Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Estonia-Latvia

Date of latest update: 2025-12-10

Description

Description (EN):

In the last three decades, the change in people's living habits (abandonment of natural farming, moving to cities, intensification of agriculture) has contributed to the overgrowth of riverbanks. This most often happens with gray alder stands that have problems with nutrient uptake and sediment flow. The eutrophication and sedimentation in rivers show the inefficiency of environmental laws and the existing management approach of riparian forests in both countries. Establishing riparian forest management based on an ecosystem services approach can help owners make decisions that help increase the value of various ecosystem services in forest and river ecosystems. The main task would be to recognize and value the diverse ecosystem services in riparian forests without prioritizing any single one of the services. By evaluating individual ecosystem services and predicting the impact of different management (including non-management) alternatives on them, the change in overall ecosystem service values can be predicted. Also reducing existing negative processes (sedimentation, eutrophication, nutrient leakage, etc.) would be particularly important. The main output will be the development of a decision-making support tool, which includes models and algorithms for evaluating ecosystem services, which will provide support to riparian landowners (foresters, farmers, locals). Society as a whole will benefit from the realization of the project's goals. By cooperating with Estonian and Latvian forest scientists, forest owners, and IT specialists, with various experiences (also in other sectors), and knowledge (ecosystem assessment, implementation of e-solutions in legislation), we can find a solution necessary to solve the mentioned problem. The ecosystem service evaluation tool developed in the project is planned to be integrated into the forest management platform LVM GEO.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Most of the tasks accomplished were related to communication, particularly on discussing the criteria of demonstration areas, which were eventually found. In this regard, the most time-consuming part was the communication with forest owners and filtering of offered forest stands according to inventory data. During the first period of the project, the progress was slower than expected, mostly due to the need to establish a routine of communication among the partners. For some partners, unfamiliarity with the manner in which Interreg projects should be carried out also allegedly hindered the early stage of the project. Still, the early challenges are now over, and a clear path to achieving the project objectives has been drawn. The completion of Activity 1.1 has facilitated the initiation of following activities during Period 2. The implementation of Activities 1.2 and 1.4 have been initiated alongside Activity 1.3, as their goals are directly interconnected and contribute to the intended modeling tool development. For instance, effective data collection (Activity 1.3) requires clarity on the types of ecosystem services to be quantified, which necessitates the concurrent work on a set of indicators for assessing the service supply (Activity 1.2), inevitably leading to the first drafts/ideas for the modeling tool development (Activity 1.4). During Period 3, the path for completing of distinct activities have taken a more precise shape, facilitating the drafting of an approximate version of how the results of the project could look. For instance, the work on the evaluation of the ecosystem services of riparian forests potentially to be applied for the modeling tool was focused on multiple stand parameters, and thus the collection of necessary data was adjusted accordingly. This facilitated the initial commutation with the modeling tool developers (LVM GEO). During this period, the project made progress toward its objectives, particularly in the preparatory stages of Work Package 1. EMU successfully completed planned activities, establishing methods and background data for ecosystem service evaluation. SILAVA compiled and processed datasets, calculated ecosystem service values, and initiated the transfer of initial results to LVM. LVM began developing ES modeling tool in LVM GEO platform.

Project outputs: LVM GEO Riparian forest ecosystem services evaluation tool (EN)
Creation of demonstration areas(EN)
Organizations that jointly implemented the project(EN)
Website: https://www.silava.lv/

Thematic information

Demographic change and immigration Rural and peripheral development

Priority: (VI-A_EE-Lv_3) Sustainable and resilient programme area

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (5)

Lead Partner: Latvijas Valsts mežzinātnes institūts "Silava"

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 958882443

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 90002121030

Address: Rīgas iela, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.silava.lv

Total budget: EUR 399 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 319 680.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 79 920.00

Sihtasutus Loodushoiu Fond

Name: Sihtasutus Loodushoiu Fond

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 888513793

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 90015318

Address: Korjuse-Vanapere, , EE-76010 Harju maakond, Lääne-Harju vald, Määra küla, Estonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.loodushoiufond.ee/

Total budget: EUR 84 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 67 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 850.00

Latvijas Meža īpašnieku biedrība

Name: Latvijas Meža īpašnieku biedrība

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 953617768

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 40008094521

Address: 1, LV-4014 "Ūdensdzirnavas", Vidrižu pagasts, Limbažu novads, Latvia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://mezaipasnieki.lv

Total budget: EUR 60 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 48 640.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 12 160.00

AS “Latvijas valsts meži”

Name: AS “Latvijas valsts meži”

Department: Business System Solutions

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 941848176

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV40003466281

Address: Vaiņodes street, LV-1004 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Vanagu iela, LV-4219 Valmiermuiža, Valmieras pagasts, Valmieras novads, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME

Website: http://www.lvm.lv

Total budget: EUR 196 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 157 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 360.00

Eesti Maaülikool

Name: Eesti Maaülikool

Department: Metsanduse ja inseneeria instituut (Institute of Forestry and Engineering)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999857280

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100018015

Address: Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Department address: Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.emu.ee/

Total budget: EUR 187 050.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 149 640.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 410.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

The Nature Fund

Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Partners and Projects info

Latvian Forest Owners' Association (LFOA)

Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Partners and Projects info

JSC Latvia’s State Forests

Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Partners and Projects info

Estonian University of Life Sciences

Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Partners and Projects info

Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"

Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Project acronym: RiForMa

Project ID: EE-LV00001

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2026-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

LIFE EcosystemServices - LIFE13 ENV/LV/000839 "Assessment of ecosystems and their services for nature biodiversity conservation and management" (EN) | The results of the LIFE EcosystemServices project, such as Model for Ecosystem Services economic valuation, Elaboration and economic evaluation of the development scenarios, Mapping of ecosystems and their services, will be revised. All the useful knowledge, experience and information will be taken over and used in RiForMa project. (EN), LIFE Goodwater - LIFE18 IPE/LV/000014 “Implementation of River Basin Management Plans of Latvian towards good surface water status” (EN) | RiForMa is interested in receiving results from the following objectives of the Goodwater project - to reduce the loss of plant nutrients from diffuse pollution sources in forest areas. As part of the Goodwater project, the following Green Infrastructure measures will be examined and evaluated in forest areas - creation of buffer strips of different widths, thinning of trees on the banks of watercourses in order to reduce the proportion of spruce trees and promote the creation of broad-leaved trees and ground cover vegetation near watercourses, replacing black alder with trees of other species to create a mixed stand in watercourses on the shores.
As part of the Goodwater project, the following will be carried out:
1. Determination and evaluation of plant nutrient pollution sources in the forest areas of the catchment area of the selected risk water body.
2. Development of practical recommendations and technical solutions for the implementation of green solutions in forest areas.
These are the activities of the Goodwater project, which are closely related to the assessment of ecosystem services in riparian forests and their indicators to be developed within the framework of the RiForMa project. (EN), The State Regional Development Agency supported project “Assessing riparian forest ecosystem services” (Reģ. Nr.1 08/139/2020). (EN) | The public's opinion was obtained in the study. It was found out which ecosystem services are used by society. What type of management in riparian forests is accepted by society. As well as whether society would be willing to pay for ecosystem services and how many euros it is willing to spend annually on various ecosystem services. The information to be used will make it possible to understand more correctly how to present a new type of riparian forest management decision-making to the public and how to better integrate its innovative principles and the developed IT tool into legislation.
The project has analyzed the most important types of ecosystem services: amount of dead wood in forest stands, resistance to recreational loads, phytoremediation, recreational value of forest stands, visual quality. An ecosystem service assessment matrix was prepared. Its essence can be taken over in the project and implemented for a more complete assessment of the riparian forests. (EN), The State Regional Development Agency supported project “Assessment of services provided by forest stands to freshwater ecosystems” (Reģ.Nr.1-08/184/2014) (EN) | Extensive work was carried out in the project to collect field data - 15 rivers, 90 sample plots. Information on vegetation, tree stand, dead wood was collected. The data were used for riparian forest analysis and condition assessment. The obtained data and prepared publications on this research will be one of the practical and theoretical cornerstones in the further development of the assessment of riparian forest ecosystem services. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 928 500.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 742 800.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 742 800.00. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I2.1 - Creation of Demonstration areas in LV and EE - EUR 40 000.00 - country: , town: , ,

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The project will directly affect one of BSR's key objectives “save the sea”. The tool implemented in the project will help forest owners to make more effective decisions for the reproduction of ecosystem services, including obtaining clean water. Forest owners have the opportunity to take out the accumulated nutrients from riparian forests and promote the creation of new effective nutrient-attracting forests. Integrating into an already existing and widely used forest management program, the assessment of ecosystem services and the preparation of alternatives necessary for decision-making will help to promote effective riparian forest management, which will directly affect the quality of water flowing into rivers from agriculture, forestry, and other lands.
The project will also contribute to the fulfillment of the third task of BSR - cooperation in R&D and stronger partnership, which will help to strengthen the competitiveness of the region in forestry and ecosystem services obtained from the forest.
Other The RiForMa project will contribute the above mentioned aims and directions of EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030
Increasing the quantity of forests and improving their health and resilience
In addition to strictly protecting all remaining EU primary and old-growth forests, the EU must increase the quantity, quality and resilience of its forests, notably against fires, droughts, pests, diseases and other threats likely to increase with climate change. To retain their function for both biodiversity and climate, all forests need to be preserved in good health. More resilient forests can support a more resilient economy. They also play an important role in providing materials, products and services, which are key for the circular bio-economy.
According Strategy forests are hugely important for biodiversity, climate and water regulation, the provision of food, medicines and materials, carbon sequestration and storage, soil stabilisation and the purification of air and water. They are also a natural home for recreation and learning about nature. Foresters have a key role to play in ensuring sustainable forest management and in restoring and sustaining biodiversity in forests. IT solutions and further integration in national legislation will help foresters be more sufficient in decision making process.
The strategy determines that biodiversity-friendly practices such as closer-to-nature-forestry should continue and be further developed with forest management plans. Outcome of the project absolutely fits this clear task of the strategy.
Other The actions in the project match UN General Asambley the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 6 Goal 13 and Goal 15:
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts:
- Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
- Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
- Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
- By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
- By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
- By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
- Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
Other
The existing legislation (in both countries) has been created following the principles of precaution and has promoted the suspension or reduction of human activities in riparian forests. In supporting the management of riparian forests with the aim of obtaining clean runoff water, it is necessary to fundamentally revise the principles set out in the laws binding regulatory acts. It is necessary to change the norms from prohibitive activities to a system in which the performance of any economic activities would be allowed, on the condition of preserving or increasing the value of ecosystem services of riparian forests, for example, water quality, biological diversity.
In Latvia, currently the Law on Buffer Zones from 1997 (the period of time when the legislative base of the Republic of Latvia was formed) states that its purpose is to promote the preservation of the environment by prohibiting forestry activities, providing for the exception of the felling of white alder trees (changes were made in 2015). Thus, after 20 years, admitting to forest owners that the management regime established by the law is incomplete and does not fulfill the functions provided for by the law. In order not to expect a similar scenario in the stands of other tree species, it is necessary to change the legislative conditions and promote management with them, promoting the increase in the value of various ecosystem services and the return of society to the territories - rural areas, which it has inhabited for a long time. The principles of legislation in Estonia are very similar.
Other The RiForMa project will contribute the above mentioned aims and directions of New EU Forest Strategy for 2030
2.4. To develop skills.
As the multifunctional role of forests in the transition to a sustainable and climate-neutral future will continue to grow, a broader set of skills will be needed, such as experts who are familiar with advanced sustainable forest management practices.
3. Protect, restore and expand EU forests to combat climate change, reverse biodiversity loss and ensure resilient and multifunctional forest ecosystems.
In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, there is a need for adaptive forest regeneration and ecosystem-based management approaches that strengthen the resilience of EU forests. Therefore, forest biodiversity should be protected and restored, and forest management practices beneficial to biodiversity should be introduced.
Climate change means forest change. Europe's vegetation zones have begun to shift upwards and northwards, and in most cases this will lead to a transformation of forest ecosystems. This means that there will be very few forests that will not be severely affected by climate change or that will not require immediate management to reduce their vulnerability to climate change.
3.4. Financial incentives to encourage forest owners and managers to improve the quality and increase the area of EU forests
Owners and managers of private forests often derive their main income from the supply of wood. Therefore, new drives and financial incentives are needed so that they can also provide ecosystem services with the help of forest protection and restoration and increase the resilience of their forests by introducing the best forest management practices for climate and biodiversity.
Member States are particularly encouraged to establish a payment scheme within the country that rewards ecosystem services, thus allowing costs and foregone revenues to be covered.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

Eesti (EE), Tartu, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi, 1, 51006

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 5.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Estonia-Latvia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-08-15

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

53 / 53 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

240 / 240 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Riparian forest management based on assessment of ecosystem services

Description

Thematic information

Partners (5)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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