Category: LIFE

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.

Source: https://festivalslampa.lv/lv/programma?place_ids=477

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.

Source: https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/ilgtspejigas-lietus-udens-apsaimniekosanas-un-zalo-risinajumu-pilsetvide-seminars-valmiera/

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.

LAMPA Conversation Festival, Cēsis, Latvia

10–11 July

Find out more: https://festivalslampa.lv/lv/programma?place_ids=477

Join the conversation and help shape the cities of tomorrow!

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).

Registration for the first day of the seminar (June 11): 

Registration for the second day of the seminar (June 12):

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 🙂

Author: Murel Truu, TalTech project expert

The City of Rakvere has announced a public procurement for the reconstruction of the Rahvaaia pond outflow and the opening of the Tobia main drainage ditch using nature-based solutions. The deadline for submitting bids is April 11, 2026.

As part of the reconstruction, the deteriorated culvert of the Rahvaaia pond outflow will be replaced, an open ditch will be constructed, and a woodchip-based filtration system will be installed to improve water quality by reducing nitrate levels in the water.

“Previously, blockages in the old culvert caused flooding in the area. With the new solution, a height-adjustable outflow will be created, helping to prevent flooding in the future and increasing the resilience of the City of Rakvere to heavy rainfall,” explained Rakvere Deputy Mayor Kert Karus.

The construction works will be carried by the cross-border LIFE LATESTadapt project, which aims to develop and implement nature-based and smart solutions to reduce the risk of flooding caused by stormwater system overload during heavy rainfall in Estonia and Latvia.

“As a result of the reconstruction project, we will finally be able to resolve the long-standing flooding issues in Rahvaaed and the surrounding properties caused by spring snowmelt and heavy rain,” Karus added.

In addition to the City of Rakvere, the LIFE LATESTadapt project in Estonia also involves Viimsi, Haapsalu, Võru, and Narva, each focusing on different solutions.

The third LIFE LATESTadapt project newsletter has been published, summarizing the latest activities, achievements and upcoming actions related to the implementation of climate change adaptation solutions in Latvia and Estonia.

In this third edition read about:

• 🎧 A new podcast series “Adapt to Thrive” focusing on climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions
• 🌧️ Rain garden solutions and their role in urban stormwater management
• 📅 Upcoming seminars and training events for municipalities and professionals
• 💬 Project participation in the LAMPA Conversation Festival in Cēsis and Arvamusfestival in Estonia
• 📚 New research materials on rain gardens and flood risk assessment
• 🗺️ Heat and flood risk mapping and green infrastructure development
• 🌿 A catalogue of nature-based solutions for pilot territories – Riga, Cēsis, and Valmiera
• 📘 Upcoming guidelines for planning and implementing nature-based solutions

We invite you to read the third newsletter here:

Follow the project updates to stay informed about the latest activities, practical solutions and opportunities to strengthen municipal resilience to climate change.

If you would like to receive future newsletters directly in your email, subscribe here:
https://mailchi.mp/4dd216202da0/life-latestadapt

Does water tend to pool on your property after heavy downpours, or does your yard become unbearably hot in the summer heat and the lawn start to turn yellow? BEF EE has prepared an informational brochure  “Nature-based solutions to alleviate heat and stormwater problems”.

The leaflet provides simple advice on how to naturally manage rainwater on your property, how to prevent heat islands with trees and diverse vegetation, and which native plant species are suitable for a rain garden. The leaflet also includes links to additional materials on nature-based solutions. The leaflet is available in Estonian, Latvian and Russian.

Informational material in Estonian

Informational material in Latvian

Informational material in Russian

Register Now: Online Workshop on Urban Green Space and Heat Island Monitoring with Copernicus Data 17 April 2025 | 09:00–16:00 EET | Online

Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving climate resilience in cities. But how can satellite data help us monitor and plan them more effectively?

Join us for a full-day international online workshop bringing together researchers, spatial planners, and Earth observation experts to explore the latest advances in urban green space and heat island mapping using freely available Copernicus satellite data.

The workshop is structured in two parts:

• Morning session (09:00–12:00 EET) — Presentations by international experts on satellite-based urban green space and heat island monitoring, Copernicus data applications, and experiences from projects across Europe
• Afternoon session (13:00–16:00 EET) — Hands-on training in heat island and green space mapping using freely available Earth observation data

PROGRAM

Who should attend? Spatial planners, researchers, municipal professionals, and anyone interested in using satellite data for urban climate adaptation and green infrastructure planning.

The workshop is organised by the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES, Latvia) as part of the LIFE LATESTadapt project.

Participation is free of charge. Places are limited.

👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMa_w5M_L1Spc7wqoz-Zg_9-mdn502dylIcpfQ-w4sEEPi6w/viewform?usp=header