Bridging borders: project field visits to Estonia and Latvia 

This August, WWF Sweden – lead partner in the BaltCOP project – visited Estonia and Latvia to meet with local partners and explore key pilot sites. These field visits offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration and witness firsthand how theory is being translated into action. 

“When cooperating in an Interreg project across the Baltic Sea, it is important to get an understanding of the local work at each partner’s sites. These field visits have given us deeper and shared knowledge on both policy processes and technical aspects of wetland design”, says Mats Johansson, Project Manager for BaltCOP – the three-year Baltic Catchment Officer Project.  

Sharing knowledge in Estonia 

WWF Sweden kicked off the Estonian visit by joining a stakeholder webinar hosted by the Estonian Fund for Nature. The session introduced the BaltCOP project and provided reflections on the role of catchment officers, using Matsalu, Estonia as a case study. Elina Leiner from the Estonian Environmental Board presented the WetEST project, while Mats Johansson shared insights into Sweden’s catchment officer model and lessons learned from implementing integrated water management. 

“The work with catchment officers in Estonia is really about to take off the coming years and it has been very fruitful to hear from the national authorities and discuss how BaltCOP can contribute to the uptake of the catchment officer approach,” says Johansson. 

Following the webinar, the team headed into the field to visit the Penijõgi River in Kasari River basin – an overgrown watercourse that is now the focus of pilot action in the project. The goal is to restore the river’s natural meandering flow, improve biodiversity, and engage local communities in hands-on conservation.  

Alongside Penijogi, two additional pilot actions are being conducted in the area, one of which is already complete. The pilot activities in the catchment not only aim to tackle nutrient leakage and biodiversity loss but also serve as a learning opportunities on engaging landowners and implementing effective, well-planned measures. Together, these actions will provide tangible examples for integrated water management, helping bridge the gap between theory and practice. 

Wetlands and local wisdom in Latvia 

In Latvia, WWF Sweden’s Secretary General Gustaf Lind and WWF Baltic Sea Programme Director Johanna Fox joined the team for a visit to the Mežacīruļi constructed wetland together with project partner Pasaules Dabas Fonds. Originally built in 2013-2014 to reduce nutrient runoff and purify wastewater, the site is now being upgraded as part of the BaltCOP project with new materials to enhance phosphorus absorption. Researchers from project partners LBTU are closely involved, ensuring the reconstruction is guided by the latest science. 

“It is very interesting to follow the plans for the BaltCOP project sites in Latvia and the measures that will be taken the coming months. We need concrete pilots to verify and improve the planning and policy initiatives that we are developing within the project,” explains Mats Johansson.  

The group had the chance to have in-depth conversations with the landowner, who offered valuable insights into long-term stewardship and the importance of local engagement. As Latvia works to build capacity in and understanding of water management, Mežacīruļi stands out as a pioneer – the first demonstration site of its kind and a model for future projects.  

Find out more about the BaltCOP project here.