Joint management of groundwater dependent ecosystems in transboundary Gauja-Koiva river basin

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Projects background: The transboundary Gauja-Koiva river basin has a joint water cycle, including its subterranean part – the groundwater. In this project the issues related to the Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) will be considered. GDEs are ecosystems which existence depend solely on groundwater input. Often, they are characterized by high biological diversity and habitat to rare or protected species. GDEs cannot be considered separately from their water source – the groundwater. There are several EU directives and international agreements protecting GDEs, particularly, the Water framework directive. Many of the protected nature reserves in Estonia and Latvia can be classified as GDEs. Furthermore, public awareness of groundwater and its importance on GDEs is low even though 100% of Latvian and Estonian population in the Gauja-Koiva river basin uses groundwater as their drinking water source. Despite this no direct activities have been carried out in Latvia and only theoretical methodology has been developed in Estonia for GDE identification and assessment. Cross-border nature: The project will facilitate the cross-border cooperation of the Estonian and Latvian institutions involved in Gauja-Koiva river basin management including its subterranean part – the groundwater. The project is focused on developing common understanding and joint methodology for GDE identification and assessment. Due to similar climatic and hydrogeological conditions the same approaches and methodologies can be and should be used for groundwater management thus facilitating cooperation and pooling the resources. Projects objective: The objective of the project is to enhance sustainable management of common groundwater resources and associated ecosystems in the transboundary Gauja-Koiva river basin through the development of a joint methodology for GDE identification and assessment, its implementation and verification in pilot areas in close cooperation between Estonian and Latvian authorities and research institutions; and increased public awareness of groundwater and associated nature protection. Projects main activities: The existing Estonian methodology for GDE identification and assessment will be implemented and verified in pilot areas in close cooperation between Estonian and Latvian authorities and research institutions. The GDEs will be identified in the Gauja-Koiva river basin based using unified methodology, national monitoring programs will be jointly elaborated and outreach activities for disseminating of the project results in the society will be carried out in both Estonia and Latvia. The planned project activities are grouped in three general parts: 1) Information exchange, data collection and mobilisation; 2) Development of a joint methodology and conceptual models; 3) Recommendations and dissemination of project results.

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