04.06.18
Nature values of Raised bog viewed in Environment Day

On June 1, celebrating the International Environment Day, the youth guards, young environmentalists of Latvian Natural History Museum and representatives of State Centre for Defence Military Objects and Procurement and National Armed Forces, visited Rampa bog in Ādaži military training area.

Tours in a bog were led by scientists – prof. geogr. Laimdota Kalniņa, prof. biol. Māra Pakalne and ornithologist Andris Avotiņš, co-author of the first scientific research in Latvia on the impact of military training on species and habitats in Ādaži military training area, which are part of the European NATURA 2000 network of protected areas.

The Ādaži military training area is not only the training place for the National Armed Forces, but also the home of Europe’s protected natural heritage. Rampa’s bog is one of the best nesting places in Latvia for Black Grouse. Other bird species threatened in Europe – Wood Sandpipper, Common Crane, European Nightjar, Red-backed Shrike and others - feed or nest on the bog.

Environment Day was celebrated in the framework of the LIFE + program project "Birds in Ādaži". One of the project’s goals was to restore 500 ha of raised bog. The restored habitats of raise bog will improve the breeding and feeding places for target species of the project.

Photo: Gatis Dieziņš, Ministry of Defence of the republic of Latvia : https://www.flickr.com/photos/latvijas_armija/sets/72157695794388491;