The final event of “LIFE Viva Grass“ project
On February 27-28, 2019 – the final event of “LIFE Viva Grass project” was organized in Vilnius, Lithuania.
During the conference we presented the Integrated planning tool, which was created during the project to map and assess grassland ecosystem services and help integrate the ecosystem service approach into decision making in the three Baltic countries: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
We also shared experiences on the ongoing national MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) processes in the three Baltic countries and discussed the future plans of the European Commission on the integration of ecosystem service approach in the agricultural and environmental sectors.
Presentations of the conference
Opening and Introduction to the Final Conference of project “LIFE Viva Grass”
- “LIFE Viva Grass” result reflection vis-à-vis project idea – what we wanted to do, what did we achieve?, Zymantas Morkvenas, Project manager, BEF Lithuania
Session I: Ecosystem service assessment: process and methodologies.
Assessment of ecosystem services on national scale: 3 Baltic states. Short pitch speeches from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia: what is the state of national MAES processes & methodologies used. Representatives from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia:
- State of national MAES: Case of Lithuania, Kristina Simonaityte, Lithuanian Ministry of Environment
- State of national MAES: Case of Latvia, Andris Širovs, Nature Conservation Agency of Republic of Latvia
- State of national MAES: Case of Estonia, Madli Linder, Estonian Environment Agency & Miguel Villoslada, Estonian University of LifeSciences
- Methodology used to assess agro-ecosystems in “LIFE Viva Grass”, Miguel Villoslada, Estonian University of Life Sciences
Session II: the “Viva Grass Integrated Planning Tool”
Presentations on the Tool’s functioning and operationalizing eco-system services in different land-use decision making contexts
- The Idea behind the Integrated Planning Tool and how it integrates the ecosystem service approach, Arvydas Dotas, BEF Lithuania
Three different land-use decision making contexts:
- Green network, Miguel Pecina-Villoslada, Estonian University of Life Sciences
- Green Infrastructure, Ivo Vinogradovs, Latvian University
- Protected area management, Justas Gulbinas, BEF Lithuania
- Stakeholder involvement in all project areas, Kristina Veidemane, BEF Latvia
Session III: Future policy development
- The ecosystem service concept: where we are now and what lies ahead? Kalev Sepp, Estonian University of Life Sciences
- European Commission perspective: Integrating ecosystem service concept in policies, Kristina Veidemane, BEF Latvia
- Recommendations from the “LIFE Viva Grass” project: applying the ecosystem services approach in rural development plans and spatial planning practices, Anda Ruskule, BEF Latvia
The conference was held in Vilnius, Lithuania at the conference hall in the hotel “Best Western”, Konstitucijos av. 14.
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