In early October, project partners and stakeholders met in Navi village near Lake Põrmujärv to share progress and see the new island up close. The gathering—hosted by the Navi Village Society and the Navi Lakes Foundation and organized by the Estonian University of Life Sciences—included results presentations, field visits and hands-on demonstrations on how the islands are built and installed.
What the pilots do?
The islands are lightweight platforms planted with diverse vegetation. Their roots host microbes that help reduce algae and excess nutrients and provide shelter for insects, birds and fish. The concept is part of BioFloat’s wider goal to preserve biodiversity and restore water ecosystem quality in urban areas.
Three pilot sites
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Lake Põrmujärv (Võru County, Estonia): Launched in September 2025. Community partners and researchers are testing how islands can improve water clarity and habitat.
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Cēsis Castle Park Pond (Latvia): Launched in October 2025. To support the pond’s food web, partners released pike at the opening event with support from local stakeholders.
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Dzirnavu Pond, Gulbene (Latvia): Installation and anchoring took place in September 2025, with demonstrations to tailor the design to local needs.
Fieldwork and learning together
During the project partners and stakeholder meeting in October in Navi, participants joined scientific fishing demonstrations and microplastic sampling and received updates on related initiatives such as NutriLoopWorks project. Partners also compared notes on installation techniques and maintenance so that municipalities can use the approach confidently.
Why this matters?
Floating islands are a practical, nature-based solution: they can absorb pollutants, dampen waves, increase biodiversity and add greenery to city ponds and lakes. BioFloat is developing a ready-to-use concept and clear guidance so local governments can procure solutions suited to each water body.
What’s next?
The islands will overwinter in place. In spring, partners will continue monitoring to see how well the pilots reduce pollution and support biodiversity, and they will share user-friendly guidance with other towns in the programme area.
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- More info about the BioFloat project: BioFloat | ESTLAT
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