VETree Latvia Erasmus+ Project
Promoting the care and management of veteran trees
Stiftelsen Pro Natura participated in an ERASMUS + small-scale partnership project in vocational education and training (2023-2-LV01-KA210-VET-000171501, period 01.02.2024-30.11.2025). The project built on the VETree project for which Pro Natura was project manager.
The main objective with the project was to increase awareness and knowledge on the conservation and management of veteran trees in Latvia, targeting green industry specialists and organisations responsible for their management and protection.
The project focused on adapting the VETree educational materials and under the guidance of experienced VETree and VETcert experts from Sweden, ran two of the VETree Train-the Trainer courses in Latvia. The courses focused on training participants in the care and management of veteran trees and giving them the skills to train others at a foundation level. The two Train-the-trainer courses organised in 2024, were attended by 32 experienced arborists, biologists and educational staff.
In 2025, 34 one-day VETree training courses were run across Latvia, reaching a total of 556 delegates (320 planned!). These included professionals from tree care and maintenance related industries, specialists, representatives of municipalities and governmental organisations, as well as interested individuals. In addition, an educational leaflet on Veteran Tree Management for a wider target audience in Latvia was produced as a project output. The Erasmus+ project contribute to the practical transfer of knowledge and experience in ancient and veteran tree care and management from more experienced EU countries to Latvia, where this field had been largely undeveloped prior to the project.
By combining international expertise with local implementation and wide dissemination, the project ensured both immediate impact on professional practice and long-term sustainability through continued training, peer-learning and knowledge sharing beyond the project duration.
In addition, Stiftelsen Pro Natura and The Swedish Arborist Foundation gained valuable experience, improved their competence in knowledge transfer and training in the Baltic region. They also gained familiarity with local legislation and practices related to veteran tree management. Particular attention was devoted to VETcert promotion amongst tree professionals and their clients.
As a result, new collaboration project and training initiatives on veteran tree management are being planned in other Baltic countries, including Estonia and Lithuania.
Project is financed by European Union via the ERASMUS + fund.
Read more about the project on the main partner Bulduri’s website HERE.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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