This month, we are highlighting an entire group of species — lichens. We introduce three lichen species in Latvia that are currently threatened.
Lichens are highly diverse, and the habitats they occupy vary significantly. This means that habitats of threatened lichen species can be very different — ranging from old-growth forests and park-like landscapes to human-made environments and even rock formations that are millions of years old. As a result, conserving threatened lichen species involves protecting both natural and cultural heritage values.
To learn more about the lichen species featured in March, see the species fact sheets below. The fact sheets are also available to all interested readers in PDF format (A3 size) by clicking on the images.
The species of January and February is a distinctive fungus found in old-growth forests with biologically mature aspens — Exophiala calicioides.
This is a characteristic and relatively easily recognizable ascomycete. It forms black, straight or slightly curved fruiting bodies measuring 1.0–3.0 mm in length and 0.1–0.2 mm in width. On the substrate, the fruiting bodies occur either singly or in small clusters. Externally, it resembles pin lichens; however, it is not a lichen, as it does not form a symbiotic association with algae.
The species is threatened by forestry activities, forest road construction, and other actions that destroy habitats or alter forest ecological conditions. It is also affected by forest fragmentation and the loss of continuity of old aspen stands. In Latvia, it is classified as Endangered (EN), due to its limited distribution and the ongoing decline in habitat quality and availability.
As part of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, a follow-up sociological survey was conducted in autumn 2025 to assess the level of public awareness, attitudes, and involvement of Latvian society in the protection of threatened species. The results indicate that society in Latvia is becoming more informed and more actively engaged in species conservation. Compared to the first survey conducted in 2021, there has been a significant increase both in public knowledge about threatened species and in willingness to participate in nature conservation activities.
These results are also positively evaluated by the project team. Project manager Gunta Čekstere-Muižniece comments:
“The results are truly encouraging. They confirm that the activities implemented in recent years to raise public awareness and promote engagement in nature conservation — including the protection of rare, protected, and threatened species — have been meaningful. This clearly shows that the work we have started must continue. At the same time, these achievements are the result of the collective efforts of everyone involved in the nature conservation sector.”
The latest data show that 41% of Latvia’s population now describe their level of awareness about threatened species as good — an increase of 20 percentage points compared to 2021, when only about one fifth of respondents gave such an assessment.
At the same time, 58% of respondents still consider their knowledge to be poor or rather poor; however, this figure has also significantly decreased (by 17 percentage points).
A similar trend is observed regarding knowledge of actions individuals can take to protect species — 28% of respondents report being well informed (+7% compared to 2021).
The survey results demonstrate growing public involvement and participation in nature conservation. Increasingly, people not only express support for conservation ideas but also take practical action — complying with rules in protected areas, choosing environmentally friendly products, reporting violations, and contributing to the preservation of habitats for protected species on their own properties.
Since 2021, there has been a notable increase in the number of people who participate in various initiatives and follow developments related to species protection. This indicates a growing willingness within society to take greater personal responsibility for nature and the environment. The trend suggests that nature conservation in Latvia is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility rather than solely the domain of experts and institutions, with society ready to act as an active partner in the conservation process.
Encouragingly, more than half of respondents (53%) report that they consciously consider the conservation of rare and protected species when managing their own property — an increase of 25 percentage points compared to 2021. This practice is particularly common among landowners (65%) and residents of rural areas (62%).
The Latvian Red Data Book remains widely recognized — 91% of the population have heard of it. The survey shows that public interest in this resource remains consistently high, with an increasing number of people using it in practice, for example in education or professional work.
However, awareness of the new edition of the Red Data Book — currently being developed and soon to be published — remains low, with only 7% of respondents aware of it. This highlights the need for broader communication about the upcoming publication and ensuring accessibility of its results in both printed and digital formats.
The new edition of the Red Data Book (six volumes), developed within the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, was officially launched at the beginning of 2026. It provides up-to-date, scientifically grounded information on threatened species in Latvia, as well as regionally extinct species and species that may potentially become threatened. The electronic version of the book is freely available to all interested users.
The survey was conducted in cooperation with the market and social research centre Latvijas fakti in autumn 2025 across Latvia, surveying at least 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 75.
The New Latvian Red Data Book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date scientific compilation of recent decades on rare, threatened, and extinct species in Latvia. It provides the public, policy-makers, and nature conservation stakeholders with an overview of the conservation status of these species in Latvia and supports efforts to ensure their long-term protection.
The electronic version of the book is freely available to all interested readers. The publication is structured into six thematic volumes and can be downloaded in PDF format (in Latvian) via the links below:
The new edition of the Latvian Red Data Book comprises six volumes and includes descriptions of 1,069 taxa (including species, subspecies, populations, and others). It covers not only rare, threatened, and extinct species in Latvia, but also species that are classified as Near Threatened or for which insufficient data are available to assess extinction risk.
The Latvian Red Data Book was prepared within the LIFE Programme project “Threatened Species in Latvia: Improved Knowledge and Capacity, Information Flow and Awareness” (LIFE FOR SPECIES). The project is implemented by the Institute of Biology of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Agency, Daugavpils University, and the Latvian Ornithological Society, with financial support from the European Commission’s LIFE Programme and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development.
Photo: Olīvija Z.S, NCA
On 22 January, the new edition of the Latvian Red data book was officially launched at the University of Latvia. It represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date scientific compilation of rare, threatened, and extinct species in Latvia produced in recent decades. The publication provides the public, policy-makers, and nature conservation professionals with an authoritative overview of the conservation status of these species in Latvia and supports efforts to ensure their long-term protection.
The new edition of the Latvian Red data book comprises six volumes and includes descriptions of 1,069 taxa (including subspecies, populations, and other units). In addition to rare, threatened, and extinct species, it also covers species classified as near threatened as well as species for which available data are insufficient to assess extinction risk.
“After more than 20 years, we once again have a scientifically robust and internationally comparable assessment of the most vulnerable components of Latvia’s natural heritage. This publication is not only a benchmark of our capacity to safeguard biodiversity, but also an important tool for strengthening public knowledge and understanding of natural values. It is not merely a data repository, but a national-level symbol and a modern instrument that will support informed decision-making in nature conservation for decades to come,”
emphasises Laura Anteina, Director General of the Nature Conservation Agency (NCA).
The content of the book was developed over a four-year period (2021–2025), bringing together a broad range of scientists and nature experts. For the first time in Latvia’s history, species threat and extinction risk assessments were carried out in accordance with the globally recognised methodology of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), ensuring international comparability and wider applicability of the results.
“We hope that the new Red data book will become a valuable source of information for everyone who cares about Latvia’s nature—researchers, students, school pupils, and nature enthusiasts alike. It will help identify which species require our immediate attention,”
notes Gunta Čekstere-Muižniece, project manager of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project.
The publication is structured into six thematic volumes: fungi, lichens and slime moulds; mosses and stoneworts; vascular plants; invertebrates; fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals; and birds.
More than 55 species experts from Latvia and Estonia contributed to the assessments, which were peer-reviewed by 37 international experts from eight European countries. Both expert workshops and public discussions were organised, allowing broader societal engagement in the process.
The electronic version of the Latvian Red data book will soon be freely available to the public at https://sarkanagramata.lu.lv/. The printed edition has been available for consultation since 23 January at the nature centres of Rāzna, Ķemeri and Gauja National Parks, the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, as well as at the National Library of Latvia. Thanks to cooperation with the National Library of Latvia, the books will also become available in major public and educational libraries across the country in the coming months.
The Latvian Red data book was prepared within the LIFE Programme project “Threatened Species in Latvia: Improved Knowledge and Capacity, Information Flow and Awareness” (LIFE FOR SPECIES). The project is implemented by the Institute of Biology of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, in cooperation with the NCA, Daugavpils University, and the Latvian Ornithological Society, with financial support from the European Commission’s LIFE Programme and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development.
This publication reflects only the views of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project and cannot be considered an official position of the European Union. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained here.
Closing out the year, our featured species of the month for November and December is green shield moss (Buxbaumia viridis).
Green shield moss is a small and elusive species that serves as an indicator of old-growth and natural forest habitats.
It is one of the few moss species protected at the European level and is listed under the Bern Convention and the EU Habitats Directive. In Latvia, the species is strictly protected, and micro-reserves may be established to safeguard its habitats. Forests where the species occurs must be preserved, along with its suitable substrate – dead conifer wood. Continued monitoring is needed to study long-term population trends.
Learn more about the species in the fact sheet. A PDF version is available here.
The species is threatened by logging in suitable forests and by the removal of dead wood. Drainage and land improvement near known sites can also negatively affect the moss by altering the forest microclimate. In Latvia, green shield moss is assessed as Vulnerable (VU) due to its very small population, while at the European scale it is considered Least Concern (LC).
On 4th of December, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development hosted the “LIFE Award 2025” ceremony, honoring Latvia’s most outstanding LIFE projects in the fields of nature, environment, and climate. The University of Latvia’s LIFE FOR SPECIES project received the award in the category “Most Significant LIFE Contribution to Environmental Protection”.
This was the third “LIFE Award 2025” ceremony. Its aim is to promote awareness of the European Commission’s LIFE Programme in Latvia by identifying and showcasing the most successful projects financed through LIFE calls and implemented by Latvian institutions.
During the awards ceremony, the most impactful Latvian LIFE projects were recognised across nine categories for their important contributions to nature conservation, climate action, and the environment, helping to build a greener and more sustainable Latvia. The ceremony took place at the Environmental Education Centre “Botania” of the National Botanical Garden and brought together nearly 100 attendees.
The LIFE FOR SPECIES project team extends sincere appreciation to the jury, the organisers, and everyone who has contributed to achieving the project’s goals. Warm congratulations also go to all nominees and LIFE projects in Latvia for their dedicated work towards our shared nature, environment, and climate objectives.
In this golden autumn month, one of Latvia’s smallest rodent species – the northern birch mouse – prepares to enter hibernation.
This species is active at dusk and during the night. Before hibernation it feeds intensively, and can occasionally be spotted during daylight hours. Compared with other rodents of similar size, the northern birch mouse is relatively calm and may not flee immediately from humans unless sudden movements are made.
You can read more about the species and how you can help protect it in its fact sheet (PDF version available here). Fact sheet design: Kristīna Bondare.
Within the project, the northern birch mouse has been assessed as Least Concern (LC) and therefore will not be included in the new Red Book.
On 25–26 September 2025, the international conference of the Nature Conservation Agency’s LatViaNature project – “Together for Nature Conservation: Public and Private Sector Involvement” – took place at the University of Latvia House of Nature in Riga. The event gathered 150 nature conservation experts and professionals from 16 European countries.
The conference provided insights into the latest European Commission developments in nature protection and the practical implementation of the new EU Nature Restoration Law. Participants also explored innovative approaches, shared experience, and best practice examples from across Europe that contribute to achieving the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 targets. The event brought together policymakers, experts and practitioners, NGOs, and other stakeholders. The working language of the conference was English.
The LIFE FOR SPECIES project team also participated, presenting a poster on communication tools applied in the project: “Public engagement in practice: lessons from the LIFE FOR SPECIES project”.
More information and full recordings of the conference are available here:
https://latvianature.daba.gov.lv/en/conference-2025/
Sincere thanks to the organisers for delivering a high quality conference.
A heartfelt thank you to Jelgava Technology Secondary School for organizing the excellent event “One Step Closer” for students of grades 10–12 from the Zemgale region, held on 24 September 2025. The event brought together more than 150 students from five regional schools.
Project manager Gunta Čekstere-Muižniece giving a presentation. Photo: Edgars Krinbergs
The aim of the event was to support students in choosing topics for their research or creative projects and to inspire collaboration with specialists from different fields.
The field of biology and the LIFE FOR SPECIES project were represented by project manager Gunta Čekstere-Muižniece (University of Latvia, Institute of Biology), who introduced participants to the latest research directions in biology, the upcoming new edition of the Latvian Red Data Book, and later provided individual consultations to students at the project stand.
We are delighted that so many young people showed interest in research across various subfields of biology, as well as in rare, endangered, and protected species!