Freshwater habitat experts meet at a seminar on current developments in the field

On 13 May 2026, the Nature Conservation Agency organised a seminar for freshwater habitat experts on current developments in the field. The seminar was held within the LIFE IS SALACA project as one of the activities for knowledge transfer and strengthening expert capacity. Throughout the day, experts from the LIFE IS SALACA and LIFE GoodWater IP projects shared the experience and knowledge gained while implementing the projects, complementing each other’s presentations.

Jolanta Jēkabsone presented the update of the Latvian river typology, which adds bog rivers, coastal rivers and sandy rapids as separate types, so that the typology better reflects the situation in nature.

Lauma Vizule-Kahovska and Jolanta Jēkabsone presented the harmonised river habitat and hydromorphology survey form developed within the LIFE IS SALACA project. It is the first step towards linking the approaches of the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive. A common river typology and a common survey methodology also form the basis for developing a common methodology for monitoring and quality assessment. In the future, this will make it possible to improve the quality of the data obtained, provide comparable data for reporting, increase expert capacity, use financial resources more efficiently and implement the recommendations of the European Commission.

Atis Apelis shared his experience of rapids restoration within the LIFE IS SALACA project – from planning the work to carrying it out in practice. An essential precondition for a good result is close cooperation between those doing the practical work and nature experts throughout the process.

Kaspars Abersons added to the participants’ knowledge of ecologically sensitive fish species and the factors affecting their occurrence. The main conclusion stressed was that a natural riverbed, shoreline and riparian vegetation provide more diverse habitats and a healthier fish fauna.

Linda Fībiga presented the achievements of the LIFE GoodWater IP project, sharing practical experience in removing barriers in rivers, cooperation with stakeholders and the main challenges in carrying out such work.

Ainis Lagzdiņš gave a detailed overview of environmentally friendly drainage solutions, their types, implementation options and positive impact on water quality.

At the end of the seminar, Gita Strode presented current developments in implementing nature conservation measures that are important in the experts’ daily work.

The next seminar is planned for 2027 and will include practical work on the Salaca and its tributaries, introducing freshwater experts to the harmonised methodology developed within the LIFE IS SALACA project in practice.