LIFE SIP WetEST
The project LIFE SIP WetEST aim is to implement the river basin management plan for the West-Estonia river basin, the largest river basin in Estonia. The project involves a wide range of partners and topics ranging from agriculture and nutrients in the water to melioration, surface watershed remediation and digital solutions. The project will run until 2033 and the total budget of the project is EUR 29.8 million, 60% of which is financed by the European Commission and 40% is co-financed by the Republic of Estonia.
Estonian waters are divided into 3 river basin districts, which all have their own River Basin Management plan. Their target protection levels are agreed upon based on the EU Water Framework Directive and the Estonian Water Act. The broader goal of the River Basin Management plans is to protect and improve the ecological status of surface and groundwater, enhance sustainable water use, and support the mitigation of drought and flood risks.
With LIFE SIP WetEST, the aim is to redesign the management system of the West-Estonia river basin and implement innovative methods and solutions in the plan’s execution. The River Basin Management plan for the West-Estonia river basin district includes 854 different measures, 105 of which will be implemented under LIFE SIP WetEST. Additionally, the project plans to explore practices that have proven effective in water management in other EU countries but have not yet been tested in Estonia. This leap in management development creates the prerequisites for systemic change more broadly and is necessary to address the challenges related to river basin management across Estonia.
The workplan of LIFE SIP WetEST is set up from 10 work packages, with activities carried out by 17 partners. EIC provides support to the Ministry of Climate in managing the entire project and participates in all work packages. Additionally, EIC provides support to the Ministry of Climate in the management of the entire project and participates in all work packages. In addition, EIC is leading the work package for bringing additional investment, writing projects in the EU's central funds along with designing novel financial incentives. EIC is also responsible for launching green accelerators to promote innovative water reuse technologies and sustainable marine management.
Project name: Enabling collaborative efforts for systemic change in Estonian River Basin Management
Project number and code: 101147477 — LIFE23-IPE-EE-LIFE SIP WET-EST
Total budget of the project: 29,871,936.86 €, including the grant 17,923,162.10 €
EIC budget: 3 293 309,13 €
Financier: LIFE
Partners: Ministry of Climate, Environmental Investment Centre, The Environmental Board, The Environmental Agency, The Estonian Environmental Research Center, The Information Technology Centre of the Ministry of the Environment, The Agriculture and Food Board, The Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge, The Estonian Land and Spatial Development Board, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu, Tallinn University, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Baltic Environmental Forum, Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce, NGO Wildlife Estonia, Estonian Environmental Law Center, Estonian Public Broadcasting.
