The meadow protection and management project is underway from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Nature Conservation Society and is financed by the government of the Netherlands from the PIN-MATRA fund. The aims of the project are:

1. To establish a database of biologically valuable meadows.

2. Formulate a framework for meadow protection. 

In the course of the project a meadow biotope classification has been prepared and a methodology for inventory work has been developed, as has the structure of the database.

Covering the whole area of the country, botanically valuable meadows are studied in each 5 km x 5 km square. The botanical value of a meadow is determined according to the structure of the meadow’s plant community and the presence of indicator species of unimproved meadows. A form is filled out on each meadow corresponding to certain criteria and exceeding 0.5 ha in area. The form indicates the meadow’s correspondence to one of 17 biotopes, which are to be mapped. The decision as to whether the biotope is to be mapped is made by using the devised classificatory and comparative tables of biotopes. The limits of each meadow are marked on a printout of a satellite image at a scale of 1:26 000. The boundaries of all the mapped meadows are digitised, and the content of the forms is entered into the database. In accordance with the information included in the forms, each polygon is classified in accordance with the respective meadow biotope.

When the data thus obtained are brought together, an overview will be possible of the occurrence of botanically valuable meadows in Latvia, the distribution of various meadow biotopes and current management, and it will be possible to submit meadow management and conservation proposals to national and regional environmental authorities. It will also be possible to create a system of protection and appropriate management of meadows on private land. The project involves 35 specialists.

Final report