Why the floodplain meadows of Rūja River must be restored?

Meeting at Sēļi manor house

Sēļi, the 11 of February 2005.  About 70 years back, during the first Republic of Latvia, there were at least 2 times more pastures and meadows in Sēļi parish as in nowadays. Inhabitants of Sēļi have experienced lot of changes during the gone century: celebrative foundation of collective farms (kolhozs) „Ziemeļi” (North) and „Ļenina ceļš” (Way of Lenin), and after also carefree dilapidation of them with following closing at the end of Perestroika. There were changes not only with governments and political systems, but lot of farmers have changed also manner of land management.  Important fact, that only after Perestroika was possible to have land (and also meadows) as private property. But in very ancient times - already 3000 years back, the people here - at the lake Burtnieki, have started to do agriculture.

Why the floodplain meadows of Rūja River must be restored?

Meeting at Sēļi manor house

Sēļi, the 11 of February 2005.  About 70 years back, during the first Republic of Latvia, there were at least 2 times more pastures and meadows in Sēļi parish as in nowadays. Inhabitants of Sēļi have experienced lot of changes during the gone century: celebrative foundation of collective farms (kolhozs) „Ziemeļi” (North) and „Ļenina ceļš” (Way of Lenin), and after also carefree dilapidation of them with following closing at the end of Perestroika. There were changes not only with governments and political systems, but lot of farmers have changed also manner of land management.  Important fact, that only after Perestroika was possible to have land (and also meadows) as private property. But in very ancient times - already 3000 years back, the people here - at the lake Burtnieki, have started to do agriculture.  They have done the clearance of wooden territories for to shape meadows, which have been used as pastures or also for grain raising. In nowadays the landscape of open meadow territories in floodplains has changed dramatically: they have abandoned with bushes and even larger alder-trees. This afflicts lot of true farmers. Especially therefore we were really glad about all theses locals, who came to the meeting for to judging about Rūja floodplain meadows restoration.

Project „Restoration of floodplains”, which is financed in this site by LIFE-Nature and UNDP, is a new opportunity for local farmers. In the protected areas „Vidusburtnieks meadows” 2 and „Rūja floodplains” they can restore abandoned floodplain meadows, getting a financial support for that. Both protected territories are Important Bird Areas of European Union importance in Latvia. Especially notable are rare bird species related with meadows: great snipe and corncrake. For these priority species these both protected areas are one of the best breeding sites not only in national level. Little spotted eagle use Rūja floodplains as an excellent feeding place. There are about 1/5 of all European little spotted eagles in Latvia and therefore large responsibility to protect their living places. There are still larger territories with natural floodplain meadows, including wooden meadows with large oak-trees at the banks of Rūja River and Burtnieks Lake. Mighty oak trunk is home for in Europe endangered but simpatico hermit beetle. All these listed values are the main reasons, why the farmers of these territories can be feel privileged. All other farmers outside protected areas must care by themselves about restoration of meadows. These strenuous works they are doing then in free time and free of charge with lot of energy lost.

The atmosphere in Sēļi manor house was celebratory constructive. The possible wide information for muster was given during three hours. The opening of meeting started with speech of the head of Sēļi municipality Mr. V.Kalniņš. Leading of event has overtaken the public awareness co-ordinator Mr. A.Klepers from Latvian Found for Nature. Continuing the project’s regional co-ordinator Mr. A.Auniņš informed auditory about NATURA 2000 protected areas net, because both protected areas are included in it. Interesting presentations were from Mr. V.Seilis and Mr. A.Urtāns from North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve administration. They brought to light for local’s lot of values from cultural and historic aspects about Sēļi place in  North Vidzme Biosphere Reserve, Latvia, Europe and global context. Additional auditory was informed about UNDP/GEF project  „Biodiversity Protection in the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve ”, which very friendly and plain has done Ms. L.Zvingule.

With large activity locals have recognized nature values on photographs – different birds and plants in, when there was presentation about uniqueness of floodplain meadows in their private. All were of the same opinion with fact that they are living in valuable nature corner and are interested with financial support care about it. There is planned following works in next three years at Rūja river floodplains: shrub removal from abandoned meadows, shrub removal around oak trees, controlled burning and initial mowing. Approximately size of project’s planned floodplains restoration works in Sēļi municipality is more than 450 ha.

At once this was the first meeting about  „Vidusburtnieks” management plan creation. This is the document, which has important role in regulating nature protection demands and people’s management wishes.  As told the writer of the management plan – Mr. J.Gailis, the plan will be finished at the end of this already.

Next informative meetings in other project sites are planned following: