Unlike many other European countries, where bogs have been practically destroyed, we have a relatively boggy landscape, and they cover four to five per cent of Latvia. Peat soils in Latvia cover even more – about 10 per cent. Why are bogs so important, and what problems do we face in protecting them?

Agnese Priede, Head of the Habitats and Species Protection Expert Division of the Nature Conservation Agency's “LatViaNature” project, admits that, on the whole, bogs in Latvia are doing well – they are currently sufficiently protected. Unfortunately, there are countries in Europe where bogs have been irreversibly destroyed, and nothing can be done there anymore. Northern Europe is the part of Europe richest in bogs and has been less affected in this regard. Of the three Baltic states, Estonia has the most bogs, Lithuania has the least, and Latvia is in the middle. The problems with bog conservation are similar as well. (...)