Joint work event for grassland restoration was successful

Annual joint work event ("working bee"), organised by Dviete LIFE+ project, took place in Dviete floodplain nature park on September 28-29, 2013. 32 persons participated: local inhabitants and land-owners, representatives of LIFE+ project and local NGO "Dvietes senlejas pagastu apvienība", as well as other volunteers, including people from Dundaga parish and Riga.

During the first day voluntary workers restored open grassland with an area of 0.4 ha at the bird-watching tower on the southern coast of Skuķu lake, removing young birches. The thickest trees will be used for firewood, thinner trees and bushes - for wood chips.

On Sunday high stumps were removed in two sites of Dviete floodplain near Putnu sala in an area of 0.8 ha (0.3 ha and 0.5 ha respectively), which were not possible to cut low enough due to thick snow and ice cover in winter; remnants of bush removal were also collected and burned.

Sites, where voluntary working event took place, are included in the grazing area, where 'Konik' horses and cattle of the breeds, suitable for living outdoors, are grazing to maintain restored grasslands.

Restoration and management of open floodplain areas, suitable for breeding of meadow birds, is one of main tasks of the Dviete LIFE+ project. It is planned to restore 105 ha of grasslands within the project, till now 74 hectares are already restored. Grassland restoration will continue untill beginning of bird breeding season in spring of 2014.

Ilze Priedniece
30.09.2013.