Daugavpils and Anyksciai continue to implement project activities on restoration of green infrastructure of urban wetlands in cross border region.

Daugavpils City Municipality in cooperation with Anyksciai municipality has created “Joint Action Plan” as the main instrument of environmental risk management in Latvian – Lithuanian cross border region. The document contains practical recommendation for environmental risk management in Daugavpils and Anyksciai urban wetlands.

The main topic of the 2nd partner workshop that took place in Anyksciai was challenges of managing the semi-natural urban wetlands. Representatives of Daugavpils and Anyksciai municipal administrations, external experts in the field of urban wetlands’ preservation, eco-services providers as well as representatives of eco-educational sector had opportunity to discuss the practical side of preservation of semi-natural urban wetlands and results that should be awaited.

The common joint Action Plan includes a detailed study of the natural values of the Esplanade Wetland in Daugavpils and the Green Pond in Anykščiai. Both wetlands are important habitats for several rare and threatened species in Europe. The most important asset of the Esplanade wetland is the black-headed gull colony, where between 1000 and 2000 pairs of black-headed gulls nest each year. The Esplanade Wetland is also considered an important breeding site for other protected bird species, such as the bluethroats, whose population size in Latvia is estimated to be only 150-300 breeding pairs. The Esplanade Wetland is also characterised by an unusually high diversity of amphibians – 7-8 species of amphibians can be observed in this wetland. The area is also an important feeding ground for bat species inhabiting Daugavpils Fortress.

Despite the small size of the area, several protected species have also been found in the Green Pond of Anykščiai, of which the European protected medicinal leech, which inhabits water bodies rich in aquatic vegetation, is particularly noteworthy. Several protected orchid species have also been recorded on the flooded banks of the Green Pond.

Total ERDF project funding 319 719,36 EUR.

This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Daugavpils City Council and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

For additional information: Olga Tolmacova, Head of the Office for Investments and Foreign Affairs at the Development Department of Daugavpils City Municipality , Olga.tolmacova@daugavpils.lv, +371 20089634