Natural census has started throughout Latvia

On June 20, with a solemn event in Latgale region, natural census is open - awareness of the prevalence and quality of specially protected habitats of European Union importance. Natural census will take place until the end of 2019, and at this time, experts will carry out the test of protected habitats in both public and private lands on behalf of the Nature Protection Board.
Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Kaspars Gerhards states: “such ambitious identification of natural values in Latvia takes place for the first time. It will clearly show what kind of natural wealth we own and understand how they don't lose. We have the reason to be proud, we have a country with more than 64 000 square kilometres of land, our language, culture and unique natural values. In the context of natural census, i have a true pleasure to honor the centuries of the existence of Latvia's state – conscious and without losing our country's natural values, a significant effort is being made to build a common gift for future generations.”
The Director-General of the Environmental Protection Administration emphasizes: “nature has existed before human and is likely to remain after us, but the person cannot exist without nature, because the life credit that it has given – air, water, climate – provides our lives, health and well-being. Natural census is a precondition for us to make forward-looking decisions, be able to reconcile natural preservation with economic development, and Latvia is similar to those countries where both the area of natural areas and the well-being of society are significantly higher than for us. '
Anda Zeize, Director of Latgale Regional Administration: “man is an integral part of nature. He lives, manages, protects his and natural values, forms the landscape and increases biodiversity. In all areas of life it is important to make decisions justified, particularly in the field of nature conservation, decisions must be scientifically justified. Natural census will allow us to obtain accurate and true information about natural values, thereby enabling the region to effectively plan and implement economic development through the power of natural and human synergies. '
In order to ascertain the views of the population on the nature of Latvia, a public opinion poll has been performed, which reveals that the Latvian nature OF 94% is regarded as a value that is conspicuous, but 81% - for national pride. Similarly, the majority of society thinks that the country needs to know the natural wealth of Latvia (81%) and agrees with the assertion that the concern about nature is a concern for itself (83%). On the other hand, the assertion that Latvian society is natural is only the 8% surveyed respondent, and the largest damage to nature is recognised by waste disposal (45%) and deforestation (31%).
To explain the progress of natural census, a website has been created www.skaitamdabu.gov.lvit is planned to organise informative seminars in local governments, as well as a number of Latvian cities will be able to see the information stands – large-scale natural counters.
*The survey was conducted BY SIA “Marketing practitioner ACADEMIA” in March of that year.
Other information:
 Elina Pricule,
assistant of the project “natural census”,
27794799, elina.prikule@daba.gov.lv
FOR REFERENCE
Biotopes are homogenous areas that live in a particular animal or plant species, i.e. grassland, forests, marshes, sea beach and dunes, rivers, lakes, rocks. The purpose of natural census is to obtain detailed and scientifically substantiated information on the quantity, type, distribution and quality of these habitats.
The natural census will only examine areas where the occurrence of protected habitat is potentially possible. The Nature Protection Board has identified areas where experts do not need to assess the existence of natural values, such as:

• intensively managed agricultural land;
• in populated areas, except for certain areas designated as compulsory surveyors, such as a dune zone in the city;
• in areas where research works have already been carried out over the past 3 years and the authorisations and authorisations for the performance of various activities (quarries, peat areas etc.) have been issued.

The “natural census” project will result in detailed information on the distribution and quality of habitats and will be compatible with national authorities. This will facilitate the issuance and receipt of different authorisations and reconciliations, reduce deadlines and expenditure for both private and public authorities. Accurate, topical and scientifically derived data on the quantity and quality of habitats will allow more efficient balancing of the development of nature conservation and the economy. At the same time, natural census will provide greater opportunities for smart planning of the economic activities of territories and more efficient management of scarce natural resources.
The surveyed areas are broken down by square and each year is expected to be surveyed. Information letters will be sent to both local governments and owners of private land (legal possessors), whose properties are planned for the identification of natural values, and if a significant natural value is found during the natural census, the owner will also be informed thereof in writing.
The biotope mapping will be carried out by experts who will visit the area, fill out the questionnaire and highlight the exact boundary of the biotopa identified in the map. All experts shall be accompanied by expert certificates issued by the nature protection authority.
The exploration of natural values will be carried out in accordance with the “Methodology of the distribution and quality of biotopes of EU importance and the organisation of work” approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the results of the open competition “Inventory of protected biotopes OF EU importance in Latvia”, the biotope mapping will be performed by the association “SIA Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment and the Latvian Natural Fund”.
Natural census is implemented in the framework of THE EU Cohesion Fund project “Establishment of preconditions for better preservation of biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems in Latvia” or “natural census”. In the framework of the project, it is planned to develop 20 existing special conservation plans and 5 species protection plans – the species group “seals”, the species group “owls”, the pond nightmare, the broad-platausainajam bats and the species group “poems”.
The public awareness campaign on the project “Natural census” is dedicated to the centuries of Latvia and is implemented with financial support from the Latvian Environment Protection Fund and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.
Other information:
Elina Pricule,
assistant of the project “natural census”
27794799, elina.prikule@daba.gov.lv