Life Ecosystems
LIFE EcosystemServices project launched 10.10.2014
Since June 2014 the Association ”Baltic Coasts” is participating in the implementation of the project “LIFE EcosystemServices – Assessment of ecosystems and their services for nature biodiversity conservation and management” co-financed by the LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity programme of the European Commission. The Project will be implemented in cooperation with Latvian Nature Conservation Agency and Municipality of Saulkrasti.
The general objectives of the Project are:
- to adopt the international practices and experiences in economic valuation of ecosystems and their services for the situation and conditions of Latvia, creating a clearly comprehensive assessment system;
- to perform the pilot implementation of the developed assessment system in two chosen Pilot Implementation Areas in Saulkrasti and Jaunķemeri;
- to elaborate Recommendations for application of the new methodological approach based on innovative integration and verification of the existing methods into municipal decision making and spatial planning processes;
- to promote the new methodological approach for the economic evaluation of the ecosystems and their services by information and communication of the long term benefits of the economically, environmentally and socially responsible decision making and lifestyle for the increase of the overall welfare in the region.
The results of the project include also several innovations on regional and national scale, such as promotion of business approaches and collaborative partnerships – the Green Entrepreneurship cluster initiative, as well as establishment of a Prototype – Nature Design Park “ScareCrow” within the area of White Dune in Saulkrasti municipality for protection of the natural values and ecosystems and attraction of the visitors at the same time, which would be a prototype for conservation and protection of ecosystems, visitor flow management and education in an interactive and innovative way.
The LIFE EcosystemServices project will be implemented until May 2018.