Project experts share their knowledge at the Latvian Young Rangers camp

From 6 to 9 July, the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve hosted Young Rangers from all over Latvia.

Over three days, the camp participants got to know the nature and culture of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. A total of 56 participants – young people and their mentors – took part in the camp. One of the days was dedicated to getting to know the activities of the LIFE IS SALACA project and the specifics of the experts’ work.

In the session “Forest laboratory”, led by Mārcis Saklaurs, lead riparian forest expert at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, the young people got to know the trees growing in and near Vecsalaca Manor park, learned how to determine the age and height of trees, identified tree species and learned what an ideal forest should look like. On their way to see century-old spruces on the banks of the Salaca, the young rangers crossed the river via the salmon counter built by the men of the fishing club “SALACKRASTI”.

The session “In the footsteps of an ichthyologist” gave the camp participants the opportunity to learn more about the fish found in the Salaca and its tributaries and to take part in a scientific fish count, also learning the basics of electrofishing. It was led by Kaspars Abersons, an expert from the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”.

In the session “A hydrologist’s dream”, led by Jolanta Jēkabsone, a specialist at the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, the young people gained practical skills in measuring flow velocity using different methods – both the age-old method with apples and specialised river depth and flow velocity meters.

At the end of the day, the session “Step into the shoes of a freshwater researcher” introduced aquatic plants and aquatic invertebrates and included practical teamwork, as the young people had to work together to inflate a boat and prepare it for exploring the river. The session was led by invertebrate expert Dāvis Ozoliņš from LEGMC and freshwater habitat experts Linda Uzule and Lauma Vizule-Kahovska from the Nature Conservation Agency.

The Latvian Young Rangers are part of an international youth movement coordinated in Latvia by the Nature Conservation Agency. The programme involves young people aged 12–16 who want to get to know nature and take an active part in exploring and protecting it. In Latvia, Young Ranger groups are active in the Gauja, Rāzna, Ķemeri and Slītere national parks, as well as in the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve.

The practical day with LIFE IS SALACA experts gave the young people a chance to look into different professions and get to know river ecosystems more closely.