Statistics on the total number of micro-reserves established in recent years show that they are primarily created for the lesser spotted eagle. This is linked to the Life+ project LIFE 13 NAT/LV/001078 implemented by the Latvian Fund for Nature, with a total budget of €2.5 million. The project aims to provide protection status for an additional 500 lesser spotted eagle nesting sites beyond the current conservation status, by designating micro-reserves. Since 2013, the State Forest Service (VMD) has not been granted funding to pay for species and habitat expert services, contrary to what was provided for in the Cabinet of Ministers "Regulations on the procedure for the establishment and management of micro-reserves, their protection, as well as the determination of micro-reserves and their buffer zones" (No. 940). During this period, the VMD has paid for expert opinions from its own budget funds. Since late 2018 and throughout 2019, the VMD's financial resources for this purpose have been limited.
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In recent weeks, both in the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers, the thesis has been heard once again: “We must act this way, otherwise there will be penalties, infringement procedures, etc.” Often, such a pseudo-argument completely excludes reasonable disputes, discussions, or alternatives, forcing those responsible to make decisions hastily and not always in the interests of Latvia. Why is that?
Old habits are hardening - someone somewhere knows better, let us rely on them
Lack of sufficient capacity or laziness to defend a different point of view
A generation of cabinet officials has been created who are accustomed to accepting rather than delving into matters
This is a serious problem for Latvia for which no solution is being sought. It will probably be all right somehow...
With birds on the brain, or birds more important than people
