Restoration of floodplains

At the 1-st of October Latvian Fund for Nature has started to mange new project "Restoration of Latvian floodplains for EU priority species and habitats", financed by EU Life-Nature programme and UNDP Latvia. The project includes all the best floodplain meadows from all regions of Latvia, which hold significant nature values and have not been dealt with under other nature conservation projects. 11 sites are located in floodplains of rivers, 1 on floodplains of lakes and 4 on floodplains of both rivers and lakes. All selected sites have outstanding regional and national importance.

Floodplains of Lielupe River

Restoration of floodplains

At the 1-st of October Latvian Fund for Nature has started to mange new project "Restoration of Latvian floodplains for EU priority species and habitats", financed by EU Life-Nature programme and UNDP Latvia. The project includes all the best floodplain meadows from all regions of Latvia, which hold significant nature values and have not been dealt with under other nature conservation projects. 11 sites are located in floodplains of rivers, 1 on floodplains of lakes and 4 on floodplains of both rivers and lakes. All selected sites have outstanding regional and national importance. Project will continue until July of 2008.

Main objectives of the project are to restore biologically most important and presently abandoned floodplain areas and to ensure subsequent continuous management for the benefit of species (e.g., Crex crex, Aquila pomarina, Aquila clanga, Gallinago media, Osmoderma eremita) and habitats (e.g., Fennoscandian wooded meadows, Species-rich Nardus grasslands).

The project conforms to priorities listed in the European Action Plans of Aquila pomarina*, Crex crex* and International Action Plan for Gallinago media.

Vecpededze River

The main actions and means involved in the project are to prepare or upgrade site management plans for the selected sites, to conduct meadow restoration of most overgrown areas. Methods include shrub removal, destruction of shrub root system, limited hydro-technical works, controlled burning, initial mowing, experimental grazing. Obtain numerical data on target species and habitats before and after management in order to identify best methods. Others of foreseen actions are also to exchange information on floodplain meadow management methods. Seminars, visits to different management areas (including other LIFE-Nature projects) and production of ’best practice’ management guidelines will be carried out. Important (especially for involved local farmers) point is to assist farmers in preparing applications for agri-environmental support to ensure future management of restored floodplain meadows. Local seminars and work with individual landowners will be organized. More information can be found at "projects section".

Andris Klepers, public awareness coordinator