Within the LIFE FOR SPECIES project (Endangered species in Latvia: improved knowledge and capacity, information circulation and understanding) in the period from 2021. until 2023 in April, an evaluation of the state of bird species and determination of the risk level of species extinction was carried out using the methodology and criteria developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/, https://sarkanagramata.lu.lv/par -project/materials/). The activities were carried out within the project B.1 activity "Re-evaluation of the status of species protection and preparation of the list of endangered species using IUCN criteria".
In order to introduce the interested parties to the preliminary results of the evaluation of bird species, it is planned to organize a public meeting on July 13th at 10:00 Riga time (on Zoom).
It will consist of:
Estimated meeting length: approximately 2 hours.
To participate in the meeting, please fill out the application by 11th of July: forms.gle/oRRTKTT6JhE4KYig7
A link to the meeting will be sent to the email you provided before the meeting.
399 bird populations were selected and evaluated in the project. The results are available here.
We invite anyone who is interested in participating, to read the assessments and send comments and questions before the meeting by writing to the email provided below:
At the end of June, we would like to introduce this month's species - the golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii). Although the dragonfly can be found from the beginning of June until the middle of August, it can be found most freuqently during the end of June, so be careful when you go out into nature, and maybe you will be able to see the species!
Despite the name of the species, it is far from ordinary - on the contrary, its appearance is very bright. This is the only dragonfly species in Latvia, whose entire body is black with yellow spots. The body length of the golden-ringed dragonfly is 74-85 mm, the eyes are green, meeting only at one point in the middle.
The golden-ringed dragonfly lays eggs in water where they develop for 2-4 weeks. Larvae live in stagnant freshwater habitats, and both larvae and adult dragonflies are carnivores that feed largely on a variety of invertebrates. In Latvia, these dragonflies inhabit streams and small rivers (1-10m wide) with clean water. The watercourses chosen by the species are usually located in the forest, so it's rarely found outside the forest.
In Latvia, this beautiful species is threatened by the cleaning of forest watercourses, ditches and drains, if the natural elements characteristic of watercourses (pebbles, boulders and their collections in the watercourse bed) are not preserved. The dragonfly can also be negatively affected by beaver activity, which results in increased water temperatures and reduced oxygen levels in water bodies. The species is also negatively affected by increased droughts as a result of climate change, which harms both the dragonfly and the species it consumes for food.
The traveling photo exhibition "Green Treasures", created as part of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, is on view at "AKROPOLE Rīga" until June 14.
Every visitor has the opportunity to get acquainted with the diversity of Latvia's nature, as well as the possible actions to preserve biological diversity.
Beautiful, interesting and educational - visit the photo exhibition from May 29 to June 14 in the "AKROPOLE Rīga" event area, between entrances A and F.
We would like to remind you that in the first month of the exhibition, any visitor could vote for three pictures, choosing their favorites. Voting activity and competition were very fierce, so when choosing the winners, in case of equal points, preference was given to those photographers who had not previously received the jury evaluation awards.
Results of the exhibition visitors' vote:
🥇 1. place: Karīna Dukule-Jakušenoka; Photo: Tetrao urogallus
🥈 2. place: Vilnis Zoldners; Photo Halichoerus grypus
🥉 3. place: Lauma Ķeire; Photo: Hyla arborea
We would like to express our great gratitude to every enthusiast who has dedicated his time to capturing nature's values and diversity of species. We hope that the photo contest was a valuable encouragement to go out into nature and get to know the diversity of species in Latvia.
Within the LIFE FOR SPECIES project (Endangered species in Latvia: improved knowledge and capacity, information circulation and understanding) in the period from 2021. until 2023 in April, an evaluation of the state of invertebrates species and determination of the risk level of species extinction was carried out using the methodology and criteria developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/, https://sarkanagramata.lu.lv/par -project/materials/). The activities were carried out within the project B.1 activity "Re-evaluation of the status of species protection and preparation of the list of endangered species using IUCN criteria".
In order to introduce the interested parties to the preliminary results of the evaluation of invertebrate species, it is planned to organize a public meeting on June 9 at 10:00 Riga time (on Zoom).
It will consist of:
Estimated meeting length: approximately 3 hours.
To participate in the meeting, please fill out the application by 6th of June: https://forms.gle/gYemxg3KN3cjC4qdA
A link to the meeting will be sent to the email you provided before the meeting.
317 invertebrate species were selected and evaluated in the project. The results are available here:
B1_Bezmugurkaulnieku izvērtējumi
We invite anyone who is interested in participating, to read the assessments and send comments and questions before the meeting by writing to the email provided below:
At a time when spring is gradually replaced by summer, let's highlight one of the harbingers of spring - Bog Beacon (Mitrula paludosa). This bright mushroom begins to appear in March, but the best chance to see it is in May and June.
Bog beacon in nature plays the role of a processor - a small fungus feeds on rotting leaves and stems, helping to break them down into a form that other plants can easily use for food.
In Latvia, the fungus is relatively rare and can mostly be found in wet forests, swamps, ditches, stagnant or slow-flowing water on plant remains.
However, when you manage to find the mushroom, it is relatively easy to recognize - the top of its fruiting body is mace-shaped, smooth and yellow. Stem 2-3 cm long and 2-3 mm thick, fragile, white, with a pink tint.
Sources: Latvijas Daba: sugu enciklopēdija. sēnes. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://www.latvijasdaba.lv/sēnes/
Within the LIFE FOR SPECIES project (Endangered species in Latvia: improved knowledge and capacity, information circulation and understanding) in the period from 2021 until 2023 in April, an evaluation of the state of moss species and determination of the risk level of species extinction was carried out using the methodology and criteria developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/, https://sarkanagramata.lu.lv/par -project/materials/). The activities were carried out within the project B.1 activity "Re-evaluation of the status of species protection and preparation of the list of endangered species using IUCN criteria".
Due to technical reasons, unfortunately, many of you did not receive the informational e-mail about the meeting on 28.04.2023.
In order to introduce the interested parties to the preliminary results of the evaluation of mushroom species, it is planned to organize a repeat meeting - on May 30 at 10:00 (on Zoom)
Estimated meeting length: approximately 2 hours.
To participate in the meeting, please fill out the application by May 26: https://forms.gle/5vMgnWAPWy9uYT8o7
A link to the meeting will be sent to the email you provided before the meeting.
A total of 140 fungi species were selected and evaluated in the project. The results are available here: Senu izvertejumi_LV_2023 apr
We invite anyone who is interested in participating, to read the assessments and send comments and questions before the meeting by writing to the email provided below:
Within the LIFE FOR SPECIES project (Endangered species in Latvia: improved knowledge and capacity, information circulation and understanding) in the period from 2021 until 2023 in April, an evaluation of the state of moss and charophyte species and determination of the risk level of species extinction was carried out using the methodology and criteria developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/, https://sarkanagramata.lu.lv/par -project/materials/). The activities were carried out within the project B.1 activity "Re-evaluation of the status of species protection and preparation of the list of endangered species using IUCN criteria".
In order to present the preliminary results of species evaluations to those interested, a meeting will be organized on May 31st (on Zoom).
It will consist of:
Estimated meeting length: approximately 2 hours.
To participate in the meeting, please fill out the application by May 29th: https://forms.gle/ac9iVG71pXChw5iFA
A link to the meeting will be sent to the email you provided before the meeting.
A total of 187 species of mosses and 2 species of charophyte were evaluated in the project. The results and the list of evaluated species with assigned preliminary categories are available here: Sunas_izvertejumi apspriedem LV 2023
We invite anyone who is interested in participating, to read the assessments and send comments and questions before the meeting by writing to the email provided below:
On April 27, 2023, the ceremonial opening of the LIFE FOR SPECIES photo exhibition "Green Treasures" was held at UL Academic Centre. Exhibition includes 60 of more than 400 photos that we received during the “Green Treasures” photo-competition.
Along with the opening of the exhibition, the authors of the photographs that received the highest jury rating were awarded. In addition to the jury awards, during the first month of the exhibition, any visitor can vote for three pictures, choosing their favourites.
We would like to express our gratitude to every nature enthusiast who dedicated time to capture nature's values and diversity of species. We hope that the photo contest was a valuable encouragement to go out into nature and get to know the diversity of species in Latvia. Also, we would like to express our gratitude to the jury, who devoted their time and experience to evaluate more than 400 submitted photos.
The visual design of the photo exhibition was created by Kristina Bondare.
Within the LIFE FOR SPECIES project (Endangered species in Latvia: improved knowledge and capacity, information circulation and understanding) in the period from 2021. until 2023 in April, an evaluation of the state of vascular plant species and determination of the risk level of species extinction was carried out using the methodology and criteria developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, https://www.iucnredlist.org/, https://sarkanagramata.lu.lv/par -project/materials/). The activities were carried out within the project B.1 activity "Re-evaluation of the status of species protection and preparation of the list of endangered species using IUCN criteria".
In order to present the preliminary results of species evaluations to those interested, a meeting will be organized on May 19 (on Zoom).
It will consist of:
Estimated meeting length: approximately 2 hours.
To participate in the meeting, please fill out the application by May 17: https://forms.gle/wHmzd3iLtNFxMYDS6
A link to the meeting will be sent to the email you provided before the meeting.
A total of 345 species of vascular plants were evaluated in the project. The results with the assigned preliminary categories are available here: Vaskularo augu izvertejumi apspriedem_LV_2023
We invite anyone who is interested in participating, to read the assessments and send comments and questions before the meeting by writing to the email provided below:
On April 27 of this year, the mid-term seminar of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project was successfully held in the Latvian University. During the seminar, the project team introduced the interested parties present with the work done in the project so far and the future activities. More than 70 participants attended the event.
Attendees of the mid-term seminar also had the opportunity to listen to several lectures on the results of the risk assessment of various groups of species, as well as to ask the experts the questions they were interested in.
Also, another important moment for the project was noted during the seminar - the project brochure was unveiled. In order to fully inform the public about the danger of the species and how to get involved in the protection of the species, the brochure became much broader than originally planned. After the mid-term seminar, the brochure in printed form is freely available to anyone interested both in paper and electronic formats.
At the end of the seminar, the ceremonial opening of the traveling photo exhibition "Green Treasures" and awarding of the authors of the best photographs took place.