Interreg Latvia – Lithuania cross-border cooperation program project “Joint preservation of biological diversity of urban wetlands in the Latvia and Lithuania cross-border region”
- Project number: LL-00232
- Project acronym: UrbUmbrella
- Project implementation period: April, 2025 – March, 2027
- Project partners:
- Lead partner – Daugavpils State City Municipality, Latvia
- Partner – Zarasai District Municipality, Lithuania
- ERDF co-financing: 599 483.40 EUR
- Program website: www.latlit.eu
- Official EU website: www.europa.eu
The project was approved under the green and sustainable development priority, whose specific goal is improving nature protection and conservation, biological diversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, reducing all types of pollution.
The urban wetlands of Daugavpils (Latvia) and Zarasai (Lithuania) in the Daugava River catchment basin, connected by a 12 km waterway, are affected by common environmental challenges. These wetlands, home to more than 400 rare species, are threatened by urbanization, pollution, climate change, and invasive species. Every year, 20,000 tourists visit these places, creating an additional burden on the environment. Joint protection and restoration of wetlands is important to ensure their sustainability. Hence the goal of the project: to promote the protection and conservation of biological diversity affected by climate change and human activity, preserving wetlands, using nature-based solutions, in the urban wetlands of the Daugavpils (LV) and Zarasai (LT) cross-border region.
The main activities in the project are to preserve wetlands by reducing pollution, mimicking natural disturbances, and restoring important species. As a result of the cooperation between the Daugavpils and Zarasai municipalities, a joint sustainable wetland management system will be created, which will promote sustainable conservation and biological diversity protection:
- recovery of nature in the territories adjacent to the Daugava River (in the Ruģeļi neighborhood, LV);
- preservation of biological diversity and habitat restoration in LV-LT wetlands;
- implementation of nature-based solutions for the control/reduction of invasive species;
- promotion of cross-border cooperation between Latvian and Lithuanian field experts.
As a result of the project’s nature protection measures, more than 30,000 ha of area has been restored in the Daugavpils wetland, the spread of invasive red-eared terrestrial turtles (Trachemys scripta) has been controlled, and 10 protected European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) will be released into the wild. On the Didžioji Island of Zarasai city, 9.82 ha of wetland ecosystem will be restored, as well as the landscape and visitor infrastructure will be improved. In the project, experts will conduct research, monitor activities, and develop long-term nature conservation recommendations to ensure scientifically based environmental management. To promote public involvement, an artificial intelligence-supported e-learning tool will be created on the website www.urbanwetland.eu and an informative campaign will be organized.
The entire Latvian–Lithuanian cross-border region differs significantly from other regions of the countries with its large number of wetlands, lakes (more than 800), and rivers (more than 5000). These wetlands are important centers of European biological diversity, providing habitat for more than 400 rare hydrophilic species.
The project partners are located near the Latvian–Lithuanian border (at a distance of 2–14 km), and their territories contain extensive wetlands with high biological diversity, which are actively used by both residents and tourists. Therefore, the protection and restoration of wetlands and their biological diversity, climate change mitigation, and fighting invasive species is a significant motivation for both project partners.
The joint project is very important for the program territory because the urban wetlands included in it promote a high level of biological diversity, mitigate the impact of climate change, reduce carbon emissions, help clean water from excess nutrients, and serve as places for positive mental development, emotional, and educational visits. Thus, the well-being of both residents and visitors throughout the program territory is improved.