Final day of LIFE-Nature Project Restoration of Floodplains" Today, 30 June is the final day of the LIFE-Nature Project Restoration of Latvian Floodplains for EU priority species and habitats. This Project was implemented by Latvian Fund for Nature since October 2004 in cooperation with Nature Protection Board, North Vidzeme Biosphere reserve, Latvian Ornithological society and 21 municipalities. Within the project we have restored more than 2400 hectares of floodplains in 15 protected areas and Natura 2000 sites in Latvia. To restore floodplains we did bush cutting, initial mowing, controlled burning, experimental removal of shrub roots, and cutting of bushes around oaks. In Pilssala in Jelgava and Burtnieki meadows we set up fences to ensure grazing. In addition to the floodplain restoration works we also organized management in sites 14 site management plans have been prepared and summaries of management plans with management guidelines distributed to landowners. Site management plans foresee further management of project territories in order to maintain the nature values. To support nature friendly tourism, we set up information stands in all project sites and prepared site brochures for tourists (available in all municipalities and tourism information centres). Link to publications for downloading. Further management of restored floodplains is up to landowners, they are applying for Rural Development support within the Agro-environmental measures. All the restored floodplains are biologically valuable grasslands and thus entitled for support. Latvian Fund for Nature will continue to work in Rural Development sector to enhance the further support to biologically valuable grasslands. Latvian Fund for Nature would like to thank all who participated in the project, especially landowners who participated in restoration activities and municipalities that supported us. Without your participation we would not be able to implement the project! The project was co-financed by Ministry of Environment, United Nations Development Programme (GEF) and Latvian Environmental Protection Fund (in the project beginning). For implementation of the project loan was provided by SEB Bank. All project sites are Natura 2000 sites. Project sites are: Sita and Pededze floodplains, Mugurve meadows, Pededzes lejtece (lower reaches), Dviete floodplains, Burga meadows, Meadows of Seda river (Seda bog), Vidusburtnieks, Rūja floodplains, Lake Burtnieks meadows, Lielupe floodplains, Svete floodplains, Kalnciems meadows, Raķupe meadows, Lake Durbe meadows, Uzava floodplains (upper reaches). Project partner municipalities: Alsunga municipality, Ance municipality, Burtnieki municipality, Burtnieki county, Dundaga municipality, Durbe county, Dviete municipality, Ērģeme municipality, Ilūkste county, Jelgava City Council, Jeri municipality, Kalnciems City Council, Litene municipality, Līvbērze municipality, Rugāji municipality, Seda City Council, Sēļi municipality, Stradi municipality, Valgunde county, Valka municipality and Vilpulka municipality. More information on LIFE-Nature projects in Latvia http://www.vidm.gov.lv/lat/projekti/?doc=2891 More information about LIFE projects in EU http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm Project Layman's report - download here Please visit the photo gallery of project sites, species and works. Inga Račinska, Project manager | 
