practical examples of how cities can effectively absorb and manage rainwater using green infrastructure.
The expert emphasized that these solutions offer a double benefit:
Infrastructure Relief: They significantly reduce the load on centralized urban sewage systems during heavy downpours.
Environmental Improvement: They enhance the local microclimate and actively promote urban biodiversity.
Practical insights at the Valmiera demonstration site
To bridge the gap between theory and practice, participants joined an educational walk through Valmiera following the lectures. During the tour, they visited the “LIFE LATESTadapt” project’s local demonstration site at Cēsu iela 4. This walk served as a real-world example of how nature-based solutions can be successfully integrated into existing urban infrastructure to improve the everyday quality of life for local residents.
About the Project: This event was implemented within the framework of the European Union’s LIFE program project “Development and Demonstration of a Nature-Based Solutions Portfolio for Improving Urban Climate Resilience in Latvia and Estonia” (LIFE LATESTadapt, call 2021-SAP-CLIMA-CCA).The project is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE program and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development.
On 10–11 July, at the LAMPA Conversation Festival in Cēsis, Latvia, we invite you to visit the thematic stage “Green Comes into the City”, where discussions will focus on building healthier, more resilient and people-friendly cities in a changing climate.
How can we reduce flood risks?
How can nature-based solutions help cities adapt to climate change?
Why are trees and green spaces essential for our health and well-being?
How can we tackle urban overheating?
Over two days, experts, researchers, local government representatives and civil society organisations will explore practical solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities today. The programme will also include educational and creative activities for families and children.
The LIFE LATESTadapt team will be there to share insights on climate adaptation and discuss how nature-based solutions can help make cities and towns across the Baltic region more resilient to future climate impacts.
The Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development in collaboration with the Latvian Association of Architects invites local government specialists, architects, planners, environmental experts and other interested parties to participate in a three-part seminar series titled “Nature-based Solutions: From Knowledge to Experience in Nature.” The seminars are organized as part of the LIFE LATESTadapt project, in which VARAM participates as a project partner.
The aim of the seminars is to educate local government and private sector specialists, including planners, architects, landscape architects, and engineers, regarding the implementation of nature-based solutions in urban environments, as well as adherence to the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
The seminars will take place in June, July, and August, with each seminar focusing on a specific topic related to nature-based solutions and a more sustainable urban environment, taking into account the risks of climate change. The first day of the seminar will take place online, featuring research, best practices and case studies from various experts, while the second day will take place in person as a field visit to examples of thematic projects in a specific region.
Upcoming seminars:
June 11–12 “Child-Friendly Environments and Nature-Based Solutions: Theory and Practice”;
July 23–24 “Nature-based solutions for the protection of the sea and water bodies: theory and practice”;
August 6–7 “Nature-based solutions for stormwater management: theory and practice”.
Registration is now open for the June 11–12 seminar “Child-Friendly Environments and Nature-Based Solutions: Theory and Practice” (registration open until June 7).
Participation in the seminars is free of charge, but space for the site visits is limited, so we encourage you to register early.
Registration for the remaining seminars will open shortly.
Certified architects will be able to earn professional development credits for participating in the seminar under the “professional development credits for mandatory formal activities (sustainability)” category: Day 1 – 2.2 credits; Day 2 – 1.8 credits.
If you have any questions, please contact Luīze Eglīte, Senior Expert at the Ministry’s Department of Spatial Planning and Land Management: email luize.eglite@varam.gov.lv; phone 67026553.
Great to see how commitment can bridge project gaps where budgets sometimes fail.
Volunteers gathered in the first weekend of May as part of Teeme ära 2026 to support the LATESTadapt project site — planting native trees and sowing local species and clean the site from trash. Due to inflation, the project had to scale back planned investments for vegetation as well as desired aesthetics from original project plan. It was more important to invest to meaningful flood protection. But the Haapsalu team (Gerda Ladva & Peep Aedviir) chose not to scale back ambition. Instead, solutions were found:
🌱 Rowan trees were carefully transplanted from a nearby site where they would otherwise have been cut
🌱 native water flags (Iris pseudocorus) were brought from ponds of neighbouring Uuemõisa park (plenty were still left there as well)
🌱 Native seeds were provided by project partner @NordicBotanical
🌱 project partners as well as local residents spent a day to work and landscape a significant share of the project site according to the original design.
I would say this is what long-term ownership of nature-based solutions looks like in practice. I also really enjoyed the good weather, meaningful work, and great teambuilding with colleagues. Moreover, it was also great to see how the event initiated discussion among locals how to gather momentum for autumn planting season and how the Konnaküla neighbourhood association could contribute next. I hope to be invited to those next events as well 🙂
How can we reduce flood risks?
How can nature-based solutions help cities adapt to climate change?
Why are trees and green spaces essential for our health and well-being?
How can we tackle urban overheating?
LAMPA Conversation Festival, Cēsis, Latvia
10–11 July
