Life Latvianature Optimising Tender

Duration 01-AUG-2020 to 31-DEC -2028Total budget 19484173.00 EU contribution 11690504.00 Project descriptionBackgroundThe Priority Action Framework PAF for 2021-2027 developed pursuant to Article 8 of the EU Habitats Directive provides a list of habitats and species for which actions should be taken and an overall assessment of the costs related to the improvement of their conservation status. The PAF also outlines the main legal and administrative challenges which should be tackled to facilitate achievement andor maintenance of the favourable conservation status. The Natura 2000 network in Latvia was established in the period from 2000 to 2004 mainly on the basis of the existing protected nature areas. There are 333 Natura 2000 sites in Latvia 326 terrestrial and 7 marine areas. There are 59 terrestrial habitat types and 2 marine habitat types of EU importance as well as 113 non-bird species of EU importance. The latest Article 17 reporting under the Habitats Directive shows an overall decrease of the unfavourable-bad assessments in comparison with the previous report and a slight increase of the favourable assessments. However the number of unfavourable-insufficient and unknown assessments is still high. Article 12 reporting under the Birds Directive shows the trends for 210 species. Short-term trends from Latvias last Article 12 report show similar proportions of increasing stable and decreasing species and the data-deficient group also remains as high as 21. Long-term trends show 39 of increasing populations and 31 of decreasing populations.ObjectivesThe overall objective of the LIFE-IP LatViaNature project is to ensure implementation of the Priority Action Framework PAF for 2021-2027 according to Article 8 of the EU Habitats Directive by strategically addressing the main ecological and administrative challenges to achieving the goals of EU nature legislation. The ultimate aim is to ensure favourable conservation status for the natural and semi-natural habitats and species of EU importance in Latvia by developing best practices and creating and adopting innovative solutions. The project is based on a stepwise approach that includes identification of problems finding solutions and providing tools to solve the identified problems with a focus on solutions that will have a long-term impact.The project has the following specific objectives To improve the conservation status of habitats and species through wise planning and effective management To improve the efficiency of the Natura 2000 network To improve the nature management planning system at the site level by making it more flexible and effective To develop effective motivating mechanisms to support consistent nature conservation on private lands To develop an effective system for control and management of invasive alien species To create a modern centralised data portal for the nature conservati