Baltic parliamentarians discuss sustainable agriculture, forestry and marine protection

On 6-7 March 2025, the meeting of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee of the Baltic Assembly convened in Vilnius, Lithuania. The meeting addressed key regional issues concerning sustainable agriculture, forestry and marine biodiversity.

Strengthening sustainable agriculture and forestry

The first session began with Jānis Grasbergs, Chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, stating that to help the Baltic State economies, it is crucial to protect agriculture and forestry and that focusing on their sustainability is a key factor. He highlighted that through collaboration, innovation and a commitment to sustainability, the Baltic States can build stronger, greener and more resilient economies for generations to come.

Kęstutis Mažeika, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Rural Affairs, provided an introductory speech in which he highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry and biodiversity, stating that “joint actions represent the Baltic stance and the values we cherish”. Amid current geopolitical tensions, he stressed that security depends not only on military strength but also on supporting Ukraine and managing natural resources sustainably.

Vice Minister of Agriculture of Lithuania, Gediminas Tamašauskis, stressed the pressing need for adaptation strategies that ensure both food security and environmental protection in the light of climate change becoming an increasingly important issue. He also advocated for simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations to improve farm management flexibility.

Vice Minister of Environment of Lithuania, Ramūnas Krugelis, stated that sustainable forests are a shared responsibility. He highlighted the need to strengthen protection efforts, combat deforestation, and balance economic activities with environmental sustainability.

Āris Jansons, Director of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia, discussed how climate change projections indicate that the Baltic States will remain viable for commercial forestry. He emphasized historical land-sharing policies that have maintained balanced biodiversity and called for further cooperation to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for agriculture and forestry.

Advisor at the Department of Forestry at the Ministry of Climate of Estonia, Rauno Reinberg, focused on tackling climate change threats. He called for a joint Baltic response to illegal Belarusian and Russian timber imports, which threaten sustainability and competitiveness.

Advisor at the Agri-environmental Policy Department of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture of Estonia, Eike Lepmets, underscored the need for cooperation at different levels, from policy-making to farmer-led initiatives. She also highlighted the Network to Innovate (CAP Network) as a key platform for Baltic-Nordic collaboration in future agriculture.

Tackling Marine Biodiversity Challenges in the Baltic Sea

Continuing the second session, Jānis Grasbergs, stated that today, the Baltic  Sea is under threat due to overfishing, pollution and eutrophication. He stressed that the Baltic States need to act in a unified manner through cooperation and joint actions because the Baltic Sea is bordered by multiple countries.

Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, focused on the crucial role of the Baltic States in protection of the Baltic Sea through participation in HELCOM, adding that regional sea protection measures do work if they are fully implemented. He also stated that the environment and security are closely interlinked as a thriving environment leads to more resilient societies.

Vice Minister of Environment of Lithuania, Ramūnas Krugelis, stressed that the Baltic Sea faces several threats, such as nitrogen loads, eutrophication, pollution by hazardous substances and plastic, invasive species, and others. Therefore, he called for stronger measures to monitor marine biodiversity.

Vice Minister of Agriculture of Lithuania, Gediminas Tamašauskis, highlighted the active role of the EU Common Fisheries Policy and BALTFISH in managing Baltic fisheries. He raised concerns about declining fish stocks and called for stronger EU action to limit imports of Russian and Belarusian fishery products.

Advisor to the Minister for Nature Protection at the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of Latvia, Astra Labuce, emphasized the poor status of Baltic Sea waters, stressing that the Baltic Sea is increasingly affected by the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. She called for more coordinated Baltic State conservation efforts to tackle these challenges.

Mart Kiis, Head of Biodiversity Strategy at the Ministry of Climate of Estonia, identified common challenges that need to be jointly tackled within the Baltic States, such as habitat mapping gaps and balancing biodiversity conservation with economic activities like wind energy development.

With mounting challenges posed by climate change, regional leaders acknowledged that proactive policies and united action are more critical than ever. By fostering cooperation in agriculture, forestry and marine protection, the Baltic States aim to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for their natural resources and communities.

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