The European Commission has shortlisted activities of the “LatViaNature” project, implemented by the Nature Conservation Agency, for the final of the prestigious “Natura 2000 Award”, which for the tenth year running highlights significant achievements in conserving biodiversity, managing nature and engaging the public.

The winners will be announced on 29 May, but anyone can vote for the “LatViaNature” project until 25 April in the European citizens' vote. A record number of applications was submitted for the “Natura 2000 Award” this year – almost 100 applications from a range of initiatives across 25 EU member states. Of these, 27 have reached the final.

One application was submitted from Latvia – the initiative of the LatViaNature project.

The experts recognised the LatViaNature activities promoting biodiversity as a significant contribution in the award category “Working Together for Nature”, praising in particular:

1. The pilot programmes “Living Forest” and “Flower Meadows” and the 140 cooperation agreements concluded with private landowners covering more than 1000 ha, aimed at promoting biological diversity in private forests and grasslands outside Natura 2000 sites as well. This puts into practice a form of cooperation in nature conservation that is innovative for Latvia.
2. Sustainable forest management demonstration sites. At seminars, their owners present good practice in nature-friendly forestry that can be balanced with economic benefits. Fourteen seminars have been held, bringing together 280 participants, mainly private forest owners as well as other interested parties. More HERE.
3. "LatViaNature educational volunteer days as part of the Nature Conservation Agency's initiative “I Do Good for Nature”, in which volunteers take part in maintaining protected habitats and controlling invasive species. An essential aspect of these volunteer days is their educational function, which is why nature experts also take part, along with the LatViaNature mobile nature classroom. In total, 23 events have been organised, involving 875 participants – company representatives, students, local government representatives and members of the public”.

The five recipients of the “Natura 2000 Award” chosen by the expert jury will be announced during European Green Week – on 29 May. Meanwhile, every European citizen is invited, until 25 April, to find out about the “Natura 2000 Award” finalists and the activities they have carried out, and to vote for their favourite, which will receive the European Citizen's Award (European Citizen’s Award).

We thank those implementing the LatViaNature project – the Nature Conservation Agency, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Latvian Fund for Nature, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre, AS “Latvijas valsts meži”, the University of Latvia, Daugavpils University, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

The Natura 2000 network is a network of protected areas of European Union importance, whose aim is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and most endangered habitats and species. The Natura 2000 network was created on the basis of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, and it plays a significant role in conserving biodiversity in the European Union. The Natura 2000 network comprises more than 27 000 terrestrial and marine sites, covering approximately 18% of Europe's land area and approximately 10% of its marine area. Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world.

This year marks 20 years since the Natura 2000 network was also introduced in Latvia.