On December 3, the project team presented the progress made so far in compiling the national list of specially protected species, telling more than 80 stakeholders about the criteria developed for the selection and evaluation of species.
One of the objectives of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project is to update the list of protected and endangered species based on scientifically based criteria. Researchers in species groups are working on defining different groups of criteria (affected criteria, non-affected criteria, subjective criteria) to select species for evaluation according to IUCN criteria, as well as for inclusion in the list of specially protected species and endangered species, or in the Latvian Red Data Book.
On December 3, the seminar presented the current progress in the development of criteria to nature conservation professionals and other stakeholders, as well as outlined the approach to categorizing species according to the required conservation measures or in the event of damage to an individual or a breeding site.
Continuing the work on species evaluation and listing, the project plans two more seminars, in which we will invite a wider range of stakeholders to the discussion, as well as discussions are planned for smaller groups of species experts.
The Project “Threatened species in Latvia: improved knowledge, capacity, data and awareness” LIFE19 GIE/LV/000857 LIFE FOR SPECIES is implemented with the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Latvian State Regional Development Agency. This publication reflects only authors’ view. Neither CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) nor European Commission are responsible of any use that may be made, or the information contained therein.
On 29 November, the LIFE FOR SPECIES project team met online with the project steering group to look back on the first year of the project and assess its progress and outline further challenges.
Just a year ago, in December 2020, the LIFE FOF SPECIES project started its activities. On the 29th of November, the project team discussed the progress of the project with the members of the project steering group online on the ZOOM platform. The project steering group has delegated representatives from all project partner organizations: University of Latvia, Nature Conservation Agency, Daugavpils University and Latvian Ornithological Society, as well as from various other stakeholders' institutions and organizations.
The project team gave an overview of the project's achievements in the first year, evaluating each of the activities. In 2021, the project developed a management plan and communication strategy, participated in scientific conferences with reports on protected species topics, conducted IUCN training for species experts, launched species assessments according to IUCN criteria, repeatedly covered the project in the press, and started work on several other activities. The financial report of the project was presented to the members of the monitoring group. In the discussion section of the meeting, the possibilities of cooperation in the field of data exchange and other issues related to the project tasks and future plans were discussed.
The next meeting of project steering group is scheduled for 2022.
The Project “Threatened species in Latvia: improved knowledge, capacity, data and awareness” LIFE19 GIE/LV/000857 LIFE FOR SPECIES is implemented with the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Latvian State Regional Development Agency. This publication reflects only authors’ view. Neither CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) nor European Commission are responsible of any use that may be made, or the information contained therein.
Although the first snow is already appearing in some places in nature, you can see the diverse world of mosses in the forest all year round. The species of the month honors small but important moss - Heller's Notchwort Liverwort.
Heller's Notchwort Liverwort Anastrophyllum hellerianum is a small, hard-to-notice moss up to 1 mm in size. It is best seen in nature with a magnifying glass. The shoots are green, but at their ends form wine - red gemmae, which helps to distinguish the moss from other similar species. Heller's Notchwort Liverwort is found in natural, undisturbed forests with coniferous deadwood logs. On the log moss can be found closer to the forest ground, where moisture is retained longer. The survival of the species in the forest requires dead wood in various stages of decomposition.
Heller's wedge is found in Europe and North America. In Latvia, the species is rarely observed throughout the territory. The species is threatened by the clear-cutting of natural, undisturbed forests.
Whithin the framework of LIFE FOR SPECIES project, seminar will be held on the basic principles for the development of criteria and categorization of the national list of specially protected species.
The experts of the species groups of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project have prepared an insight into the basic principles for the development of criteria for the national list of specially protected species, as well as will outline the possible division of species into different categories.
The seminar will take place on the ZOOM platform on December 3 from 11:00 to 13:00
The agenda of the seminar is available HERE (in latvian).
All interested parties are invited to apply for the seminar by December 1 (inclusive) by filling in this application form. We will send the ZOOM access link to the e-mail specified in the application form on December 2.
See you at the seminar!
Within the framework of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, we are announcing a species photo competition "Green Treasures", where every photo enthusiast is invited to participate. The 60 best photos of the competition will be collected and exhibited in a traveling and virtual photo exhibition.
The LIFE FOR SPECIES project team is announcing a photo competition inviting submissions of endangered and protected species in six different categories from 18.11.2021 to 31.08.2022. The photo competition has a nearly one-year deadline for submitting images, encouraging contestants to go outdoors in all seasons to get to know endangered and specially protected species through the camera. Lists of specially protected species and Red Book species are available on the website www.lifeforspecies.lu.lv, in the section "Materials".
The photo submission form is available at the following link: https://forms.gle/X8pxyUSq5BNfGJ8i9 (in latvian).
The regulations of the photo competition is available HERE (in latvian).
Each contestant can submit up to 5 photos in six different categories:
The 60 best photos will be collected in the traveling exhibition, as well as on the project website - in a virtual exhibition, which will open in October, November of 2022. Winners of 1st - 3rd place in each category will receive honorary letters and souvenirs. In the first month of the exhibition, everyone will have the opportunity to vote for three most favourite photos, which will receive special project prizes.
To a successful species photo-hunt! We look forward to applications for the competition!
In October, the protected species of month - tree lungworth - can be well seen on the deciduous tree trunks in natural forests, parks, alleys and wooded pastures.
When the splendor of autumn leaves has disappeared, multicolored lichens stand out in forests and parks. Tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria catches the eye immediately: the leaf-like thallus with ridged lobes is much larger than other lichens. In dry weather, the surface of the lichen thallus is greyish brown, while in moisture it often turns bright green. The lichen also acquired its common name to the leaf structure, which resembles the alveolar pattern of the lungs. Tree lungwort was once used in folk medicine.
Tree lungwort is found on deciduous trees: maples, lindens, aspens, oaks, ashes, etc. in perennial forests, as well as in parks, alleys and wooded pastures. Lichens are threatened by habitat loss, they are also sensitive to air pollution.
In Latvia, the common lichen is relatively rare throughout the territory. The species is found worldwide in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.
The European Red List of Birds, published by BirdLife International, shows that 13% of European bird species are endangered. The list assesses the risk of extinction of 544 bird species using data from more than 50 European countries and territories, using internationally accepted IUCN criteria.
The report shows that 13% of European bird species are currently endangered and another 6% are almost endangered. In recent decades, populations of about a third of Europe's bird species have declined. The most endangered bird groups are seabirds, ducks, waders and birds of prey. The most endangered species are associated with the sea, agricultural land, grasslands and wetlands. Major threats include large-scale land use change, intensive agriculture, overexploitation of marine resources, inland water pollution, unsustainable forest management and infrastructure development. Populations are declining for a third of Europe's rural bird species.
At the same time, the report also shows success stories, with 47 species classified in a lower risk category than in the previous assessment. This was largely due to real population change, but in some cases better information was important. For some of these species (such as the woodpecker), populations are declining, but not as rapidly as previously estimated.
Of the bird species that regularly nest in Latvia, the situation in Europe has generally improved, such as red kite, herring gull and redving, which are now considered safe species in Europe, but several previously safe species, such as northern pintail, common snipe and rook, are now endangered in Europe.
The full report is available HERE.
More information on the website of the Latvian Ornithological Society.
Within the framework of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, the risk of extinction of species is assessed according to IUCN criteria in all major groups of organisms, updating the Latvian Red Book and the list of specially protected species over the next four years. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organization founded in 1945 with the aim of collecting, compiling and publishing scientifically based information on species and their status through the Red Book. The organization has developed a common methodology for assessing the status of species. In April 2021, within the framework of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, the first large-scale training of IUCN experts took place in Latvia.
A significant part of the society admits that they are poorly informed about endangered species, at the same time indicating that the extinction of species is a serious problem in Latvia. 9 out of 10 Latvians admit that the general public needs to be better informed about the importance of species protection, according to a survey conducted by the LIFE FOR SPECIES project.
Within the framework of the LIFE project LIFE FOR SPECIES, a sociological survey was conducted with the aim to find out the awareness of the Latvian society about the protection of species. The survey was conducted in cooperation with the Market and Social Research Center “Latvijas Fakti” in the summer of 2021 throughout Latvia, surveying more than 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 75 years. The survey revealed that a large part of the public (more than 70% of the respondents) rated their level of knowledge and awareness of endangered species and measures to be taken for the protection of species as poor or rather poor.
Project manager Gunta Čekstere comments:
“This survey and its results are very valuable not only for the implementation of the project, but also for planning and implementing various measures for the conservation of endangered species and informing the public. It should be emphasized that this survey is special because it is conducted in accordance with the standards of good practice of sociological research, helping to understand public opinion on various issues related to the protection of species. The results of the survey clearly show that the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, as well as other various nature conservation organizations and institutions, have an even wider field of work in informing about species protection issues.”
An absolute majority or 90% of respondents acknowledged that the public should be better informed about the importance of species protection, confirming the need for the LIFE FOR SPECIES project, updating the list of specially protected species and creating a new edition of the Latvian Red Data Book. At the same time, the majority of the public (over 80%) agreed with the statements that biodiversity is also a part of Latvia's culture and wealth, on which our well-being and health are based, and that biodiversity is important for our long-term economic development.
The data obtained in the survey confirm that the Latvian Red Book is a popular brand - more than 80% of the respondents have heard about it, and 4% of the respondents have this publication at home.
"The public is accustomed to finding information on rare and endangered species in the Red Book. This edition has gained people's trust over the years. It is important that an updated version of the Red Book is created within the project, and it will also be available on the Internet,” admits Dmitry Telnov, head of the invertebrate species group of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project.
There is a public opinion or 62% of respondents expressed the opinion that the possible extinction of species is a serious problem for Latvia. More than a third of respondents said that the extinction of species and the depletion of nature are already affecting them or will affect them in the future, while another 45% indicated that it will affect future generations.
Respondents expressed broad support for various species protection activities, such as planning new infrastructure, taking into account the needs of protected species and promoting environmentally friendly forestry, agriculture and entrepreneurship, ensuring that national and EU investment in these sectors does not harm biodiversity.
Assessing which of the protected species in Latvia needs immediate protection measures to survive, the black stork and white-tailed eagle stood out among the offered options. The live cameras of the Latvian Fund for Nature's bird nests were also recognized as the most known event in the field of the most significant activities for rare and protected species in the last 10 years.
The results of the study are available at the following link (in Latvian): LIFE FOR SPECIES survey on public awareness of species protection. In case of republishing, reference to the project is mandatory.
The Project “Threatened species in Latvia: improved knowledge, capacity, data and awareness” LIFE19 GIE/LV/000857 LIFE FOR SPECIES is implemented with the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Latvian State Regional Development Agency. This publication reflects only authors’ view. Neither CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) nor European Commission are responsible of any use that may be made, or the information contained therein.
Wet weather attracts various molluscs and snails from hiding places, which slowly glide over tree trunks, crystals, rocks and mosses in the autumn forests. Therefore, in honor of the protected species in September, we introduce the snail Ena montana.
Ena montana is a typical inhabitant of natural forests with little human disturbance. The dark brown shell of the snail is about 15 mm long and 6 mm wide and ovoid shape. In wet weather, Ena montana snails can be seen slowly gliding over tree trunks, deadwood or rocks. In turn, in drought and winter, the small animal takes refuge in a layer of forest litter.
Snail Ena montana is widespread in the broadleaf forests of central Europe. In Latvia, it is rare - mostly in the vicinity of the Gauja National Park, however, there are also a few locations in the north-east, east and central part of Latvia. The snail prefers to inhabit broadleaf forests with high humidity, e.g., forests of slopes, screes and ravines.
The species may be threatened in the future by the loss of suitable habitats. Currently, the world's Ena montana population is considered to be stable.
The species is included in Category 3 of the Latvian Red Data Book, as well as in the list of specially protected species.
With the autumn weather, more and more fungi can be found in the forests. Among chanterelles, boletes and other edible mushrooms, on the old deciduous trees you can also see the orange polypore Hapalopilus croceus - a rare, bright orange fungi.
The orange polypore inhabits dead oak wood in places where old oaks are found: in alleys, deciduous forests and wooded pastures. It can even be found on laying deadwood. Semicircular, soft and meaty fruitbodies can be seen from July to September and in August they are the brightest. Later in autumn, the annual fruitbody shrinks and becomes dry.
Orange polypore could be confused with the very popular bracket fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus) in Latvia, but the fruiting bodies of bracket fungus are thinner, clustered and rather yellow than bright orange.
Orange polypore is an endangered species in Europe, it is redlisted in 11 European countries. Fungi population is declining as the distribution of oak forests has declined sharply in recent centuries. In Latvia, orange polypore can be seen, for example, in Natura 2000 places, where wooded pastures are still present in the protected landscape area “Ziemeļgauja”, Gauja National Park, nature reserve “Ances purvi un meži”, as well as elsewhere.
The Project “Threatened species in Latvia: improved knowledge, capacity, data and awareness” LIFE19 GIE/LV/000857 LIFE FOR SPECIES is implemented with the financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union and Latvian State Regional Development Agency. This publication reflects only authors’ view. Neither CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) nor European Commission are responsible of any use that may be made, or the information contained therein.