At the end of this year, a second public consultation was held on the development progress and work results of the Skrīveri Dendrological Park reconstruction plan, organised by AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM). The meeting was attended by municipal representatives, as well as local residents and interested parties from public and state organisations, to review progress and agree on future tasks. The first public consultation took place in November 2022 in the LVM Vidusdaugava region, during which the scientific, cultural-historical and recreational functions of the park were highlighted.
Qualified and experienced experts with knowledge in dendrology, entomology, landscape architecture and park management are participating in the creation of the park's reconstruction plan, which is being developed by Daugavpils University. The development team, led by leading researcher Dr. biol. Pēteris Evarts-Bunders, a dendrology expert, presented a report on the work results, conclusions, recommendations and future tasks.
Over two vegetation seasons, using an established Latvian dendrological inventory method, an assessment of woody plants and shrubs was conducted. The results were compared with previous counts, the location data for each valuable species were collected in a GPS coordinate recording system, and digital cartographic and descriptive materials were created.
Overall, compared to the previous inventory, the number of tree and shrub taxa has slightly increased: 248 were recorded in 2014, and 256 taxa in 2023. It should be noted that some species were no longer found, while others were discovered that were not recorded in 2014. At the inception of the park's design and establishment in 1912, 512 taxa were recorded.
The initial results from the expert working group indicate that changes have occurred within the 19th-century park territory, linked to the disappearance or migration of several planted species within the park, and the invasion of new, non-native and aggressive species. Factors contributing to these changes include the natural ageing of the park, environmental changes and historical events, such as the World War I frontline near the Daugava, which caused damage to the plantings.
“The new park plan provides the main directions and tasks, management measures for the long-term preservation of dendrological values by plot, and establishes priorities. Currently, it is recommended that the arboretum be supplemented with new plantings, as the priority is to tidy up the existing ones. The plan also provides recommendations for ensuring habitats for other protected species. The plan includes an assessment of the creation of the historical park and its landscapes, an analysis of recreational infrastructure, and includes suggestions for developing historical and current landscapes and viewpoints, as well as for improving the park’s infrastructure elements,” explains Jānis Belickis, Head of Forest Management Planning for the LVM Vidusdaugava region.
At the end of the meeting, LVM staff introduced those present to the works planned for the upcoming spring–autumn season, as well as additional works for the following year, which were included in the recommendations of the new plan.
In conclusion, all those present praised the work of the expert team that developed the plan and noted that this is a long-term project; the visual changes to the park will not be visible in just a few years, as its implementation will require additional funds and sustained effort.