Lithuania

The Dovine River Basin covers an area of approximately 588.7 km2 and is located in the southern part of Lithuania (see Figure 1). The basin is one of the small catchment areas of the larger Neman river basin, which covers around 75% of the territory of Lithuania and is the 4th river basin in size in the whole Baltic Sea Region.

The Dovine river catchment (see Figure 3) consists of a network of rivers and water bodies formed by five big lakes (Dusia 23,3 km2, Zuvintas 9,3 km2, Simnas 2,4 km2, Giluitis 2,4 km2, Amalvas 1,9 km2) and a number of rivulets and small lakes. Within the borders of the basin lies one of the oldest and most unique protected areas of Lithuania –Zuvintas Biosphere Reserve. A part of the reserve is protected by the RAMSAR convention since 1993 and in 2011 the reserve was enlisted into UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.
In 19th and 20th century, land reclamation and wetland drainage projects were carried out in order to expand agricultural lands and make us of fertile lands in the Dovine river basin. Therefore, the natural hydrological cycle was interrupted, many wetlands were drained and meliorated to provide space for agricultural lands.

Currently, most of the surrounding areas are productive agricultural lands (productivity is higher than the average of the country). The forest cover is scarce, i.e. approximately 16 % of the area (the average in Lithuania – 33%). As a result, the water quality in the lakes within the Dovine river catchment, is remarkably deteriorating and results in eutrophication of the water bodies within the catchment. Zuvintas lake (Figure 2) in particular and the whole wetland system in the reserve is under heavy pressure of leaching of nutrients mostly from agricultural activity in the basin, which is degrading the ecosystems and their values.

Recommendation to an action plan in the case area

 In the Zuvintas Reserve and agriculture case area the case area leaders are trying to improve recommendations for the river basin management plans. Monitoring activities are crusial in interactions between all stakeholders.

1. In order to ensure the protection of the ecosystems in the protected areas, the activities of Simnas fishery ponds must be balanced with the protection needs of the protected areas, the aim must be to reduce the impact on Žuvintas biosphere reserve. There is a need for close cooperation between stakeholders on the impact minimization of fishery ponds on the catchment and protected areas. A concrete action plan is needed for the Dovine River catchment, reconciling economic and environmental objectives and comprehensively considering the impacts of the decisions at the catchment level.
2. Work closely with local farmers, educate and help them address unsustainable farming practices resulting in nutrient and chemical toxin run-off from fields into water bodies.
3. Progress with mainstreaming the use of soil testing and fertilisation plans and encouraging intensive farmers to use precision farming technologies to optimize fertiliser use.
4. Address the data gaps. While closely working with farmers one could collect data into a case area database on fertilization, pesticide and other hazardous chemical use in farms. Improve water quality data collection, also, ensure proper analysis and interpretation is done in order to identify pollution sources, other issues and necessary measures.
5. Terminate (or minimize) practices leaving open soil such as fallow land and minimise arable land areas in the sensitive zones. There should be a targeted promotion of agri-environmental schemes, especially catch crop and stubble fields over winter and extensive management of meadows and wet-lands.
6. Effective local water management in the case area could be achieved through establishing a specific expert position within the protected territory, catchment or municipality such as Catchment Officers in Denmark.
7. Empower and engage local communities and local action groups in water management and protection but for their successful participation it is important that they have a certain level of environmental and local knowledge on condition of and threats to local water bodies. Carry out environmental education of locals.
8. In collaboration with universities carry out a study on impacts of climate change and hydrological system transformations for the runoff of the Žuvintas basin and the impact on the water balance on lake Žuvintas. Research and discussions with experts and stakeholders are needed on possibilities for further restoration and renaturalisation of the hydrological cycle.

Action plan

• Report from case area Dovinės river basin (Introduction of the Dovines river basin)
• Case study progress (PPT presentation on progress in the case area work in 2019)
• Dovine River Catchment (PPT presenting the initial outset of the work in the case area)
• Lithuania case area presentation (PPT presenting the case area work in 2020)
• Midterm case area Lithuania (Project mid-term report for the case area)
• Lithuania Policy recommendations (Lithuanian policy recommendations in summary)
• Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve Action Plan (The Zuvintas Biosphere Reserve Action Plan)
• Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve Action Plan II (Report from large and multi-stakeholder meeting on April 13, 2021)
• Case area action plan Zuvintas Reserve and agriculture case area, Lithuania (Recommendations for continued work in the Zuvintas Reserve and Agriculture Case Area)