To mark the 90th anniversary of Grīņi Nature Reserve, Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde (the Agency) is organising a special hike on 19 July to a site that is almost never accessible to the public. From 11:00, the Agency's Mobile Classroom will host a talk by nature expert and entomologist Kristaps Vilks on the reserve's natural values, and from 11:30 to 15:00 everyone is invited to join a hike exploring the site's uniqueness and its protection.
Registration for the event is required by filling in a form on the website www.tiekamiesdaba.lv, in the “Events calendar” section. Information on the exact location will be sent only to registered participants.
“Grīņi Nature Reserve is a vivid example of how understanding of nature conservation has evolved over time. For a long time, the prevailing view was that nature conservation meant complete non-intervention in natural processes. Modern science, however, encourages us to preserve natural values by adapting the management approach to each site's characteristics, development and history. This applies in particular to meadows and heaths. That is precisely why, in this anniversary year, we are carrying out significant work in the reserve to restore wet heaths – a particularly rare habitat that the cross-leaved heath needs to survive. In the course of this work we will clear overgrown areas to restore the open landscape needed to preserve the habitats of various rare species and to restore biodiversity,” stresses Dace Sāmīte, Director of the Agency's Kurzeme Regional Administration.
The hike will take place outdoors, so we ask participants to wear suitable clothing and wellington boots, bring mosquito protection, and take drinking water and snacks. Photos and/or video will be taken during the event for the Agency's own use.
Grīņi Nature Reserve, established in 1936, is the second-oldest nature reserve in Latvia. It was created to preserve a very rare natural feature in Latvia – the grīnis heath-bog – and its associated plant species, the cross-leaved heath. Day-to-day access to the nature reserve is only possible with special permits.