The international and open River University:

• started in Poland with its pilot in 2018 and the 1st edition in 2020.
• Its professional river education has an ambition to change the reality by creating a strong center/network of modern knowledge, linking experts and giving the opportunity to participants to learn about peculiarities of different rivers in the Baltic region.
• We provide tools to use in practice, exchange information and experience about inland waters and its impact on the Baltic Sea, to spark joint initiatives for the sake of rivers’ good condition.
• Riverine topics always reflect source-to-sea approach and relation to current trends, challenges, legislation regarding freshwaters, and free-flowing rivers : #restorenature law, UN restoration decade, Biodiversity strategy 2030, European Green Deal, national recovery plans etc.

In 2018, the River University mostly served for the purpose of gathering river experts from several transboundary basins of Poland (Odra, Vistula/Western Bug, Neman) with their counterparts from Belarus and Ukraine to discuss i.a. issues related to inland navigation and large infrastructure projects on straightening river flows in these countries. 1st edition of River University in 2020 provided general solid knowledge about healthy rivers, their benefits and threats, presented one of the most stunning rivers in Poland – Drawa river and highlighted current riverine challenges impacting the society. All these looking towards European community goals.

During the 2nd edition in 2021, we swam into Lithuania’s waters, to dive deep – finally live! – into water challenges in the next country in the Baltic region. We got to know best practices of good water management, experience with transboundary river cooperation, also innovations and developments within sewerage system management. We could already read about flood risk management and about river barriers to remove or mitigate in the Baltic Sea Region. But this time we asked – how are the Lithuanian rivers?

Being a visitor of the largest protected area in Lithuania, crossing rivers outdoor, stepping into practical lectures in the national park, we also asked about how to limit riverine pollution from tourism and how the connectivity of amazing Lithuanian rivers is ensured.

Checking the European background: how the situation of rivers in Europe looks like in general? A freshly given analysis CCB participated in, points out that, only Finland, amongst EU countries, is on a good track to reach Water Framework Directive (WFD) goals and legally binding EU target to return Europe’s dirty freshwaters to health by 2027. However there is still time to improve other river basin management plans during the consultations. Now is the time for other countries to make the final sprint for the rest of the European rivers! Always is the time to learn about them, their challenges related communities face, efficient ways to take care of them. That was our purpose also this time, while being in Lithuania.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The organizer of our stay in Lithuania: Jūratė Morkvėnaitė-Paulauskienė.

WHEN:  
11-15.08.2021

WHERE:
Marcinkonys, Lithuania - map/location, Dzukija national park camp. 

We met in one of the major national parks in Lithuania, famous for pine tree forests which hide tiny Lithuanian villages, sandy rivers and lakes. Some Lithuanian rivers are silent and shallow, others are rapid and curvy. This time we got to know and experience one of the most spectacular ones – Ula river.

Dzūkijos nacionalinis parkas iš paukščio skrydžio. Lietuvos gamta – “Dzūkijos uoga”