On 28 June 2023, a kick-off meeting for the development of the nature protection plan for the specially protected nature area and Natura 2000 site – the nature reserve “Lake Liepāja” – took place at the Liepāja State City Municipality Administration building (Rožu Street 6, Great Hall).

During the meeting, participants were introduced to the objectives behind the establishment of the nature reserve, its most important natural values, and the key influencing factors. The developers of the nature protection plan informed attendees about the procedure for preparing the plan and invited landowners and other stakeholders to participate in the development process by submitting their suggestions.

The nature reserve “Lake Liepāja” is part of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network of protected areas. Almost the entire area of Lake Liepāja corresponds to EU habitat type 3140 – Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp. – and in terms of area coverage, it ranks first among all Natura 2000 territories in Latvia. The area of this habitat type found in Lake Liepāja makes up 30% of the total known habitat area of this type in Latvia. Nationally, the site is also of priority importance for the protection of grassland habitats such as 6410 – Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (second most important in the country by proportion of total area within Natura 2000 sites) and 1630* – Boreal Baltic coastal meadows (fourth most important). The area is included in the list of internationally Important Bird Areas (IBA), providing protection for more than 100 breeding, migratory, and wintering bird species.

The nature protection plan will be developed for the period 2025 to 2036. Its purpose is to reconcile the interests of nature conservation, natural resource use, regional development, and the local population in order to preserve the area’s natural values. The plan is being prepared by Daugavpils University on behalf of the Liepāja State City Municipality. The plan is developed within the framework of activities of the project “Development of the Nature Protection Plan for the Nature Reserve ‘Lake Liepāja’” (Project No. 1-08/45/2023), implemented by the Liepāja State City Municipality and supported by the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund.

Head of the Nature Conservation Plan Development
Lead Researcher at Daugavpils University – Uldis Valainis
Phone: +371 26113065
E-mail: uldis.valainis@biology.lv