Advancing Natural Capital Solutions at the 8th SELINA Workshop

Advancing Natural Capital Solutions at the 8th SELINA Workshop

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SELINA partners gathered in Riga, Latvia, for the project’s 8th Workshop between September 28 and October 1, 2026, advancing practical applications for natural capital and ecosystem services.

Organized by Latvian partners Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (MoSARD) and Baltic Environmental Forum (BEF), the four-day gathering took place at the Riga National Library.

The event brought together around 50 participants in person and another 10 online to review the latest results of the project, examine Demonstration Projects, and advance the practical use of SELINA’s outputs. With the initiative nearing its final stages, discussions centered on consolidating knowledge, tools, and guidance so that decision-makers and stakeholders working with biodiversity, natural capital, and ecosystem services can apply them effectively.

A major focus of the workshop centered on the SELINA Demonstration Projects, which offer practical examples of how natural capital and ecosystem service knowledge aids evidence-based decision-making across various European contexts. Attendees shared results, experiences, lessons learned, and applied approaches, while also exploring ways to connect these field experiences more closely with the project’s developing guidance.

Partners further discussed the Compendium of Guidance, reviewing its ongoing development and its future role in uniting the practical recommendations and knowledge generated throughout the project. These reviews allowed participants to exchange feedback, track progress, and plan how to finish and improve remaining outputs to ensure SELINA's results are scientifically sound and accessible to end users.

The program also incorporated a field visit to the Vidzeme coast along the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea, giving participants direct exposure to local environmental challenges, landscapes, and ecosystems. This excursion linked the project’s theoretical work on ecosystem services with real-world environmental management and human interactions.

Blending presentations, knowledge exchange, discussions, and practical examples, the four-day meeting allowed consortium members to consolidate their results and set priorities for the remainder of the initiative. The next and final project meeting is scheduled for April 2027 in Brussels, Belgium, where partners will gather to discuss achievements and reflect on the project.

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