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.