Celebration of 20th anniversary of LIFE program in Dviete floodplain

During May 2012, 20 years have passed since establishment of EC LIFE program and adoption of the Habitats Directive. Dviete LIFE+ project team invited relevant state institutions, representatives of other ongoing Latvian LIFE+ projects and media to celebrate the anniversary in Dviete floodplain nature park.

The event, moderated by Andris Klepers (Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences), began with an excursion within the information center of Dviete floodplain nature park in ‘Gulbji’ farm, leaded by Benita Štrausa (Ilūkste municipality). Ilona Mendziņa, representative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, gave a speech on the history of LIFE program and its investments in nature conservation. Ģirts Strazdiņš (Latvian Fund for Nature) informed about LIFE projects, implemented by the Latvian Fund for Nature, Edmunds Račinskis, manager of the Dviete LIFE+ project gave a presentation about the project and Jolanta Bāra (Daugavpils University) provided information about LIFE+ project ‘EREMITA MEADOWS’.

After dinner participants of the event went through grazing areas of floodplain grasslands to the bird watching tower to have a view on the landscape from higher position and to watch floodplain birds. They were lucky to see one of the most characteristic plants of conservation concern of Dviete floodplain – flowering Siberian Iris. Entomologists of Daugavpils University demonstrated insects, caught in the floodplain. After the sunset, the second, shorter excursion followed to listen in night sounds – songs of Corncrakes, Great Snipes and several warbler species.

27 persons took part in the celebration, including representatives of media Anitra Tooma („Vides Vēstis", LR1), Zane Lāce (LR1) and Lidija Čera (LR4).

Ilze Priedniece

11.06.2012.