The Latvian Fund for Nature has launched an interactive tool, “Grassland matchmaker”, designed to promote cooperation among farmers in the management of semi-natural grasslands.
The tool is intended for landowners and managers who own semi-natural grasslands – biologically valuable grasslands – but face obstacles in managing them that could be solved through cooperation with other farmers.
Through the “Grassland matchmaker”, landowners who have grasslands but lack grazing animals or mowing capacity can connect with livestock owners whose herds need additional grazing areas.
In the section “Hay market”, those who have surplus hay can connect with farmers who need it. The tool is available at
www.plavusavedejs.lv.
“Over many years, the Latvian Fund for Nature has restored semi-natural grasslands in cooperation with grassland owners and managers. We have repeatedly observed that successful grassland management often requires only a small missing piece – information and good cooperation between landowners within a region. Our “Grassland matchmaker” helps connect those who would gladly allow a neighbour’s cattle to graze their grassland with those whose livestock would benefit from additional grazing land or who would be willing to mow an extra grassland for winter fodder. The tool also addresses hay shortages – every summer, some farmers have too much, while others have too little. Sometimes good neighbourly cooperation is all that is needed, and we hope this tool will help foster it,” says Baiba Strazdiņa, Regional Coordinator of the GrassLIFE2 project at the Latvian Fund for Nature.
At the core of the “Grassland matchmaker” is an interactive map that displays areas offered for mowing or grazing, as well as locations where farmers are looking for land to manage. The map also shows listings for buying and selling hay by location. Currently, the tool includes three sections: “I offer a grassland”; “I am looking for a grassland” and “Hay market”. By clicking on a location on the map, users can access more detailed information and contact details. Users can also submit their own listings by completing a form and indicating their needs and location. The “Grassland matchmaker” is available to everyone and is useful for farmers as well as for landowners or managers who are not farmers.
The tool has been jointly developed within two projects implemented by the Latvian Fund for Nature – GrassLIFE2, which works with farmers on the restoration of EU priority grassland habitats, and project LIFE UpcyclingGrass, which aims to promote the use of biomass from natural grasslands by ensuring it is not wasted but instead utilised or processed into value-added products. The Grassland matchmaker is designed as a long-term platform. Landowners are encouraged to explore its possibilities already now, while planning the next management season, and to add their information to the tool!
Natural grasslands in Latvia are currently on the brink of disappearance – they cover only 0,9% of Latvia’s territory, compared to 30% one hundred years ago. Natural grasslands are the most species-rich habitats in our region – a single square metre can contain more than 50 plant species. Management challenges are one of the main reasons grasslands continue to decline — becoming overgrown or being ploughed up. The “Grassland matchmaker” is one practical solution that can support management by fostering cooperation among landowners.
The development of the “Grassland matchmaker” has been supported by the Latvian Fund for Nature projects “GrassLIFE2: Restoration of EU Priority Grassland Habitats and Promotion of Their Diverse Use” (No. 101073829 LIFE21-NAT-LV-GrassLIFE2) and “LIFE UpcyclingGrass: Pilot Technological Solutions for Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Management of Grassland Biomass” (No. 101114335-LIFE22-CCM-LV-LIFE UpcyclingGrass).
The projects are funded by the EU LIFE Programme, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia, and project partners.