Project activities
Work package 1. Project management and coordination
The main goal of this work Package (WP) is to ensure the professional implementation of the project within the established timeline to achieve the project objectives. This package is linked to all project objectives and expected results. Successful implementation of this package will ensure timely and efficient project start-up, proper planning for green public procurement, strategic communication, and replication of project results. It will provide the planning documents necessary for the launch of other work packages, ensuring that project activities are implemented smoothly and in compliance with the Grant Agreement. This section also ensures effective cooperation within the project consortium and the establishment of procedures for continuous project monitoring. It has been designed considering the need for timely communication with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), which supervises project implementation, as well as with the external monitoring team providing implementation support, and in line with LIFE reporting requirements.
Task 1.1. PLANNING AND PREPARATION / led by LFN
1.1.1. Establishment of the project team
The project team was established between M1 and M6. Staff were recruited by each project partner according to the scale and complexity of their respective responsibilities.
1.1.2. Preparation of the communication strategy
The Communication Strategy and Action Plan were completed by M7. These documents serve as guiding and planning tools for communication and dissemination activities under work package 4. The strategy is complemented by a visual identity guidelines document ensuring proper visibility of LIFE funding and a consistent project visual identity used by all partners.
1.1.3. Preparation of the green management plan
This subtask will be implemented from M1 to M6. GrassLIFE2 is a project firmly grounded in EU environmental legislation; however, there are stages in which the project’s environmental performance needs to be assessed to ensure the implementation of best available practices and to minimize the project’s ecological footprint.
The green management plan (D1.2) will be completed by M6. It will include an environmental risk assessment and recommendations for implementing green management within GrassLIFE2. Subsequently, it will serve as a guideline for project implementation.
1.1.4. Preparation of the networking and replication plan
This subtask will be implemented from M7 to M12. A Networking and Replication Plan will be developed to strengthen and structure the project’s replication activities, as well as to identify synergies with other initiatives. In the GrassLIFE2 project, replication will primarily focus on the agricultural sector and grassland managers, as these sectors face the greatest challenges.
The plan will serve as a guiding document for demonstration and networking activities, for structuring replication work (task 5.2.), and for planning post-project (after-LIFE) activities.
1.1.5. Establishment of the project steering group
The Project Steering Group includes representatives from each project partner. Its purpose is to align project priorities with the strategic priorities of partner organisations and to strengthen project impact at the organisational level.
Task 1.2. PROJECT MANAGEMENT / led by LFN, all partners involved
1.2.1. Project implementation
The project consortium has been structured to represent diverse competences, sectors, and all key stakeholders relevant to grassland restoration and management. The project involves both partners who have previously collaborated and new partners bringing additional expertise, as well as those participating in the LIFE programme for the first time.
1.2.2. Project steering group
The project steering group includes senior staff from each project partner. The group meets every six months to assess project progress. Its members are also responsible for disseminating information about the project within their organizations.
1.2.3. Evaluation, reporting, KPIs and the After-LIFE plan
Project progress is regularly assessed to ensure high-quality implementation, timely identification of risks, and the sustainability of results. Evaluation is carried out as a self-assessment, conducted annually by the project manager and the Director of the Latvian Fund for Nature in accordance with a specifically developed methodology.
The self-assessment will analyze operational and financial management, green management performance, and progress towards the project’s objectives and expected results, particularly in restoration and communication activities.
In addition, four reports complying with LIFE programme requirements will be prepared during the project.
An important aspect of project monitoring will also be the recording and analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs).
In the final project phase, an After-LIFE Plan will be developed to ensure the continuation of restored grasslands, mobile grazing services, the seed center, and collaborative activities beyond the project’s end.
Work package 2. Restoration
This work package is linked to the achievement of the following project objectives
Objective 1: Restore and improve the conservation status of 650 ha of EU priority habitats 6120*, 6210*, 6230*, 6270*, and 1630*, and ensure a long-term and sustainable management system (grazing).
Objective 2: Restore at least 610 ha of EU priority habitats 6120*, 6210*, 6230*, 6270*, and 1630* using mobile restorative grazing, engage the public, and support grassland owners in long-term management.
Objective 3: Enhance the restoration potential of “complex” grasslands through innovative restoration and management methods.
Objective 4: Produce local wild plant seeds for restoration to ensure the restoration of 240 ha of priority habitats during the project and 400-460 ha over five years after the project.
Objective 8: Promote awareness of natural grasslands and encourage community involvement in grassland restoration.
Task 2.1. Habitat restoration on project farms
Many grasslands are difficult to access, and landowners often lack the resources needed for restoration and management. To address these challenges, GrassLIFE2 will implement and test a range of habitat restoration methods – both established best practices and innovative approaches. The outcome of this task will be 650 ha of restored grasslands in seven Natura2000 sites. Works will be carried out on nine partner farms.
Implemented by: LFN, UL and partner farms
2.1.1. Restoration plans
Work will begin with baseline surveys to collect pre-restoration data on vegetation, soils and habitat conditions. Restoration plans for each farm are being developed during the project. Plans are prepared by experts from the UL in cooperation with the LFN Restoration Coordinator, habitat experts and partners. Restoration is a collaborative process, and the involvement of farm owners is essential. In the preparation of four plans, invertebrate experts will also be involved. The process will be supported by mentors – farmers from the first GrassLIFE project.
2.1.2. Improving access to restoration sites and starting grazing
To ensure successful habitat restoration and sustainable grazing management, works to improve access to restoration sites will be carried out between month 12 and month 48. This includes small-scale road improvements such as adding gravel and replacing damaged culverts at ditch crossings.
Between month 12 and month 60, grazing infrastructure will be established at several project farms in areas where grazing needs to be introduced as a management method. This includes installing permanent or electric fencing and providing watering systems to regulate grazing intensity across different restoration phases. Grazing herds will also be purchased – extensive breeds suitable for low-fertility grasslands, whose effectiveness in restored grasslands has already been demonstrated. These may include sheep, goats or cattle, for example Highland, Galloway, Aberdeen Angus or Hereford. Additional infrastructure will be provided, including shelters, winter feeding areas and other equipment for grazing animals such as handling panels, hay racks and other necessary facilities.
Implementation of this task will ensure the long-term sustainability of project results and the management of restored grasslands across approximately 650 ha.
To ensure sustainable maintenance of these investments after the project ends, partner farms will take responsibility for the established infrastructure. All works will be carried out only in areas where landowners have agreed to the project measures and committed not to undertake actions that could jeopardise project results. These commitments will be included in cooperation agreements with farmers valid for 30 years.
2.1.3. Habitat restoration
Habitat restoration will be implemented on nine project farms between month 12 and month 66.
Restoration will be based on a combination of different grassland restoration methods aimed at gradually removing accumulated excess biomass and nutrients, which have negatively affected habitat condition as a result of long-term abandonment or inappropriate management. This approach will help reduce the spread of invasive species and promote plant species diversity. The work will be carried out gradually, using both established best practices and testing innovative approaches, as most areas require repeated interventions to achieve the desired ecological outcomes.
As a result of this task, 650 ha of EU priority grassland habitats will be restored. The following habitat types will be restored during the project:
- 1630* (Coastal grasslands) – 93 ha at farm “Rukši”
- 6120* (Xeric sand calcareous grasslands) – 1 ha at farm “Straumes”
- 6210* (Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates) – 40 ha across four farms
- 6230* (Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas) – 3 ha at farm “Vecķiguļi”
- 6270* (Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands) – 513 ha across eight farms
Overall, these activities will cover 650 ha of EU priority habitats.
The following methods will be used:
- Cutting and removal of shrubs and control of regrowth through mowing or grazing
- Reduction of soil fertility
- Introduction of characteristic plant species
- Control of invasive and expansive plant species
- Restoration of the hydrological regime
The work will be carried out in seven Natura 2000 sites: the Abava Ancient Valley, the Kuja River Basin, the surroundings of Lake Liepāja, the Ogre Valley, the Sita and Pededze floodplain, and Ziemeļgauja.
Task 2.2. Restorative grazing – mobile grazing
Mobile grazing will address situations where grasslands are not managed properly because they are difficult to access due to terrain or because owners are not farmers. Restorative grazing is one of the simplest grassland restoration methods. It is time-consuming but highly effective in reducing litter and overgrowth, creating a mosaic habitat structure, dispersing seeds and creating conditions favourable for seed germination. Mobile grazing is an innovation at the Latvian, Baltic and Nordic scale and was previously tested in the GrassLIFE project. We concluded that this approach is particularly well suited for “challenging” grasslands that cannot be accessed by agricultural machinery or have steep or complex terrain. It is also suitable for landowners who are not farmers and for areas without management infrastructure. GrassLIFE results confirmed strong demand for such a service in Latvia. However, delivering this service at national scale is costly, so it must be expanded through the establishment of regional units across Latvia.
Implemented by: LFN, Vētras, Rukši and SIA Sita Nature Park.
2.2.1. Establishment of regional mobile grazing units
Establishment of regional mobile grazing units
Regional mobile grazing units will be established based on the mobile grazing plan, including a business plan to be developed by LFN, building on GrassLIFE experience. Criteria for selecting mobile grazing sites:
- the site is within one of the eleven Natura 2000 target areas
- the site includes one of the GrassLIFE2 target habitat types
- the site is important for grassland connectivity (according to the GrassLIFE connectivity model)
- restoration is urgently needed
- the site is suitable for grazing (accessible for livestock transport, drinking water available, and safe for animals)
- the site area is at least 5 ha
In the first project year, four mobile grazing units will be established in Latgale, Vidzeme, Kurzeme and North Vidzeme. Each herd will consist of approximately 50 grazing animals and will be able to restore around 150 ha of EU priority grasslands during the project.
2.2.2. Restoration of challenging habitats through mobile grazing
This subtask will be implemented by the four regional mobile herds, which together will restore approximately 570 ha of EU priority grasslands. Each herd will operate as a separate unit, grazing different sites within its region: Latgale, Vidzeme, Kurzeme and North Vidzeme.
The Vidzeme mobile grazing unit will be managed by LDF. This herd will work in the most challenging areas of Vidzeme. Its priority areas will be Gauja National Park, the Ogre Valley and Vestiena.
The Latgale mobile grazing unit will be managed by the project partner SIA Sita Nature Park and will focus on the Latgale region. Its priority areas will be the Lubāns Wetland, Kuja River Nature Park, as well as the Sita and Pededze Floodplain.
The Kurzeme mobile grazing unit will be managed by the project partner SIA Rukši and will operate in Kurzeme. Its priority areas will be Lake Liepāja, the Abava Ancient Valley and the Sventāja River Valley.
The North Vidzeme mobile grazing unit will be managed by the project partner farm Vētras and will operate in the North Vidzeme region, focusing on the Ziemeļgauja Protected Landscape Area and Veclaicene.
Task 2.3. Public engagement in restoration – events
There are grasslands that are difficult to manage due to complex terrain, as well as because their owners are not farmers. Therefore, we will organise volunteer work events in areas of particularly high nature value where restoration is critically needed to prevent their loss, and which are located within the project’s designated Natura 2000 target areas. Sites for these activities will be identified through an open call for applications from landowners and civic groups. Restoration will be carried out across 40 hectares, with a total of 40 volunteer events planned. Through this activity, we will also test public engagement as a restoration method and assess its effectiveness.
2.3.1. Planning
In preparation for the events, a restoration events plan and a Handbook for organising restoration events will be developed.
An open call will be launched. Site selection criteria include: location within Natura 2000, presence of target habitat types, importance for ecological connectivity and urgency of restoration.
Applications to organise events will be invited from local community groups or non-profit organisations.
The open call will be implemented in line with EU standards on transparency, equal treatment, prevention of conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
By enabling local communities to participate through open applications and financial support, we will strengthen engagement and shared responsibility, and foster a stronger sense of ownership and long-term commitment.
2.3.2. Implementation of volunteer restoration events
An LFN expert will participate in each event to provide guidance on restoration works needed at the specific site. This will help connect local initiatives with the wider grassland restoration and conservation movement and build local capacity, understanding of the value of grasslands and motivation for long-term engagement.
Following the events, plant and butterfly monitoring will be conducted in restored sites using citizen science approaches.
2.4. Establishment of a grassland seed production centre
At present, native wildflower seeds required for grassland restoration are not available in Latvia. Therefore, we will establish Latvia’s first native wild plant seed production centre.
The centre will supply the project with sufficient quantities of native wildflower seeds characteristic of the target habitat types, needed for restoring 240 ha within T2.1. After the project ends, the seed centre will continue operations, offering a broader seed range to the Latvian market and providing material for restoring 400–460 ha within five years after the project.
The seed centre will operate at full capacity in the second half of the project. As this is an innovation in Latvia, we will actively feature it in project communication, and the seed centre will also function as a demonstration site.
Implemented by: LFN and IES.
2.4.1. Seed centre planning
In developing the seed centre, we will draw on international experience and best practice and prepare a business plan for its operation. We will develop technical development processes as well as customer acquisition and relationship management processes.
2.4.2. Operation of the IES grassland seed production centre
First, a prototype seed production centre, nursery and experimental field plots will be established. Donor sites for seed collection will be identified in the wild, involving citizen science and project farms. Cultivation of 25 plant species will be tested with the aim of achieving seed multiplication for at least 15–20 species. Species have been selected to support grassland restoration in the target habitat types.
In the second part of the project, a larger-scale seed cultivation centre will be established in Cēsis Municipality, using seeds that have already been multiplied. During the project, necessary infrastructure and methods for harvesting, cleaning and storing seeds will be developed, creating the basis for commercial seed production after the project. Seeds for sowing on 240 hectares are planned to be produced during the project. Feedback from project farms will be used to further develop the seed production business after the project. Monitoring of establishment success of sown plants will also be carried out to assess the usefulness of seed production for grassland restoration.
We will share our experience in seed production and encourage the establishment of seed production centres elsewhere in Latvia.
Implemented by: IES.
2.4.3. Seed centre in Lejzemnieki
Lejzemnieki will serve as a logistics centre for grassland plant seeds, where collected seeds will be dried, sorted and distributed. Lejzemnieki will also function as a knowledge hub and demonstration site where visitors can learn more about native wildflower seeds.
In the second half of the project, a demonstration garden of grassland plant species will be established in Lejzemnieki, including at least 50 plant species.
Work Package 3. Monitoring and evaluation
Task 3.1. Monitoring and evaluation of restoration impacts
In Latvia, there is a lack of practical and detailed knowledge on grassland restoration. Farmers need clear, practical and well-documented information on different restoration methods.
Under this activity, we will assess the methods applied, develop guidelines and step-by-step instructions for replication. The collected data will allow us to evaluate restoration outcomes and draw conclusions on the effectiveness of the methods used within the project.
This activity will also assess the impacts of restoration on ecosystem services, focusing on four particularly relevant services of interest to landowners: pollination, carbon storage, soil biodiversity, and nutritional value of fodder.
3.1.1. Measurements for ecosystem services assessment
We will collect data on wild pollinators, soil properties, carbon storage, and fodder quality.
We will monitor and analyse changes in key indicators of ecosystem services provided by grasslands. This will allow us to assess the role of grasslands in delivering ecosystem services before and after restoration.
Monitoring will be carried out on each project farm.
3.2.1. Assessment of restoration results and impacts
Comprehensive data to assess ecosystem service indicators will be collected using a combination of robust low-cost methods, citizen science, and expert-level monitoring.
3.2.2. Expert report on restoration impacts on vegetation, habitats and soil nutrients
Data collected in the previous tasks will be analysed and synthesised in two expert reports.
3.2.3. Expert report on restoration impacts on ecosystem services
Data collected in the previous tasks will be analysed and synthesised in two expert reports.
Work Package 4. Communication and support for the grassland managers’ community
Task 4.1. Advisory service for land managers
Landowners and managers often lack practical and detailed information about grassland restoration — especially those who are not farmers. The Advisory Service will provide individual consultations to landowners.
4.1.1. Establishment of the advisory service and development of materials
Grassland experts will operate within the Advisory Service, providing advice to landowners, including field visits. Advisory materials will also be developed to enable landowners to assess their grasslands independently and understand possible management options.
4.1.2. Grassland database
As some landowners require grazing or mowing services, while others own livestock or need hay, we will establish an online database to facilitate connections between these groups.
4.1.3. Operation of the advisory service
We will provide individual consultations to landowners, including on-site visits. Grassland managers will also receive a regular newsletter, and each year we will organise the seminar series “I want a grassland!”
4.2. Nature farmers’ school
4.2.1. Establishment of the nature farmers’ school and preparation of materials
4.2.2. Operation and events
4.3. Demonstration farms and mentors
This component of the project will provide farmers with peer-to-peer support and consultations from other farmers. We will organise demonstration events on farms where grassland restoration was carried out during the previous GrassLIFE project. Farm owners have agreed to act as mentors to new project partners. Grasslands restored three to five years ago provide the best practical learning environment for those currently engaged in restoration activities.
Implemented by: LFN and all partner farms.
4.3.1. Mentor training and preparation of materials on restoration methods
We will provide training for farmers involved in both the GrassLIFE and GrassLIFE2 projects to strengthen their communication skills and their capacity to explain restoration methods and transfer knowledge to other farmers. Both written and video materials will be prepared on restoration methods applied on farms.
4.3.2. Events and mentoring activities
Seven farmers from the original GrassLIFE project will serve as mentors for GrassLIFE2 partners. Individual farm visits will be organised, along with demonstration events open to other interested landowners.
4.4. Communication
Communication activities will promote project actions and the LIFE Programme, while also addressing key challenges:
Grasslands are not widely recognised as a valuable economic resource.
The work of nature-friendly farmers has low social prestige.
4.4.1. Project communication
Communication is an integral part of the project and all activities and will take place throughout the project duration.
4.4.2. Campaign “Nature farmers”
4.4.3. Campaign “Ecosystem services”
4.4.4. Films “Nature farmers”
Work Package 5. Sustainability, replication and uptake of results
Task 5.1. Improving advisory support on the financial viability of semi-natural grasslands
One of the key barriers to natural grassland restoration is the perception that these grasslands are not a valuable economic resource. We aim to broaden the understanding of farmers and agricultural advisors regarding the economic value of grasslands.
5.1.1. Farm profitability analysis using the “Less is More” approach developed by the company Nethergill Associates.
5.1.2. Seminars for agricultural advisors and agronomists.
Task 5.2. Replication at national and EU level
5.2.1. Eurosite webinars
5.2.2. Replication visits to other EU member states
5.2.3. Networking
Task 5.3. Improving financial incentives for grassland restoration
Small grassland owners are often not motivated to manage their grasslands, lack appropriate tools, and face insufficient policy instruments supporting grasslands overall. Therefore, it is necessary to develop instruments that enable policymakers to assign higher priority to grasslands, and to test innovative funding mechanisms within non-governmental organisations to support restoration and long-term management.
Implemented by: LFN and the University of Latvia