LIFE CoHaBit

Title: Coastal Habitat Conservation in Nature Park 'Piejura'

Summary: Piejūra Nature Park harbours valuable habitats and species of the Boreal region and is an important nature area both nationally and in Europe. Valuable protected coastal habitats found there include embryonic dunes, white dunes, grey dunes and wooded dunes, which are spread over an area of more than 30 km and are characterised by high biodiversity. In the EU, conservation of these sensitive habitats is becoming more and more important due to the increase of anthropogenic pressure on coastal territories, as well as the increasing strength of storms and subsequent destructive level of coastal erosion. Such climate change consequences are being observed in the park.

The overall objectives of LIFE CoHaBit are to mitigate heavy anthropogenic pressures and to restore vulnerable coastal habitats of Piejūra Nature Park, a Natura 2000 network site. Conservation and restoration actions will be implemented and sustainable management introduced for 13 coastal habitat types (seven of which are priority) listed in the Annex I of the Habitats Directive.

Specific project objectives are to:

• Update the park’s nature management plan;
• Implement concrete conservation and restoration actions;
• Control alien species invasion; and Involve the local community including landowners, local residents and other stakeholders in sustainable management of the park by implementing an effective awareness raising/educational campaign.

Expected results:

• An updated and approved site management plan;
• Restoration of 75 ha of coastal dune habitats (priority grey dunes, wooded dunes, embryonic shifting dunes and white dunes) in the Mangali area;
• Restoration of 5 ha of priority coastal lagoons in the Daugavgriva and Mangali areas;
• Restoration of 4.5 ha of priority Boreal Baltic coastal meadows and the surrounding complex of alluvial semi-natural grasslands in the Vakarbulli area;
• Significantly diminished deterioration of habitats of Community importance - allowing regeneration of natural vegetation on at least 800 ha in the Mangali, Garciems, Carnikava and Saulkrasti areas;
• Improved conservation status of bird species associated with the target habitats;
• Clearing of invasive species on an area of 175 ha;
• Establishment of an information and education centre in the park

For more information, please visit EurOcean Knowledge Gate.