On October 8–9, 2025, the LIFE GoodWater IP 3rd International Conference “Waterside – A Space for Water, Land and People Interactions: Practices and Challenges in River Basin Management” took place.
On the second day of the conference more than 60 participants took part, promoting knowledge exchange between various local and international projects: LIFE is Salaca, LatViaNature, LIFE SIP WetEST, LIFE SIP Vanduo, ENGAGE, CREATE, IMPETUS, LIFE Pilica, and others. The main theme was to emphasize the importance of an integrated approach to water management and the need to strengthen cooperation between sectors and communities.
Conference materials:
Opening of the conference | Kristīna Veidemane, Baltic Environmental Forum-Latvia
Thematic session A: Forestland – water ecosystem interactions
Enhancing Riparian Zones through Forest Management and Infrastructure, LIFE GoodWater IP project | Toms Štāls, Latvian State Forest Institute “Silava”
Environmentally friendly maintenance of forest land drainage systems, LIFE SIP WetEST project | Jürgen Sarjas, University of Tartu
Riparian Forest management: LIFE is Salaca project experience | Mārcis Saklaurs, Latvian State Forest Institute “Silava”
Thematic session E: Water banks – people interactions
Comprehensive framework for assessment of freshwater cultural ecosystem services in Latvia, LIFE GoodWater IP project | Anda Ruskule, BEF Latvia Co-authors: A. Zariņa, A. Reķe, M. Fonteina-Kazeka
Improving the ecological quality of Lake Sila by mowing common reeds, LIFE GoodWater IP project | Kristīna Skriba, Augsdaugava municipal county
Restoration of shallow bays and lakes, focusing on the biomanipulation experiment at Lake Harku, LIFE SIP WetEST project| Paul Teesalu, Estonian University of Life Sciences Co-author: A. Rei, Estonian Environmental Board
Thematic session D1: Farmland – water ecosystem interactions
Practices for water and nutrient management in riparian zones of agricultural streams in Latvia | Ainis Lagzdiņš, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Advancing Modelling for Better River Governance: Insights from SGGW | Svajunas Plunge, Warsaw University of Life Sciences/ LIFE SIP VANDUO
Springs as a bridge between surface and groundwater: science, management, and citizen engagement or What a spring can tell us about how we manage our waters and land | Inga Retiķe, University of Latvia
Thematic session D2: Farmland – water ecosystem interactions
Beyond Buffer Zones: Socio-Economic Insights from the ENGAGE Project for Improved River(side) Nutrient Management | Annija Danenberga, Baltic Studies Centre
Latvian case study on exploring nature bases solutions for addressing eutrophication in the Lielupe river basin and the Gulf of Riga, Water4All: CREATE project | Anda Ruskule, University of Latvia Co-authors: A. Reķe, I. Vinogradovs, A. Zariņa
Similarity between the pesticide cocktails detected using POCIS in the river Daugava and the Gulf of Riga waterside in autumn 2024 | Daiga Cepīte-Frišfelde, University of Latvia
Thematic session B: Floodplain – people interaction
LIFE GoodWater IP/ Lake Lubāns Through Different Lenses: Communities, Institutions, and Nature | Karlīna Putniņa, Latvian Fund for Nature
Co-author L. Brizga-Kalniņa
Social measures in the portfolio of the flood risk management: case study of Jelgava city, IMPETUS project| Ingrīda Brēmere, BEF- Latvia
Co-author: K. Veidemane
Thematic session F: Riparian sanctuaries – habitat for protected species
Ecologically vulnerable riverine fish and where to find them – FPV experience of importance of natural riverbanks | Kaspars Abersons, Institute of Food safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”
Preliminary monitoring results of biological quality elements in LIFE GoodWater IP project demo streams | Laura Grīnberga, University of Latvia
Co-authors: A.Skuja, D.Ozoliņš, N.Uztica
A look back: 2nd day of the LIFE GoodWater IP 3rd International Conference
The integrated project “Implementation of River Basin Management Plans of Latvia towards good surface water status” (LIFE GOODWATER IP, LIFE18 IPE/LV/000014) has received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development. Please find out about the project: https://goodwater.lv/en
