GURINIMAS

The objective of the project is  close cooperation between Estonian and Latvian authorities and research institutions for the reduction of the nitrogen load into Gulf of Riga. 

The protection and enhancement of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea Area, incl. Gulf of Riga, are tasks that cannot effectively be accomplished by national efforts alone but by close regional co-operation. Both countries have a common goal of reduction of nitrogen input in the Gulf of Riga, due to its extensive pollution impact. The project will provide the Estonian and Latvian authorities the opportunity to plan and implement measures to reduce nitrogen in a coherent way. In particular, the proposed cooperation will address the following challenges: How to address the nitrogen pathways within and between air, soil and water? What are the implications of the nitrogen cascade for developing practices that minimise pollution swapping and maximise co-benefits? Is nitrogen ‘pollution swapping’ still an issue when considering a framing toward improving nitrogen use efficiency? What implications does the nitrogen cascade have for the development of effective policy instruments? Could strategies that seek win-win situations across the nitrogen cycle help overcome barriers-to-change?

As a result of the project, an integrated nitrogen management system for Estonian and Latvian governmental institutions will be composed. The system involves economy wide inventory of the nitrogen cycle and definition of the risk areas in the Gulf of Riga catchment where to act. This means the development and implementation of the model that follows the Impact-Pathway-Source approach to propose the most cost-efficient and effective measures for increasing the efficiency of use of N and reducing N losses.

The project contributes to the implementation of the EUSBSR policy area "NUTRI - Reducing nutrient inputs to the sea to acceptable levels"  and the achievement of the EUSBSR objective "Save the Sea"

Please visit project website for materials and more information about activities - www.envir.ee/en/news-goals-activities/protection-marine-environment/gurinimas