CoCoRiCo

Project Overview:

CoCoRiCo aims to build a cross‑border citizen‑science community in Estonia and Latvia to help reduce plastic pollution and protect water ecosystems. It brings together NGOs, researchers, educators, and youth to collaborate in shared river basins and coastal areas. Through joint activities, sampling events, and educational actions, the project strengthens environmental awareness and supports better understanding of pollution in both countries.

Project Objective

The main objective is to engage citizens, especially young people, in monitoring plastic pollution and protecting water bodies in Estonia and Latvia. The project promotes active involvement, personal responsibility, and collaboration among communities to improve environmental conditions and contribute to reducing plastic litter and microplastics.

Key Activities

• Involving youth, educators, NGOs and researchers in joint citizen‑science actions in shared river basins (Salaca, Pärnu, Pedele) and along the Gulf of Riga.
• Organising exploratory and sampling activities to monitor plastic litter and pollution.
• Carrying out educational work to motivate young people to take part in environmental protection and policy discussions.
• Producing communication materials and using social media to share findings and raise awareness.
• Building on existing initiatives such as the Europe‑wide Plastic Pirates campaign by using their guidelines and data‑collection methods.

Expected Results:

• Increased public understanding of plastic pollution and its impact on water ecosystems.
• Stronger cooperation among NGOs, youth groups, schools, and research organisations in Estonia and Latvia.
• Generation of comparable data on plastic litter through citizen‑science sampling.
• Contribution to wider environmental goals such as the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan target to reduce marine plastic litter by 50% by 2030.

Cross‑Border Cooperation Aspect

CoCoRiCo is designed specifically for the joint Estonian-Latvian context. It connects people and organisations across the border, focusing on shared river basins and coastal areas. The project encourages collaboration between NGOs, researchers, educators, and youth groups to address a common environmental challenge through aligned methodologies and joint actions.