Wetland conservation and management in Latvia

Dr. Mara Pakalne University of Latvia

e-mail: mara.pakalne@lu.lv

CONTENT OF PRESENTATION

Wetlands in Latvia

Wetland restoration experience

LOCATION OF LATVIA

Latvia is located in the western part of the East-European Plain

LATVIA

Area 64,635 km²

Elevation 0-311 m a.s.l.

Vegetation zone boreonemoral

Vegetation section intermediate and slightly oceanic

Mire region Typical raised bog region

Total current peatland area 599,199-903,600 ha

Total current mire area 316,500 ha

Total area of Latvia 64,635 km²

Wetland types in Latvia

There are 12 400 rivers and

2256 lakes which are bigger

than 1 hectare.

Mires 4,9 % of Latvia and

include raised bogs,

transitional bogs and fens.

There are also flooded and

coastal meadows. In Latvia

there are all together 6

Ramsar sites covering

148 145 hectares.

The length of the Latvian coastline along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga is 496 km

WETLANDS IN LATVIA

Mires cover 4,9% from the total land area, they are characterised by permanent water logging, active peat formation and the continuous upward growth of the surface and specific plant cover adapted to these conditions.

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. Water saturation (hydrology) largely determines how the soil develops and the types of plant and animal communities living in and on the soil. Wetlands may support both aquatic and terrestrial species.

Minerogenous mires (fed by groundwater rich in mineral substances) and include fens and transtion mires. Ombrogenous mires (obtain water and mineral substances only from precipitation) and include raised bogs.

OMBROGENOUS MIRES (RAISED BOGS)

TRANSITION MIRES

MIRES IN LATVIA

GEOGENOUS MIRES (FENS)

333 Natura 2000 sites

Interaction of mire components

Sudas - Zviedru Mire

MIRES IN LATVIA

EC LIFE PROJECTS FOR PEATLAND MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION

Teici Mire (2001–2003)

Kemeri Mires (2003-2008), (2011–2016)

Lubana Wetland complex (2003–2007)

Implementation of Mire Habitat Management Plan in Latvia

(2004–2008)

Restoration of Raised bog habitats in the Especially Protected

Nature Areas of Latvia) (2010–2013)

LIFE_Wetlands project «Conservation and Management of Priority

Wetland Habitats in Latvia» (2014–2017)

LIFE PEAT RESTORE» LIFE 15 CCM/DE/000138

«Reduction of CO2 emissions by restoring degraded peatlands in

Northern European Lowland» (2016-2021)

PROJECT «LIFE RESTORE» LIFE 14 CCM/LV/001103

Sustainable and responsible management and re-use of degraded

peatlands in Latvia (2015-2020)

EC LIFE+ «Wetlands» (2014-2017)

Project sites: Slītere National Park, Gauja National Park,

Raunas Staburags Nature Reserve and Ziemeļu Mires Nature Reserve

Coordinating beneficiary: University of Latvia; 6 associated beneficiaries and co-financers:

ZIEMELU MIRES

Intact raised bog –

priority protection status in EU

Degraded raised bogs still

capable of natural regeneration

About half of Latvian mires have been influenced by various human activities, like drainage, peat extraction and fires

Total area: 7718 ha

Northern bogs Ramsar site North Livonian transboundary Ramsar site together with Nigula and Sookuninga Nature Reserve

ZIEMEĻU MIRES NATURE RESERVE

DRAINAGE INFLUENCE ON MIRE VEGETATION

1994.-1998.g. 2013.-2015.g.

ZIEMELU MIRES NARURE RESERVE

GEOLOGICAL, HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES AND MONITORING IN ZIEMEĻU MIRES, STUDY OF MIRE DEVELOPMENT

RESTORATION OF SITE HYDROLOGY AND HABITATS IN BAŽU MIRE

TECHNICAL DESIGN APPROVED, 4 DRAINAGE DITCHES AND 15 DAMS

HYDROLOGICAL AND VEGETATION STUDIES IN THE INTER-DUNE MIRES

HABITAT MAPPING IN THE INTER-DUNE MIRES

BAZU MIRE

IN SLITERE NATIONAL PARK

Total area 2,646 ha

Drainage ditches – 7,9 km

Liparis loeselii Drosera intermedia Hamatocaulis vernicosus Nymphaea alba

INTER-DUNE MIRES

RESTORATION OF MIRE HYDROLOGY AND HABITATS

EC

LIFE PROJECT «RAISED BOGS» LIFE 08 NAT/LV/000449 (2008-2012)

Building of peat dams on drainage ditches

2011 2012 MELNAIS LAKE MIRE

RESULTS: MELNAIS LAKE MIRE

Change of the proportions in Sphagnum coverage

The coverage of species of more wet areas has increased

Sphagnum magellanicum

Sphagnum cuspidatum

Sphagnum fallax

PEATLAND RESTORATION EXPERIENCE IN LATVIA

BEFORE AFTER

2007 2016

STIKLI

MIRES

2010 2013

ROŽU

MIRE

CENA PEATLAND PROJECT «LIFE RESTORE» LIFE 14 CCM/LV/001103

(2015-2020)

Strategy for peatland management of degraded peatlands after

peat extraction is being elaborated

EC LIFE PROJECT «LIFE PEAT RESTORE» LIFE 15 CCM/DE/000138

«Reduction of CO2 emissions by restoring degraded peatlands in Northern European Lowland» (2016-2021)

Countries involved : GERMANY, LATVIA, ESTONIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND

Coordinating beneficiary: Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) Associated beneficiary: University of Latvia Associated beneficiary: Lake Engure Nature Park Fund Associated beneficiary: Lithuanian Fund for Nature Associated beneficiary: Tallinn University

Reduce the CO2 emissions causing climate change by restoring degraded peatlands and providing guidelines on how to do it for decision makers and conservationists measuring GHG and applying of GEST analysis restoration of degraded peatland sites elaborating an handbook on how to conduct the restoration and to manage the

restored peatlands at best giving guidelines with best practice scenarios for development legislation on peatland

use in relation to the EU climate policy and legislation

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

CONCLUSIONS

Rising groundwater level in mires by building dams on the drainage ditches is an effective way of mire restoration;

Re-establishment of Sphagnum species is an indicator of mire regeneration in the degraded mire areas;

After rising of groundwater table, regeneration of mire species takes place in the same vegetation season.

Raised bog restoration in Latvia is carried out mainly within EC LIFE projects and has been successful in the project sites;

Hydrological and habitat monitoring shows that after raising of water level by building of peat dams on the drainage ditches, immediate changes take place in site hydrology and afterwards also in raised bog vegetation;

www.mitraji.lv University of Latvia

Kandavas Street 2, Riga, LV-1083, LATVIA

LIFE13 NAT/LV/000578

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PRIORITY

WETLAND HABITATS IN LATVIA

THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION!