Community cooperation for rivers and coasts

Project objective:  to build a citizen-science community by fostering collaboration among NGO activists (Baltic Environmental Forum-Latvia), youth (Pärnu-Salacgriva schools; Valga-Valka schools), educators (Tartu Nature House, teachers from Valka, Valga, Salacgrīva and Pärnu), and researchers (Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology) in Latvia and Estonia, focusing on water protection, plastic pollution reduction, and biodiversity conservation through citizen science and educational activities. Diverse joint activities will take place in cross-border river basins (Salaca, Pärnu, Pedele) and along the Gulf of Riga coast.  The focus is on water protection, plastic pollution reduction, and biodiversity conservation through citizen science and educational activities.

Project background: project addresses the common environmental challenge of plastic litter pollution and its impact on biodiversity in the interconnected water ecosystems (rivers and coastal areas) of Latvia and Estonia. Key cross-border river ecosystems between the two countries, such as the Gauja-Koiva and Pedele river basins, are increasingly threatened by macro- and microplastic pollution. Coastal river basins, including Salaca and Pärnu, as well as adjacent coastal areas of the shared Gulf of Riga, are also impacted by marine litter, including plastic. This pollution not only endangers aquatic life but also affects communities that rely on these ecosystems for resources and recreation.

Environmental organizations agree that addressing environmental challenges requires not only changes in national policies but also shifts in societal and individual behavior. Schools, alongside parents, play a crucial role in shaping individuals’ values and behaviors. Recognizing the need for cross-border collaboration, the partners have identified an urgent opportunity to strengthen their capacities for engaging community representatives, particularly schools. The multi-actor collaboration—NGOs, researchers, educators, and the youth – through citizen science, is not yet well-established, especially in the transboundary Estonian-Latvian context.

Project activities: 

Activity 1.1 Customizing Educational Materials: exchange of practices, combining for collaboration, adapting and translating materials

• Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! River sampling:
  step-by-step guide for teachers (ENG) and checklists (ENG)
  step-by-step guide for teachers (LV) and checklists (LV)
  step-by-step guide for teachers (EST)
• Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! Coastal sampling
  step-by-step guide for teachers (ENG) and checklists (ENG)
  step-by-step guide for teachers (LV) and checklists (LV)
• Biodiversity observations using iNaturalist app
  step-by-step guide (ENG)
  step-by-step guide (LV)
• The plastic pollution on the Baltic Sea and rivers: step-by-step plastic inventory (ENG)

Activity 1.2 Joint cross-border exploratory event with water/plastic sampling: held on 11.10.2025., Salacgrīva, Latvia, please see the summary report.

Activity 2.1 Joint workshops for LV and EE teachers to prepare them for guiding citizen science activities: held on 20.02.2026., Valmiera, Latvia, please see the summary report.

Activity 2.2 Joint citizen science activities (water samplings) in spring 2026:

• Plastic Pirates river sampling in Pedele river held on 20.04.2026., please see the summary report.
• Plastic Pirates river sampling in Salaca river and in coastal zone held on 06.05.2026., please see the summary report.
• Biodiversity sampling in Pedele river held on 18.05.2026., please see the summary report.
• Biodiversity sampling in Salaca river, held on 02.06.2026., please see the summary.

Activity 2.3 Joint summer school for Estonian and Latvian students in summer 2026

Activity 2.4 Researchers’ night event with joint activities

Participations in joint actions across borders after project completion.