The number of species in Latvia counts in the thousands, yet based on both international criteria and the latest available data in Latvia, approximately 1200 endangered species will be assessed. The process is lengthy, but the results will be highly significant for the development and publication of a new Red Data Book of Latvia and, as experts are currently explaining, it is possible that some species will be removed from the Red Data Book, while others will be included.

According to Gunta Čekstere, head of the LIFE FOR SPECIES project at the University of Latvia Institute of Biology, experts are hard at work: “I wouldn't want to make any loud, provisional claims right now, but for example, we could be talking about the gypsophila fastigiata, which is included in the previous Red Data Book, but actually turns out to be a fairly aggressive species in Latvia. It spreads quite widely and is most often found in coastal areas and dune zones, and it could be one of the species that might no longer be in the Red Data Book in the future.”

To assess endangered species in Latvia, the project also involves the Nature Conservation Agency, Daugavpils University, and the Latvian Ornithological Society, which also notes that there are species for which the situation has improved. For example, the common crane, which is currently doing well both in Latvia and in Europe, could potentially be removed from the Red Data Book, but there are also species for which the situation has deteriorated.