Support for involving society in nature protection

The development on the project of the Latvian Fund for Nature “Support to Participation of the Latvian Fund for Nature in Society Involving and Decision Making Processes in the Field of Nature Protection” has been begun.

Support for involving society in nature protection

The development on the project of the Latvian Fund for Nature “Support to Participation of the Latvian Fund for Nature in Society Involving and Decision Making Processes in the Field of Nature Protection” has been begun. This project is supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway within the framework of EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian Financial Mechanism and with the help of Latvia Society Integration Foundation (SIF). The project is approved within the framework of support program of NGOs activity.

In general, 18 work programs on the total amount of 902 646.01 euros are supported in the support program of NGOs activity, including 4 work programs in Riga region, Vidzeme – 2, in the region of Riga’s suburbs, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Latgale – 3 work programs in each.

The general long-term aim of the Latvian Fund for Nature activity is maintenance of natural diversity in Latvia. EU Charter of Fundamental Rights stipulates the civil rights to clean environment, the activity of the Latvian Fund for Nature facilitates maintenance of clean environment and natural diversity in Latvia.

The Latvian Fund for Nature will work in 5 programs within the framework of the long-term activity plan:

1. Nature protection policy the central aim of which is promotion of the integration of environment and nature protection interests into the legislation in Latvia, support to establishment of the local and national NGO’s and facilitation of cooperation of NGOs.
2. Society and nature education the central aim of which is public information on sustainable development aspects of environment, nature protection.
3. Biological diversity and ecosystems the central aim of which is to take measures for the maintenance of biological diversity in woods, agrolandscape, seacost, marshes and freshwaters and involve society in these measures, as well as formulate the public opinion on the influence of the activity of different economic sectors on environment. 
4. Protected species and biotopes the central aim of which is to take measures, in order to provide the status of favourable protection for endangered biotopes and species, as well as involve society in these measures.
5. Specially protected nature territories the central aim of which is to perform planning and management of specially protected nature territories and involve society in these measures.

The project implementation was begun on September 4, 2007, co-financing in the amount of 8000 euros is received from European Economic Zone/Norwegian Government Financial Mechanism for realization of annual activities. Within the framework of this project the activities will be implemented facilitating achievement of the aims stipulated in the long-term activity plan within the period from 04.09.2007. to 31.12.2007., incl.:

• Activity in advisory boards.
• Activity supervising development of the normative acts and formulation of the opinion of NGOs on strategic documents important for society.
• Society educating and involvement activities – seminars, educational publications, participation in practical management activities.
• Planning specially protected nature territories by involving society in different stages of the planning.

On October 4 representatives of the Latvian Fund for Nature participated in the seminar organized by Society Integration Foundation on the practical aspects of the introduction of projects. Read further about the introduction of projects in the home page of the Latvian Fund for Nature!

Further information on this financial mechanism is available in www.eeagrants.lv un www.lsif.lv.