Participants received valuable information about the new LIFE programme's multiannual work plan. Projects also took the opportunity to address their technical and/or financial questions with Sylvia Barova, project advisor from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), and financial monitor Veronika Krecek-Tihu from ELMEN, along with other ELMEN representatives such as Inta Dūce, Bent Jepsen, Luule Sinnisov, Camilla Strandberg-Panelius, and Viktorija Maceikaitė.

 

After insightful presentations, participants had the chance to learn about the activities of other represented projects. Alongside networking activities, the new chefs’ movement, led by Kristaps Sīlis, organized a tasting event for the participants, where each dish featured products with the recently developed “Natural Meadow Product” label from the LIFE IP LatViaNature project.

 

At the end of the first evening, everyone interested had the opportunity to join the LIFE Game Night, where they could try their hand at an invasive species card game, a Kahoot quiz, and other engaging games.

 

On the second day, participants embarked on excursions to explore various nature conservation and biodiversity preservation activities in and around Riga. These tours were organized by the LIFE IP LatViaNature, LIFE GoodWater IP, LIFE Osmo Baltic, and LIFE FOR SPECIES projects.

 

The excursions concluded with a meeting led by ELMEN, during which financial and technical issues were discussed in depth, as mentioned earlier. Afterward, participants could join one of three parallel thematic sessions. The LIFE IP LatViaNature project organized a session and discussion on biodiversity conservation in private forests. Representatives of the LIFE GoodWater IP project led a session on successful water management, while the Latvian Nature Fund’s grassland projects held a session on measuring results in agri-environment schemes.

 

In the evening, the LIFE Film Night took place, showcasing the most interesting and useful films and short documentaries created by LIFE projects. Concurrently, participants could enjoy the LIFE IP LatViaNature photo booth, capturing memories and emotions from the event.

 

On the third and final day, full-day excursions were organized, offering participants a choice of four routes. LIFE IP LatViaNature organized two excursions, taking participants to Western and Eastern Latvia, where they experienced farmers' efforts to manage their land in a nature-friendly way to promote biodiversity. Participants were welcomed by hospitable local farmers and witnessed wild nature, including foxes, cranes, swans, and horses. There were also some challenges, like a bus getting stuck.

 

Participants could also join a tour to Sigulda, where LIFE Osmo Baltic and LIFE FOR SPECIES project experts introduced them to various protected species. One of the main discussion topics, the large dormouse, even made a special appearance.

 

The LIFE GoodWater IP team offered participants the chance to visit project demonstration sites – Mazupīte, Tora, and Aģe. In Mazupīte, they saw a cow watering spot and a ford created as part of the project, along with established fish spawning sites. In Tora, they were introduced to blue infrastructure solutions, while in Aģe, an artificial wetland is being developed as a demonstration site for best practices.

 

The Latvian LIFE Help Desk thanks all Latvian projects that made this event possible and looks forward to seeing everyone in Sweden in 2025!