CATCH POLLUTION
In April, 2007, Center of Environmental Policy together with partners Aleksandras Stulginskis University and Institute of Agricultural resources and Economics (Latvia) started implementation of the project „Optimal catch crop solutions to reduce pollution in the transboundary Venta and Lielupe river basins“ supported by Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania Cross Border cooperation programme 2014-2020.
Venta and Lielupe are transboundary river basins shared by Lithuania and Latvia where many river water bodies still suffer from water pollution problems. Although significant efforts have been devoted to the water pollution reduction in both countries and substantial decrease in urban pollution has been achieved, diffuse pollution of agricultural origin has not yet been tackled sufficiently. Hence, strengthening cooperation and joining the efforts of Lithuanian and Latvian experts and stakeholders is needed to elaborate common methodologies and strategies to combat agricultural pollution, improve ecological status of water bodies and reduce pollution transport into the Baltic Sea.
The overall objective of the project is to increase efficiency in management of the transboundary Venta and Lielupe river basins by providing a joint concept for the reduction of agricultural pollution. The project will focus on the assessment of potentials and economic aspects of catch-crop solutions as one of the most promising and prominent agro-environmental measures and will investigate potentials of catch crop growing in Lithuania and Latvia.
Project specific objectives:
- By applying economic analysis to identify optimal catch-crops schemes for reduction of agricultural pollution;
- To elaborate a decision support tool which would include information on costs and benefits of various catch crop growing schemes and help to select the optimal catch crop strategies benefiting both the farmer and the environment;
- To encourage the farmers to grow catch crops by establishing demonstration fields and organising informational field days;
- To elaborate recommendations and action plans for policy makers regarding implementation of catch crop solutions in the Venta and Lielupe river basins.
The Project seeks to consolidate the efforts and competences of Lithuanian and Latvian environmental and agricultural professionals in order to elaborate the optimal solutions for the reduction of agricultural pollution and evaluate the need and potentials for application of such pollution reduction measures. One of the project goals is to encourage wider application of agro-environmental measures and demonstrate related costs and benefits. Thus close cooperation between environmental and agricultural experts, farmers, their organisations and authorities responsible for water resources management will be initiated during the project.
This information has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this information are the sole responsibility of Center for Environmental Policy and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
Project implementation period: April 1, 2017. – March 31, 2019
Project number: LLI-49
Project acronym: CATCH POLLUTION
Project budget: 230 609 EUR
Project supported by Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania Cross Border cooperation programme 2014-2020
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