LIFE FOR SPECIES

The title of the project: Threatened species in Latvia: improved knowledge, capacity, data and awareness

Programme: European Union LIFE Environment programme

Project identification number: LIFE19GIELV000857

Project leading partner: University of Latvia

Project partners:

• Nature Conservation Agency
• Daugavpils University
• Latvian Ornithological Society

Project implementation period: 01/12/2020 – 31/12/2024

The overall goal of the project is to update the list of protected and endangered species, develop scientifically based criteria for assessing the degree of endangerment of species and determining their protection status, as well as to prepare proposals for amendments to the relevant regulatory acts. The current regulatory acts that define specially protected species and micro-reserve species were approved approximately 20 years ago. During this period, scientific information on the occurrence of species and threatening factors has been accumulated, as well as changes in Latvia’s economy have taken place. In order to balance nature conservation and economic activity, it is necessary to develop scientifically based criteria for defining endangered species and to update regulatory acts that ensure the protection of species.

Project objectives:

• evaluate and update the list of specially protected species, as well as to assess species according to the criteria defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN);
• prepare updated draft regulatory acts;
• prepare detailed information on specially protected species, including data on species occurrence, biology, ecology and necessary measures for their protection. A project website and printed publications – species Red list – will be used to compile information;
• improve the Nature Data Management System OZOLS;
• strengthen the competence of species protection experts and decision-makers by organizing in-service training and seminars;
• promote public awareness and involvement in species protection and the preservation of diversity of nature in Latvia.

Project budget

LIFE FOR SPECIES is implemented with the financial support from the European Union’s LIFE Environment Programme and the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund of the State Regional Development Agency. The total budget of the project is EUR 2,706,291, of which 55% is EU funding.

Total budget of DU: EUR 361,378, of which EUR 198,757 is EU funding.

Information about the project:

project coordinator DU:

Laura Taube

laura.taube@du.lv.

Project news:

LU BIOLOĢIJAS INSTITŪTS UZSĀK PROJEKTU PAR APDRAUDĒTĀM UN ĪPAŠI AIZSARGĀJAMĀM SUGĀM – LIFE FOR SPECIES