This article deals with the implementation stages and approaches of the trilateral cooperation “university – student – local government” as well as the benefits and limiting aspects in a real territory planning context. The research summarises the evaluation of the Latvia University of Agriculture (LUA) landscape architecture studies experience in cooperation with 41 municipal and national organisations and 4 unions from Latvia since 2013. Key findings point to the following benefits: the university as a provider of study process obtains a better insight into the topical problems and issues regarding the territorial/territory planning, it has an opportunity to promote the study programmes and the work quality of the future specialists; the greatest benefit for the students is that they can be better prepared for a real work in their chosen profession and they gain experience in real project work which later will be reflected in their CVs; the gain for the local governments is that they have a scientific substantiation for making more appropriate decisions with regard to the further development of the territory, and they have more variants of ideas for a specific territorial development. Restricting factor is time which is determined by the study courses.

The common tendency in higher education is specialisation. Landscape has been subject of interest in sociology from its beginnings, and social aspects are one of mane characteristic parts of landscape. Even more – sociology is strong theoretical basis of landscape architecture. The research is made with aim to understand theoretical basis of landscape sociology as developing academic discipline. Methodology used in research is systematic literature review, which provides range of tools to identify connections in theory. Literature review was done to define landscape sociology as important academic discipline in higher education of landscape architecture. Landscape and sociology as academic disciplines have long history, but landscape sociology as separate discipline is still developing. It is important include landscape sociology in landscape architecture higher education.

Over time, street landscapes have changed their meaning, from significant gathering, socializing and movement places they have become intense traffic corridors dominated by street transport. Today, however, more and more people are once again beginning to identify streets as more than just corridors for movement and transport, but also as important multifunctional outdoor spaces. Social habits have also changed as the needs for a healthy and safe environment have increased, and people are increasingly choosing environmentally friendly ways of moving, active lifestyles, being outdoors, in nature. The implementation of the needs of modern society on the streets of the historic city centres is complex, influenced by a number of factors: the historical identity of the place, the historic character and elements of the streetscape that are often protected by legal acts; the needs and interests of various interested parties, including accessibility of the streetscape for people with disabilities; the growing need to solve problems of climate in cities – mitigation of heat islands, air pollution, flooding caused by intensive rainfalls, which is complicated by the lack of green areas in the historic city centre. In order to develop the most appropriate solutions for the development of historic streets, it is necessary to identify all the limiting and promotive aspects. The purpose of this study is to develop and to test the methodological framework for the research of historical streetscape as the basis for the development of public space compliant with modern requirements, by performing streetscape analysis based on public needs, historical, ecological and socioeconomic criteria. The developed methodology has been tested in the context of Terbatas Street in Riga city, Latvia. Key results from the study showed that for historic streets it is essential to identify those elements of the streetscape that can be transformed and adapted to modern requirements and societal needs, and those elements that are essential to preserve in order to maintain the historical character and identity of the place. As one of the main conclusions of the study – the overall development strategy of the historic city centre plays an important role in research and development of historic streetscape, which includes both mobility, green infrastructure, public space network, tourism development, as well as functional and ecological links with other parts of the city.

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) represent the non-material relationships between people and nature, yet their intangible nature poses challenges for spatial planning and policy integration. This study examines CES in Gauja National Park, Latvia, focusing on symbolic, sacred, educational, and cultural heritage values—types often underrepresented in CES assessments. Using a Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) approach, a map-based public survey was conducted via ArcGIS Survey123, enabling respondents to mark and describe places of personal significance. While widely applied internationally, PGIS remains rarely used in Latvia, especially in planning and municipal decision-making. This study explores the use of the PGIS method for the assessment of CES, serving as a pilot application to test its suitability and potential for integration into spatial planning. Points of value were successfully georeferenced and reflect diverse associations. While well-known heritage sites were commonly mentioned, respondents also identified personally meaningful locations, sometimes situated outside the park’s formal boundaries. The findings highlight both the strengths and limitations of digital participatory methods, including issues related to response rates, accessibility, and digital literacy. The study demonstrates that mapping CES with PGIS can offer valuable insights for inclusive landscape governance and supports the incorporation of local perspectives into spatial planning.

Izstrādātās vadlīnijas paredzēts kā informatīvs, metodisks un izglītojošs materiāls par dabas resursu integrētu plānošanu un pārvaldību pilsētvidē, ietverot gan teorētiskās atziņas, gan praktiskus piemērus. Materiālu veido trīs tematiskās sadaļas. Pirmajā iekļauts stratēģiskais un teorētiskais ietvars, kur raksturotas galvenās atziņas par dabas resursiem pilsētvidē, urbāno ekoloģiju un stratēģiskajiem dokumentiem, kas ietver dabas resursu integrētu plānošanu un pārvaldību. Otrā sadaļa apskata galvenās metodiskās pieejas un koncepcijas, bet trešā nodaļa apkopo jau esošos rīkus, kas saistīti ar integrētu dabas resursu plānošanu un pārvaldību. Materiāla noformējums veidots sekojoši – pamatu veido vispārīga informācija par tēmu, kas papildināta ar nodaļai atbilstošās krāsas izceltajām galvenajām atziņām un ar pelēkā fona krāsojumā atzīmētajiem piemēriem no prakses.

Natural grasslands are among the most endangered habitats in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe due to the agricultural intensification, land abandonment and afforestation, urban expansion, and the loss of traditional low-intensity management, on which their biodiversity depends. One way to increase the number of natural grasslands is by integrating them into urban green infrastructure as a nature-based solution to enhance ecological resilience and urban livability: diverse grassland systems support pollinators, improve soil structure and stormwater infiltration, mitigate urban heat and provide restorative, experience-rich public spaces. The aim of the study is to explore opportunities and barriers to integrating different types of grasslands into the green infrastructure of Latvian cities, with a primary focus on public perceptions and institutional aspects of urban grassland implementation and management. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining resident surveys, interviews with municipal experts—territorial development specialists, planners and maintenance managers—and comparative policy analysis. Results show that although residents acknowledge the ecological benefits of urban grasslands, they prefer them in peripheral or underused areas rather than in city centres and residential zones, as these areas are often aesthetically perceived as “untidy” or neglected, conflicting with cultural norms that favour short, intensively mown lawns and raising concerns about insects. Acceptance increases through communication and participatory practices. Municipal approaches range from structured maintenance guidelines, including delayed mowing, biomass removal, and invasive species control, to flexible experimentation. The study contributes scientifically grounded insights into governance, perception, and management interfaces critical for mainstreaming socially accepted urban grasslands.