Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania

Date of latest update: 2025-09-05

Description

Description (LV):

Kurzeme Latvijā un Ziemeļlietuva, kam ir kopīgs dabas mantojums, saskaras ar līdzīgiem izaicinājumiem, aizsargājot koku alejas kā svarīgus bioloģiskās daudzveidības un zaļās infrastruktūras elementus. Alejas nodrošina dažādus būtiskus ekosistēmu pakalpojumus, tostarp gaisa attīrīšanu un klimata regulēšanu, kā arī dzīvotnes dažādām sugām. Tomēr tās arvien vairāk apdraud urbanizācija, apsaimniekošanas trūkums un nepietiekama sabiedrības izpratne par to ekoloģisko vērtību. Projekta mērķis ir uzlabot koku aleju aizsardzību, uzturēšanu, atjaunošanu un veikt koku aleju inventarizāciju Kurzemē un Ziemeļlietuvā, kā arī stiprināt vietējo pašvaldību kapacitāti, pilnveidot zināšanas un veicināt sabiedrības izpratni par koku aleju un bioloģiskās daudzveidības saglabāšanu. Projekta galvenie rezultāti ir Kurzemes un Ziemeļlietuvas aleju ĢIS datu bāzu izveide plānošanai un lēmumu pieņemšanai, 12 veco aleju atjaunošana un uzturēšana abu valstu pilsētās un parkos, kā arī pop-up alejas izveide Kuldīgā kā inovatīvs pilsētas apzaļumošanas risinājums. Pašvaldības darbinieku kapacitātes stiprināšana tiks nodrošināta ar mācību vizīti un semināriem par koku aleju uzturēšanu un atjaunošanu. Sabiedrības informētības un iesaistes veicināšanai tiks organizēta arī līdzdalības ĢIS aptauja, lekcijas un semināri. Pārrobežu sadarbība ir šī projekta galvenais elements, kas nodrošina labākās prakses apmaiņu, kopīgu problēmu risināšanu un datu saskaņošanu. Stiprinot bioloģisko daudzveidību, uzlabojot pilsētvidi un vietējo kapacitāti, projekts sekmē zaļāku, ilgtspējīgāku reģionu attīstību, sniedzot labumu abām valstīm.

Description (LT):

Kuržemės regionas Latvijoje ir Šiaurės Lietuva, turėdami bendrą gamtinį paveldą, susiduria su panašiais iššūkiais saugant medžių alėjas, kurios yra svarbiūs biologinės įvairovės ir žaliosios infrastruktūros elementai. Šios alėjos teikia įvairias svarbias ekosistemines paslaugas, įskaitant oro valymą, klimato reguliavimą ir yra buveinės įvairioms rūšims. Tačiau joms vis dažniau kyla grėsmė dėl urbanizacijos, priežiūros trūkumo ir nepakankamo visuomenės suvokimo apie jų ekologinę vertę. Projektu siekiama gerinti medžių alėjų apsaugą, priežiūrą ir atkūrimą, atlikti medžių alėjų Kuržemėje ir Šiaurės Lietuvoje inventorizaciją, stiprinti vietos savivaldybių gebėjimus, tobulinti žinias ir didinti visuomenės sąmoningumą apie medžių alėjų ir biologinės įvairovės išsaugojimą. Pagrindiniai projekto rezultatai apima Kuržemės ir Šiaurės Lietuvos alėjų GIS duomenų bazių sukūrimą, kurios bus naudojamos planavimui ir sprendimų priėmimui, 12 senų alėjų atkūrimą ir priežiūrą abiejų šalių miestuose ir parkuose bei inovatyvaus miesto žalinimo sprendimo – mobiliosios („pop-up“) alėjos – įrengimą Kuldygoje. Savivaldybių darbuotojų gebėjimų stiprinimui bus surengtas pažintinis vizitas ir seminarai apie medžių alėjų priežiūrą ir atkūrimą. Siekiant didinti visuomenės informuotumą ir įsitraukimą, vyks dalyvaujamasis GIS tyrimas, paskaitos ir seminarai. Bendradarbiavimas per sieną yra esminė šio projekto dalis, leidžianti dalytis gerąja patirtimi, bendrai spręsti problemas ir derinti duomenis. Stiprinant biologinę įvairovę, gerinant miesto aplinką ir didinant vietos pajėgumus, projektas prisideda prie ekologiškesnio, tvaresnio regiono kūrimo, kurio nauda bus ilgalaikė abiem šalims.

Description (EN):

Kurzeme in Latvia and Northern Lithuania, which share a common natural heritage, both face similar challenges in protecting tree alleys as important elements of biodiversity and green infrastructure. These alleys provide various essential ecosystem services, including air purification and climate regulation, and habitats for various species. However, they are increasingly threatened by urbanisation, lack of maintenance and insufficient public awareness of their ecological value. The project aims to improve the protection, maintenance, restoration of tree alleys and to carry out an inventory of tree alleys in Kurzeme and Northern Lithuania as well as to strengthen the capacity of local municipalities, improve knowledge and raise public awareness in preservation of tree alleys and biodiversity. The project key outputs include the creation of the GIS databases of alleys in Kurzeme and Northern Lithuania for planning and decision-making, restoration and maintenance of 12 old alleys in towns and parks in both countries, and the creation of a pop-up alley in Kuldīga as an innovative urban greening solution. Capacity building of municipal staff will be ensured through study visit and seminars on maintenance and restoration of tree alleys. Participatory GIS survey, lectures and seminars will also be organised to increase public awareness and involvement. Cross-border cooperation is key to this project, enabling best practice sharing, joint problem solving and data harmonisation. By strengthening biodiversity, enhancing urban environments, and building local capacity, the project fosters a greener, more sustainable region with lasting benefits to both countries.

Expected Achievements (EN):

Specific objective of the WP is to create GIS data base of alleys and adopt it in local level planning and decision making, to maintain and restore 12 tree alleys in Kurzeme and North Lithuania, and to test pop-up alley in urban area. A specific objective of this work package is to improve the skills of municipal employees and landowners, and raise public awareness about the importance of alleys for biodiversity.

Project outputs: GIS databases of alleys in Kurzeme and North Lithuania(EN)
Organisations cooperating across borders(EN)

Thematic information

Urban development Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-A_Lv-Lt_2) Priority 2 Green, resilient and sustainable development

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 (7)

Lead Partner: Kurzemes Planošanas Reģions

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 90002183562

Department: N/A

Address: Avotu , LV 3801 Saldus, Latvia

Department address: Valguma, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.kurzemesregions.lv

Total budget: EUR 175 372.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 140 298.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 35 074.50

Aukštaitijos saugomų teritorijų direkcija

Name: Aukštaitijos saugomų teritorijų direkcija

Department: Krekenava Regional Park Group

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 306108968

Address: J.Biliūno , 29110 Anykščiai, Lithuania

Department address: Dobrovolė village, 38301 Krekenava eldership, Panevėžys district, Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.astd.lrv.lt

Total budget: EUR 72 270.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 57 816.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 454.00

Kretinga District Municipality Administration

Name: Kretinga District Municipality Administration

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 188715222

Address: Savanorių g. , 97111 Kretinga, Lithuania

Department address: Savanorių g. , 97111 Kretinga, Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.kretinga.lt

Total budget: EUR 107 999.55

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 86 399.64

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 21 599.91

Contractors:

Name: FLC
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT256544515

Tukuma novada pašvaldība

Name: Tukuma novada pašvaldība

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 90000050975

Address: Talsu street, LV-3101 Tukums, Latvia

Department address: Talsu, LV-3101 Tukums, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.tukums.lv

Total budget: EUR 96 662.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 77 330.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 332.50

Kuldīgas novada pašvaldība

Name: Kuldīgas novada pašvaldība

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 90000035590

Address: Baznīcas, LV-3301 Kuldīga, Latvia

Department address: Baznīcas, LV-3301 Kuldiga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.kuldigasnovads.lv

Total budget: EUR 93 943.12

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 75 154.49

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 18 788.63

Viešoji įstaiga “Inovatorių slėnis”

Name: Viešoji įstaiga “Inovatorių slėnis”

Department: N/A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 304130193

Address: Mokyklos g., 32243 Antalieptė, Lithuania

Department address: Mokyklos g., 32243 Antalieptė, Lithuania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://inovatoriuslenis.lt

Total budget: EUR 75 464.67

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 60 371.73

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 092.94

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas

Name: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas

Department: Faculty of Forest Sciences and Ecology in Agriculture academy

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 111950396

Address: K. Donelaičio str., LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania

Department address: Studentų str., LT-53361 Akademija, Kaunas dist., Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.vdu.lt

Total budget: EUR 128 277.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 102 622.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 655.50

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Directorate of Aukštaitija Protected Areas

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Partners and Projects info

Kretinga district municipality administration

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Partners and Projects info

Tukums County Municipality

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Partners and Projects info

Kuldīgas novada pašvaldība

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Partners and Projects info

NGO Innovators’ Valley

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Partners and Projects info

Vytautas Magnus University

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Partners and Projects info

Kurzeme Planning Region

Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Project acronym: Green Guardians

Project ID: LL-00251

Project start date: 2025-02-01

Project end date: 2027-01-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

LIFE OSMO BALTIC - Baltic wide web for Osmoderma eremita: the creation of an ecological network in the Baltic region.
The aim of the ongoing project is to take measures to ensure the protection of the priority species of the EU Habitat Directive - Osmoderma eremita by creating a transboundary ecological network connecting Lithuanian and Latvian populations of this species, also reaching the border populations of North Poland and South Estonia, and envisaging research and the creation of the new Natura 2000 sites or the extension of existing ones in order to create a Natura 2000 network in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive. The project is based on a stepwise approach that includes the identification of important areas for Osmoderma with large scale inventory and setting the necessary network for protection both inside and outside the Natura 2000 network, planning management activities both on a local scale (parks, avenues) and on a broader scale at Natura 2000 level (management plans for Natura 2000 sites), identifying the problematic aspects in the protection of the target species and finding solutions and providing tools to solve the identified problems (species conservation plan), and implementing habitat restoration throughout the entire ecological network.
Project will carry out practical management activities - habitat restoration, management and cleaning (alleys, parks and big trees), develop guidelines for park and greenery management, develop park reconstruction projects and implement reconstruction projects, as well as develop a training program on the management of alleys, parks and plantations, and develop study course for arborists. (EN) | Projects have thematic synergies related to alleys since old and biologically valuable alleys are important habitat for Osmoderma species that is in focus of OSMO BALTIC project. We has been in contact with OSMO BALTIC project already in it's planning stage in order not to overlap project activities and results, and choose different pilot sites. As different from the OSMO BALTIC project, Green Guardians is not focusing only on protected alleys. Projects are planning to have cooperation and exchange of information during implementation thus complementing each others activities especially in raising public awareness on importance of alleys for biological diversity. (EN), “Optimizing the management of Natura 2000 network in Lithuania”. “Naturalit“ project aimed to ensure the full protection of the Natura 2000 network in Lithuania (2018-2027). (EN) | Projects have thematic synergies related to alleys since biologically valuable alleys are important habitats and may be included in Natura 2000 network. (EN), Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Changemaking to Shape, Protect and Maintain the Resilience of Tomorrow’s Forests (2022-2027) - in eco2adapt the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) framework will be developed, derived from Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), that harnesses biodiversity and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability and build social-ecological resilience to climate change. (EN) | Projects have thematic synergies related to alleys, and as forests, alleys also can be destroyed through climatic events such as storms or drought, or attacked by pests and pathogens, leaving a devastated landscape and despairing local populations. (EN), Lithuanian national project “Adaptation of the catalog of tree microhabitats to Lithuanian conditions, determination of conservation value and presentation of protection recommendations” (Completed 2020-2022). (EN) | Tree related microhabitats are recognised as important substrates and structures for biodiversity in forests, but the same refers to alleys, so data from this project is useful. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 749 989.84

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 599 991.86

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

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 599 991.86. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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Deliverables:

GIS database of alleys in Kurzeme region
GIS database of alleys in North Lithuania region
Introduction seminar in Kurzeme
Introduction seminar in North Lithuania
Roadmap for tree alley owners and managers
Adopting of the GIS data base of alleys in Kuldiga County municipality
Adopting of the GIS data base of alleys in Kretinga District municipality
Heat stress monitoring system in Kuldīga Old Town (PP4)
Kuldiga pilot POP-up alley in Old Town pedestrian street (PP4)
Restoration and maintenance of tree alleys in Antalieptė Monastery and Kamariškės Manor park (PP3)
Restoration and maintenance of two alleys in the city of Kuldīga (PP4)
Restoration and maintenance of 5 alleys in Tukums County municipality (PP5)
Maintenance of alleys in Salantai and Kretinga manor parks (PP6)
Maintenance of Daniliškis linden-tree alley (PP7)
Management Plan for Salantai manor park alley
Management Plan for Kretinga manor park alley
Management Plan for Daniliškis linden-tree alley
Educational workshops on tree alleys maintenance and restoration
Study visit to Poland about alleys maintenance and protection
Purchase of equipment for trainings and maintenance of alleys
Public campaign with participatory GIS survey about alleys
Development of education materials for children about trees and alleys
Educational workshops in 8 eco-schools in Kurzeme about trees and alleys
Educational tours for children about trees for biodiversity
Public lecture series about trees and alleys and their value for biodiversity and climate
Educational workshops in schools in Kretinga
Project final event
Project profile on latlit.eu
Information about the project on partners websites
Information on social media
Informative posters at premises of all partners
Press releases
Marking investments of PP3
Information boards in maintained alleys

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The project is related to solving environmental and climate change challenges in the Baltic Sea region, which is a horizontal issue in all 14 political directions.
However, the project will contribute the most in at least two sub-goals - ‘Rich and healthy wildlife’, 'Climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management'.
Activities are aimed at ensuring rich and healthy wildlife, halting the decline of biological diversity, maintaining a balanced ecosystem and restoring it where possible
Other The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. The new approach to biodiversity conservation focuses not only on unique and threatened components of nature, but also on natural elements that are characteristic of biogeographic regions and smaller areas.
According to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the member states have been set three nature protection goals to be met by 2030:
1. Legally protect at least 30% of the EU's land and 30% of the EU's marine territories in the "true Trans-European Nature Network" and integrate ecological corridors into it.
2. Strictly protect at least one third of the protected areas of the EU, including all the remaining primeval and ancient forests of the EU.
3. To realistically manage all protected areas with clearly defined conservation goals and measures and ensure proper monitoring in them.
As part of this plan, the Commission proposed the EU’s first ever Nature Restoration Law which includes an overarching restoration objective for the long-term recovery of nature in the EU’s land and sea areas, with binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species.
In addition, the nature restoration plan determines the following specific tasks to be completed, for example, to restore the areas of carbon-rich ecosystems, to plant three billion new trees in the EU, to develop greening plans for cities with at least 20,000 inhabitants.
Our project will provide an opportunity to expand the network of protected areas, improve the status of protected species and habitats, strategically plan and manage green infrastructure network to deliver a range of ecosystem services, while also enhancing biodiversity.
Other The European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000) -focuses on the quality of landscape protection, management and planning and covers the whole area, not just outstanding landscapes.
The Convention covers all landscapes, both outstanding and ordinary, that determine the quality of people’s living environment. Therefore roadside tree alleys are a valuable landscape component. Roadside tree alleys have been established on palace grounds, in royal gardens and parks, and they are important and legible elements of landscape architecture.
Landscape protection involves actions to design and harmonize the significant or characteristic features of a landscape. The aim of landscape management is to ensure the regular upkeep of a landscape based on the principles of sustainable development. Landscape planning involves measures to enhance, create or restore degraded or mismanaged landscapes.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

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 Latvia-Lithuania

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

2025-09-05

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

66 / 66 (100%)

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

230 / 230 (100%)

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Preserving Tree Alleys for Biodiversity in Kurzeme and North Lithuania

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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