On October 8, 2025, the international conference “Cross-Border Solutions for a Greener Future” took place in the theatre hall of the Šilutė Cultural and Entertainment Center. The event was part of the project “Restoration of Water Bodies through Cross-Border Cooperation” (“All about ponds”, No. LL-00049). The project is implemented by the Šilutė District Municipality Administration in cooperation with the Kuldīga Municipality Administration (Latvia) under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania 2021–2027 Programme.
The participants of the conference were welcomed by Edita Šukytė, Deputy Director of the Šilutė District Municipality Administration, who emphasized the project’s importance for urban environments, sustainable development, and international cooperation. Simona Bokštaitė-Dryžienė, the project manager, presented the “All about ponds” project, its objectives, and achieved results — the restoration of the ponds in H. Šojaus Park in Šilutė and Māras Park in Kuldīga, the revitalization of ecosystems, and the creation of a joint water body monitoring system.
The conference not only presented the project but also discussed environmental challenges, biodiversity conservation, the necessity of ecosystem restoration, and the importance of nature protection. In Karolina Bernotienė’s presentation “Nature-Based Solutions in the Development of Tourism in Šilutė”, nature-based solutions for sustainable tourism development were discussed, while Boris Belchev’s presentation “Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Conservation Challenges in the Nemunas Delta Region” provided a broader ecological context for the project’s activities.
In the afternoon, participants visited Mingė village, where they took part in an educational boat trip titled “On Water – For Nature”. During the trip, practical ecosystem monitoring, nature restoration and conservation measures were discussed, and best practices were shared.
The event became a significant initiative of the project, fostering dialogue among scientists, environmental and municipal experts, and strengthening Lithuanian–Latvian efforts toward creating a sustainable and green environment.
The Šilutė District Municipality Administration is fully responsible for the content of this publication. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
