Shrub removal in Užava

floodplains

Restoration of floodplain meadows

The floodplain restoration works are already taking place in several sites of Latvia. Less than six months are gone since the LIFE-Nature project „Restoration of Floodplains” has started, and first stakeholders already are removing shrubs from floodplain areas in their private lands inside nature protected areas. According to the agreements, they will finish these works until the end of March.

After cutting shrubs are used

for wood, splited for

heating, but non-usable parts

are burned down at the

same place

Restoration of floodplain meadows

The floodplain restoration works are already taking place in several sites of Latvia. Less than six months are gone since the LIFE-Nature project „Restoration of Floodplains” has started, and first stakeholders already are removing shrubs from floodplain areas in their private lands inside nature protected areas. According to the agreements, they will finish these works until the end of March.

Birds begin returning to their breeding places in April, no actions of restoration can be done during their breeding period. Continuing of works can be expected after the end of breeding season – the first decade of July.

 Restoration actions, such as initial grass mowing will begin then. This action is important for floodplain meadows that have not been mown or grazed for several years and are overgrown and abandoned. In addition to mowing, the shrub cutting will be started after the middle of August.

As for this winter activities, according to project’s regional coordinator of Western Latvia Jānis Reihmanis, shrub removal has started already in Kalnciems meadows, Užava floodplains and Raķupe meadows.  Ainārs Auniņš informs us about status in Eastern Latvia - active shrub removal is organized in Sita and Pededze floodplains, Pededze lower reaches and meadows of Seda River. –The shrub removal works will be started in nearest days in Rūja floodplains. Thick snow layer is the main reason for delaying of works in Vidzeme region and also Augšzeme region (for Dviete floodplains). At the same time in the Western part of Latvia - Kurzeme region, snow layer is much thinner, thus works are proceeding better here. Above mentioned actions is only the beginning of wide-ranging works planned in project during next three years. In total, it is planned to restore about 2400 ha of valuable meadows in all 16 project sites. Preparation of eight management plans for first project sites has also started.

Andris Klepers, public awareness coordinator