Also in this GrassLIFE2 season, the Help desk for grassland owners and managers continues its work, offering individual consultations on the management, restoration, and enhancement of biodiversity in natural grasslands.
Help desk – practical assistance for grassland owners
Natural grasslands in Latvia are rapidly disappearing. Once a common ecosystem in the Latvian landscape, they have now become a rare and endangered natural value. Currently, they cover only a small portion of the country’s territory – just 0,9%. However, these grasslands host exceptional biodiversity, with more than 50 different plant species sometimes found in a single square meter. One of the main reasons for the disappearance of grasslands is inappropriate management. Grasslands are often left to overgrow or are ploughed and transformed, losing their biological value.
To help landowners preserve and restore these valuable natural areas, the Help desk for grassland owners provides assistance. Experts offer individual consultations based on information provided by the landowner about previous management practices and the current condition of the grassland, as well as an assessment of available cartographic data. When necessary, a habitat expert also conducts an on-site visit, after which a detailed grassland management plan is prepared, including practical recommendations for enhancing biodiversity.
“Whether you have just acquired a grassland or have been managing one for years, the Help desk for grassland owners provides practical answers on how to restore species characteristic of natural grasslands to your land,” emphasizes Zane Līkā, head of the Help desk.
What has the Help desk achieved so far?
During the previous 2025 season, the Help desk provided 46 telephone consultations and conducted on-site inspections in 26 cases, offering detailed advice on restoration options, necessary measures, and sustainable management methods for the surveyed grasslands. The total surveyed area reached 936 hectares.
Photo: V. Baroņina, LFN archive
Who is the Help desk for?
The Help Desk is particularly useful for small landowners who are not professional farmers but wish to preserve and restore natural grasslands on their land. These are often people who lack knowledge about grassland management or who have only recently become landowners and are seeking the most suitable solutions for sustainable management of their property. The Help Desk offers clear, practical recommendations and a tailored approach, helping landowners make informed decisions and avoid common mistakes in the management, conservation, and restoration of natural grasslands.
Zane Līkā adds that during consultations, it is often possible to introduce landowners to valuable species present on their land that they were previously unaware of. By discovering the natural values within their property, landowners gain a much clearer understanding of the importance of preserving them.
The work of nature experts sometimes also makes it possible to identify previously undiscovered biologically valuable grasslands and map them, thereby enabling landowners to qualify for support payments for managing such areas. As one successful example, Zane mentions a case where, following a consultation, seed hay from a nearby valuable grassland was transferred and spread in another area, promoting species transfer. At the same time, cooperation with a neighbouring farmer ensured that the grassland was grazed by sheep, addressing both management and biomass removal challenges.
An important goal of the Help Desk is to promote cooperation between grassland owners and farmers who need fodder – so that grassland management not only enhances biodiversity but is also practical and economically viable.
How to apply for a consultation?
Landowners and managers are invited to apply for an individual consultation by emailing zane.lika@ldf.lv. The application should include the cadastral number of the land parcel, a brief description of previous management practices, and photographs of the species found in the area or a list of them.
The activities of the Support point for grassland managers are ensured by the project “GrassLIFE: Restoration of Grasslands and Promotion of Their Various Uses” (LIFE16NAT/LV/262).