The Cohesion Fund provides the necessary support to define preconditions for better conservation of biodiversity and protection of ecosystems in Latvia. The aim of the project is to define preconditions for better conservation of biodiversity and protection of ecosystems by surveying the distribution and quality of specially protected habitats of EU importance, analysing the baseline information obtained, and also developing nature conservation plans for 25 specially protected nature areas and 5 plans for the conservation of species.
The updated habitat mapping will be used to provide a scientific basis for improving the Natura 2000 network and its effectiveness in protecting species and habitats, while the nature conservation plans and the resulting functional zoning will facilitate economic activities in protected areas by differentiating protection and management regimes.
During the annual meeting of the national authorities of the Baltic States managing the financing of EU funds for environmental projects or the so-called 3B event, two forest experts accompanied guests in the nearby Līgatne Forest where participants, using photographs, had to find the most typical plants of the particular forest type. Thus, to complete a small part of the tasks carried out within the scope of the project. Participants had the opportunity to see how the experts of the Nature Conservation Agency work when mapping a forest and also to ‘step into their shoes’ and try their hand at identifying mosses, fungi and other forest plants.
Senior Expert in International Cooperation at the Department of Environmental Investment and International Cooperation, Diāna Līdaka: “A very interesting mini-hike during which we could observe an actual forest, not just a part of a forest or only a beautiful forest path. It was a chance to really see what grows in the forests of our Latvia. I also found the information about how forests are mapped interesting – it is done by a real person walking through the forest, up until now I thought that it was done by a drone, but the time and effort that goes into mapping forests is really amazing.”
