A successful World Wetlands Day in Latvia

On Sunday, February 2, an event dedicated to World Wetlands Day, organized by the Pasaules Dabas Fonds (in association with WWF) and the Latvian Nature Conservation Agency, took place around Lake Kaņieris. The event brought together active individuals from various parts of Latvia, offering them the opportunity to not only participate practically but also gain in-depth knowledge about the wetland ecosystem. The event was part of the BaltCOP project, which aims to foster positive changes in ecosystem restoration, improving the overall health of the Baltic Sea.

The event program offered a variety of activities, from nature restoration to creative workshops, all focusing on the importance of wetlands and the need to protect them. Interest in the event was particularly high, with more than 160 people registering. However, due to limited space not all registrants could be accommodated. The high level of interest demonstrates the growing public concern for environmental issues in Latvia, something the BaltCOP project also aims to work with: to strengthen the connection between people and nature.

Nature unites everyone – both big and small

Event participants of all ages were actively engaged in the restoration activities. Both adults and children enthusiastically grabbed rakes and helped to collect mowed reed cover around the Kaņieris wetland. This work is essential to prevent wetlands from overgrowing with shrubs, preserving grass marshes as an important habitat for many species.

“Being in nature allows us to best see and feel its importance in our lives, as well as recognize the challenges it faces. Wetlands play an extremely important role both in nature and in people’s lives, but they continue to suffer from human activities. Celebrating World Wetlands Day with such enthusiastic people and having the opportunity to contribute hands-on with the restoration of the Kaņieris wetland was a great way to interactively convey an important message about the state of our waters, which is definitely not good at the moment. Unfortunately, the situation is not encouraging – the Baltic Sea and its catchment area, which covers the entire territory of Latvia, are in poor ecological condition due to human activity. Only by working with the local community and landowners will we be able to improve the situation,” noted Magda Jentgena, Head of the Baltic Sea and Freshwater Programme at Pasaules Dabas Fonds.

During the hike, participants, along with nature experts, explored the wetland of Lake Kaņieris, learning about its functions and importance in the ecosystem. Visitors of the event had the opportunity to enjoy nature-inspired dishes under the guidance of chef Renārs Purmalis (author of “Cooking in Nature”). They were also able to participate in a creative workshop where they created their own wetland models to better understand how wetlands function as natural water treatment systems.

Although Lake Kaņieris is typically known for its chilly winds, the weather during the event was relatively favorable. Only at the very end did light, large snowflakes, dancing in the wind, remind everyone of the presence of winter, giving the day a special closing mood.

“We were very pleased that this year we could open Wetlands Month with such a powerful event, which is a cherished and highly anticipated occasion in Ķemeri National Park,” said Agnese Čamane, Nature Education Specialist at the Nature Conservation Agency’s Ķemeri National Park Nature Center. She continued: “Climate regulation, water filtration, flood mitigation, biodiversity – all of these and many other ecosystem services that we receive on a daily basis but perhaps do not think about the importance of, are constantly working for our benefit. Wetlands Day, like a symbiosis, benefited both nature – through the managed grass marshes – and people – who went home with a new bag of knowledge and positive impressions.”

Original text in Latvian prepared by:
Marta Lilientāle, PDF Water Programme Communications Manager
Contact: mlilientale@pdf.lv
The original press release is available here.