Last update: 17.05.2019

Participation in the study tour of HYDROPLAN project

Edmunds Račinskis, manager of the LIFE+ project DVIETE, took part in the experience exchange trip of LIFE+ project HYDROPLAN to wetland restoration sites in Germany and Belgium on June 9-14, 2013. Delegation consisted of 16 participants; Latvian Fund for Nature was represented also by Viesturs Lārmanis, habitat expert. 7 mainly LIFE project areas were visited during the trip – restoration sites of raised bogs and river floodplains in Germany, within the most densely populated state North Rhine-Westphalia, and also sites of raised bog restoration in Belgium, at the German border, in the afternoon of June 13.

At each wetland restoration site participants listened to the presentations and visited the following project areas in the field, guided by the implementers of the projects:

  • Restoration of raised bog Grosses Torfmoor - LIFE project „Regeneration of the Grosses Torfmoor" (2003-2008), coordinated by „NABU Kreisverband Minden-Lübbecke e.V" – nature conservation NGO;
  • Restoration of raised bog Recker Moor - LIFE project „Optimization of the SPA Dusterdieker Niederung" (2001-2007), coordinated by „Biologische Station Kreis Steinfurt e.V." – association of nature conservation NGOs, a farmers’ union, agricultural authority and municipality;
  • Restoration of floodplain woodlands and small rivers in the nature park Arnsberger Wald - LIFE project „Rehabilitation of streams in the Arnsberger Wald" (2009-2014), coordinated by „Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz im Kreis Soest e.V." – nature conservation NGO;
  • Restoration of Mohne floodplain - LIFE project „Restoration and improvement of the SCI „Möhne Oberlauf" and the SCI „Möhne Mittellauf"", coordinated by municipality of Soest district;
  • Restoration of Lippe floodplain - LIFE projects „Optimisation of the pSCI "Lippe flood plain between Hamm and Hangfort" (2005-2010 and 2010-2015), coordinated by municipality of Hamm;
  • Restoration of raised bogs in Germany, Germany-Belgium cross-boundary nature park Hohes Venn/Hautes Fagnes-Eifel - Interreg III project „Heiden, Moore, Weisen", coordinated by „Biologische Station StädteRegion Aachen e.V." – association of nature conservation NGOs;
  • Restoration of raised bogs in Belgium, Germany-Belgium cross-boundary nature park Hohes Venn/Hautes Fagnes-Eifel - LIFE project „Rehabilitation of heaths and mires on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau" (2007-2012), coordinated by Directorate General for Natural Resources and the Environment of Wallon region.

Edmunds Račinskis

12.07.2013.