Restored Dviete river opened symbolically

Celebrating Natura 2000 Day, a seminar was organised in Bebrene on May 21. LIFE+ project team demonstrated implemented restoration measures of Dviete floodplain during the seminar and a symbolic opening of restored Dviete river took place.

There were 39 participants - representatives of Nature Conservation Agency, Latvian Fund for Nature, project partners - Ilūkste municipality, ARK Nature, Environmental Institute and Elm Media, students of Daugavpils University and University of Latvia, Bebrene Professional High-school, LIFE+ projects „FOR-REST” and „HYDROPLAN” as well as land owners and local people, and others.

Seminar begun with the speeches of Stefans Rāzna, head of Ilūkste municipality and Benita Štrausa, head of administration of Bebrene parish. Edmunds Račinskis, project manager, gave a presentation on implemented floodplain restoration works within the LIFE+ project DVIETE. Afterwards Jānis Ķuze, currently representing LIFE+ project „HYDROPLAN”, told about experience of restoration of Slampe river in Ķemeri National park in 2005 - the first case of river re-meandering in Latvia.

After the lunch participants of the seminar went to Dviete floodplain, where symbolic opening of Dviete river took place with cutting of ribbon. Singing Latvian folk-song „Strauja, strauja upe tecēj’” participants let ancient symbols, made of reeds, in the restored stream. Participants viewed restored Dviete meanders and open grasslands, as well as herd of ‘Konik’ horses, ensuring maintenance of the grasslands.

Ilze Priedniece

25.05.2015.