Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania

Žymantas has been working in the field of nature protection since 1997. As he is a co-founder of NGO Baltic Environmetal Forum, he has been working here from the beggining. Žymantas holds a bachelor degree in biology and master‘s degree in public administration. He also has a long-term working experience in the sector of environmental issues. Žymantas is a head of Baltic Environmental Forum‘s office in Vilnius. While running and developing the orgaisation he enjoys the opportinity to work with enthusiastic people sensitive to environmental problems.

Fields of expertise: 

• Biodiversity protection and management
• Agri-environmental schemes
• Environmental communication and interpretation
• Development of tourism to experience nature
• Management and development of environmental projects

Still being a kid Žymantas had his most favorite tree where he climbed to sit silently and listen to the nature. He believed that the longer he stays in silence the greater is a chance that larger and rarer birds will appear for him. This listening to the rhythm of nature is an individual experience of nature that helps to reveal the secrets of surroundings and also assists in finding yourself. Additionally, it also shapes a different attitude to the current processes in society. Being occupied with thoughts about the economic development, concurrence we see the nature as an object to be controlled or even conquered. Žymantas believes that this way is not the right one and is always seeking for some good examples and tries to uphold the concept that people can get along with nature.  

Rita joined BEF Lithuania in 2006. Previously she worked as a chief accountant and art manager in an open-air museum "Europos parkas". Rita has background in management and business administration, aswell as tax administration.

At BEF Lithuania she responsible for general finances, cash flow and other financial analysis. Rita is also taking care of organization's projects' finances: planning, controll and organization of financial reporting. 

Expertise

• Management of project finances
• Office accounting

Jurgita joined the team September 2017, she is responsable for managing project finances – planning, supervision, controlling and organizing financial reports. Previously she worked as a project financial manager  in Central Project Management Agency. Jurgita has the bachelor of economics and master of law, she has experience in administration, law, finance control fields.

Fields of expertise:

• Management of project finances
• Office accounting

Jurgita thinks about nature in the words of A.Einstein: "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

Rita works in Baltic Environmental Forum since 2013. She coordinates activities related to communication and nature tourism (ecotourism), supervises volunteers and is responsible for the development of initiative Gamtoje.org. Before, Rita  worked at the National Blood Center - organized donation actions, campaigned them, conducted educational activities and coordinated volunteers in all Lithuania. So far, she actively promotes non-remunerated blood donation. Rita grew up, later worked and volunteered in Žemaitija national park, so, she is well aware of protected areas’ system. A lot of knowledge about sustainable tourism and it’s development she has gained during her internship in United Nations World Tourism Organization. Rita has master degree in public relations (and information and communication bachelor's degree), a lot of enthusiasm, persistence and Samogitian gunpowder.  Currently she is studying master of public relations.

Expertise:

• Nature communication
• Public education
• Public relations
• Ecotourism
• Destination area development
• Social responsibility

Rita says: "Nature is not a beautiful exterior or background in which our (self-) portraits seem more attractive. Nature can not be desired or refused. We are in the nature inseperably, and nature is in us. This is an indivisible whole." 

Justas joined Baltic Environmental Forum in the end of year 2013. His main tasks are mostly related to sustainable rural development and agri-environmental issues. He coordinates the initiative “Report when nature is being hurt” and management of Dvarčionys meadow. After completing his Bachelor studies in geography and Master’s degree in social geography and spatial planning at Vilnius University Justas is interested in GIS (geographic information system) application in environmental protection, also, in the interaction between rural development, agriculture and environmental. The other not less interesting field for him is observing reflections of human activities and time in the landscape, which can be seen by comparing and analyzing historical maps.  

Expertise:

• GIS application in environmental protection
• Sustainable rural development
• Agri-environmental protection
• Changes in landscape.

Justas says: "For being able to see the beauty of the nature I have firstly thank to my parents. Now, time spent in the nature, traveling and exploration has become the way of my life. Every trip to the nature becomes a bewildering experience that you want to share. Maybe that is the reason why I have no questions when talking about nature protection and conservation, neither that you have to pick up your own trash after camping."

Gintras joined Baltic Environmental Forum in 2017.

Fields of expertise: 

• Biodiversity protection and management

Kristina joined Baltic Environmental Forum in 2017, She has Bachelors degree in Biology and for now is studying  Masters degree in Biological Diversity in Vilnius University and specialises in parasitology. Kristina is volunteering in Vilnius University Life Sciences Center’s Zoology museum, and is actively engaged in activities of Naturalist Student Scientific Society.  

Expertise:

• Biology
• Biodiversity
• Parasitology

Kristina says: „For all my life I had a feeling that I want to work in areas related with natural sciences or arts, so I hope that these two sides of mine can be incorporated for this work. Since i was a kid I loved and enjoyed nature, it’s occurrences and for the most I love pine tree forests, thick layer of snow on treetops, summer rain, thunder and long swimming in the lake. Besides not only I, but also my surrounding people and relatives think that I am crazy all animal lady."

Kamilė joined BEF at the start of 2017. Her main responsibility here is project administration in different projects. She contributes to the technical activities while planning and organizing projects. Kamilė is also responsible for the ensuring the effectiveness of the office team work. She has finished Archival science studies. After completing her Master studies in communication for sustainable development Kamilė got a Master degree of Communication science.

Expertise


• Office and Project administration
• Sustainable development
• Communication

Kamilė thinks about nature in the words of H. Zinn: "We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world”.

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Gražvydas joined Baltic Environmental Forum in August of 2016 – he started working with the chemical management team. Before that he worked in two state laboratories for several years in the field of analytical chemistry (GC-MS) analysing environmental pollutants in environmental and food samples. Gražvydas graduated from Southampton University in the UK, where he studied BSc Chemistry with Ocean and Earth Sciences. These studies provided him with an understanding of the science of chemistry, and with basic knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and how ocean and earth systems function. Later, while Gražvydas was doing laboratory work, he expanded his knowledge on environmental pollutants, how they cycle in the atmospheric and oceanic systems and their potential hazardous effects in the natural environment.

Expertise:  

• Analytical chemistry (GC-MS)
• Environmental chemistry

Gražvydas says:  „We are all tangled with millions of invisible strings attached to other living creatures on earth. Damage to the environment and pollution caused by us breaks many of these connections or, to be more exact, largely disrupts the invisible ecological web. This is the reason our health and well-being is declining. Try to think about the changing living conditions of other living creatures.”

Eglė works in Baltic Environmental Forum since 2016. She coordinates activities related to communication of chemical projects. Before, Eglė worked in fields of journalism, public relations and communication, also worked under individual activity certificate. Eglė actively promotes animal welfare initiatives. She has communication and information bachelor's degree, and a wind weather-beaten free spirit from Klaipėda.

Expertise:  

• Environmental communication
• Public education
• Public relations

Eglė says: "If you want to change the world, start from yourself. There are no insignificant changes. Even the smallest thing can have a severe impact on living harmoniously with nature and the environment, that surrounds us every day." 

Juste joined Baltic Environmental Forum in 2010. Most of her time is devoted to hazardous substances management in public institutions and business enterprises. She also is involved in public awareness raisning about hazardous substances in everyday consumer products.

She also works on sustainable management of water resources, especially in relation to water pollution from agricultural activities. Juste has background in bioengineering. Before joining the team she worked at the rsearch laboratory in the Vilnius University Institute of Immunology and a commercial laboratory.

Expertise:

• management of hazardous substances
• public awareness raising

Elvyra joined BEF in 2017. Since her childhood she spent a lot of time in nature and was enchanted by its charm and beauty. She discovered that nature is her passion so she followed it and graudated Masters programme of Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science in Lund University, Sweden. Currently, Elvyra contributes to the conservation project of Aquatic Warbler and in the future is seeking to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development in Lithuania.

Expertise:  

• Climate change
• Sustainability and socio-ecological challenges, their dynamics and solutions
• Sustainable development
• Social movements

Barca joined together Baltic Environmental Forum together with her owner Egle. She is very friendly, likes carrots.

Ernesta joint the team March 2016, she is responsable for managing project finances – planning, supervision, controlling and organizing financial reports. Ernesta has the bachelor of law and master of economics, she has experience in administration, law, finance control fields.

Expertise

• Management of project finances
• Office accounting

 Sigita joined BEF in summer of 2014. Prior to that, she worked for several years at Kaunas University of Technology, Institute of Environmental Engineering (APINI). Sigita has bachelor's and master's degrees in environmental management sciences. She also has finished Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management PhD studies. In BEF organization Sigita has joined the team of chemicals. She is responsible for the issues related with public education about hazardous chemicals in consumer products, as well as chemicals management in industrial enterprises. She has big interest in the fields of environmental impact assessment and life cycle assessment.

Expertise:

• Management of hazardous substances
• Public education on issues related with hazardous chemicals
• Cleaner production, pollution reduction and prevention
• Environmental impact assessment and life cycle assessment

Sigita thinks about nature in the words of J. W Goethe: "Nature is the only book whose every page is meaningful."

Vaida started working in Baltic environmental forum in 2013 and her main responsibility here is project administration. She have finished Management and business administration and also Social work studies. At the moment Vaidas is studying Educology. She has experience in administration, organization, consultation and education areas. One of her interest field is organization’s culture and values.

Expertise:

• Project administration

Vaida says: "Traveling and hiking in the nature is one of my favorite activities during the weekends and holidays. I find spiritual peace while being in the nature. From my point of view, living in harmony with yourself and nature is a key aspect of a daily life."