Latvian Fund for Nature boosts the conservation and restoration of semi-natural grasslands – the GrassLIFE2 project
Semi-natural grasslands are a vanishing habitat in Latvia – they remain in only 0.9% of the territory of the country. That is why the Latvian Fund for Nature (LFN) has determined the restoration of semi-natural grasslands as one of the priorities in its work. To achieve this goal, the GrassLIFE2 project was launched this year, thus adding to the range of LFN initiatives dedicated to the conservation and restoration of semi-natural grasslands. To continue the effort commenced on the GrassLIFE project of the LFN, in cooperation with researchers and farmers, the sustainability of semi-natural grassland restoration will be ensured. The objectives of the GrassLIFE2 project include the establishment of a community of semi-natural grassland farmers in Latvia, the development of grassland seed production, the expansion of the mobile grazing unit and the restoration of another 1,260 hectares of semi-natural grasslands in co-operation with 11 semi-natural grassland owners across Latvia.
Vita Anda Tērauda, the director of LFN, points out: "The loss of semi-natural grasslands in Latvia is one of the indicators that biological diversity in our country is declining, which is consistent with trends worldwide. The value of meadows is not limited to the beauty of their flowers or their scenery, they also provide essential ecosystem services – providing homes for pollinators, creating healthy soil, flood control and control of crop pests. Meadows are a bank of plant genetics, a source of valuable food and a place that gives us emotions and experiences of colour, aroma and sound. By implementing the GrassLIFE2 project, we are continuing the work direction that we have determined – to work for the benefit of semi-natural grasslands, thus conserving and restoring the natural diversity of Latvia."
The most important factor contributing to the conservation and restoration of semi-natural grasslands is the motivation of landowners to manage these valuable habitats. Therefore, the GrassLIFE2 project puts more emphasis on the involvement, education and exchange of experience with landowners and a wider community. A community of grassland managers will be established within the framework of the project, by providing them with field-tested knowledge on natural grassland management and restoration. The work on exploring the business potential of grasslands will also be continued.
The experience of the GrassLIFE project shows that the demand for natural grass seeds in Latvia is on the rise. Farmers, who own areas of semi-natural grasslands, as well as landowners and farm owners who want to create islets of semi-natural grassland plants in their backyards, are showing their interest. Therefore, within the framework of the GrassLIFE2 project, techniques for collecting and distributing grassland plant seeds will be developed, thus promoting the spread of grassland plants, grassland regeneration and enabling the restoration and establishment of semi-natural grasslands with the help of semi-natural grassland plant seeds collected or produced in Latvia. Thus, not only the species associated with semi-natural grasslands, but also the genetic material of Latvian plants can be conserved.
In the GrassLIFE2 project, the Latvian Fund for Nature is co-operating with 14 partners, including 11 farms across Latvia, where semi-natural grassland habitats will be restored and created, and new grassland restoration methods or methods that have not yet become popular in Latvia will be tested together with project experts. The scientific component of the project will be ensured by researchers from the University of Latvia and the University of Tartu. Meanwhile, the Institute for Environmental Solutions will conduct in-depth research of the potential of grassland seed production.
The operation of the mobile grazing unit will also be continued. The mobile grazing unit of Galloway cattle that was established within the GrassLIFE project six years ago is used to graze more than 200 hectares of semi-natural grassland every season in different protected areas of Latvia. Within the framework of the GrassLIFE2 project, regional mobile livestock units will be created in cooperation with livestock breeders of Kurzeme and Vidzeme, to enable the provision of semi-natural grassland grazing services in protected nature areas of Kurzeme, Northern Latvia and Northern Latgale.
"We are now in a situation where it is not enough to protect nature, we need to restore it – including semi-natural grasslands. But this is a long-term process. We are therefore pleased that we have been able to attract EU LIFE Programme funding of EUR 7.5 million to continue the work of meadow restoration that we have started," Vita Anda Tērauda says.
The GrassLIFE2 project will last from 2023 to 2028 and it is implemented with the support of the EU LIFE Programme and co-financing of the State Regional Development Agency and the project promoters.
