11/12/2006
On 8th December more than 50 representatives of different nature conservation organizations, other LIFE projects and local municipalities participated in the closing seminar of the Ķemeri LIFE project. During the seminar they visited the main project activities in the field, took part in opening ceremony of renovated Starpiņupe sluices and new built bird watching tower in Dunduri meadows and participated in the presentation of project results and educational film on LIFE project "Nature Management in Ķemeri National Park".
21/11/2006
On 20th November Ķemeri National Park Administration signed a contract with „Metrum“ Ltd on producing aerial photography maps of the areas where the main activities of the project were carried out (total area 33 km2). The maps will enable us to follow the changes in habitats brought about by the project. The deadline for the contracted activity is 22nd December 2006. (Project action C7).
02/11/2006
On 1st November Ķemeri National Park Administration signed a contract with „BGS“ Ltd on lowering the level of dry land on the banks of four artificial islands in Lake Kaņieris. The action will prevent the bogging up of the islands and make them more suitable for breeding gull species. (Project action C5).
12/10/2006
Pupils of three local secondary schools are involved in 3year monitoring programme of ranaturalised Slampe River. During the first seminar on 10 October they studied invertebrates living in the river and plants of floodplain meadows helped experts and National Park staff. The monitoring project is supported by Latvian Environmental Investment Fund.
14/09/2006
On 25 August a tender on construction of visitor facilities in Dunduri meadows was closed and on 12 September Administration of Ķemeri National Park signed a contract with “DAVA” Ltd. The visitor facilities will include a bird watching tower that will also be of help in monitoring the wild cattle grazing in the meadows and three information panels on LIFE project activities in the area. (Project action E6).
23/08/2006
The tender on construction works for restoration of natural water level in NR part of Ķemeri Great Bog was closed on 28 July. On 22 August the Administration of Ķemeri National Park signed a contract with “Meliorceltnieks” Ltd. The main activities foreseen in the contract are blocking of drainage ditches to raise a water level in former peat extraction fields and rising a road surface to ensure the access to the area after the flooding. The deadline for construction works is 30 November. (Project action C2).
03/08/2006
In August the last stage of the reconstruction works of Starpiņupīte sluices have begun. A temporary dam before the sluices was constructed to secure a constant water level during construction works. The construction works will include dismantling of old damaged sluice gates, strengthening of existing concrete constructions and installation of the new sluice gates and automatic control system. The deadline for construction works is 30 November 2006. (Project action C4).
27/07/2006
After finishing the design works and receiving all the necessary permits concerning the construction of tourism infrastructure in Dunduri meadows, Administration of Ķemeri National Parks announced a tender on construction works. The visitor facilities will include a 5,5-m high bird watching tower that will be built using environmentally friendly materials and covered by reed roof as well as three information panels. (Project action E6).
06/07/2006
During June and first part of July the technical project for restoration of natural water level in NE part of Ķemeri Great Bog was finally approved by Ventspils Regional Environmental Board and Ziemeļkurzemes Branch of Rural Support Service. After the approval of the technical project the announcement of tender for construction works became possible. The tender was announced on 6 July.
08/06/2006
On 5 June Ķemeri National Park Administration signed a contract with „Arhitektūra un Vide“ Ltd on designing of bird watching tower and information stands in Dunduri meadows. (Project action E6).
05/06/2006
On the World Environment Day on June 5 the schoolchildren of Džūkste Secondary School explored the renaturalised Slampe River. Together with the employees of Ķemeri National Park Administration, LIFE project staff and nature guides they studied the river fauna and added a lot of large stones to the river bed to create a living environment for different water invertebrates and plants.
20/05/2006
On 12 May the tender procedure on topographic measurement of the area for tourism infrastructure in Dunduri meadows was closed and on 17 May the Administration of Ķemeri National Park signed a contract with state enterprise „Latvijas Valsts Mērnieks“. The maps are to be delivered by June 17. (Project action E6).
21/04/2006
During the Bird Watching Days on April 7-9 approximately 220 amateur bird watchers from Riga and other parts of Latvia visited Kaņieris Lake and Dunduri meadows and saw approximately 50 bird species. The manager of the LIFE project Jānis Ķuze told the participants about the LIFE project activities in these areas.
20/04/2006
Ķemeri National Park Administration has announced a tender on topographic measurement of the area of Dunduru meadows where the building of tourism infrastructure is planned. The topographic maps are needed for designing the bird watching tower and information stands.
21/02/2006
On the week devoted to the World Wetlands Park the new wetland of Ķemeri NP - the Slampe river and its floodplain meadows restored by LIFE project - attracted most attention. During lectures in local schools given by employees of Ķemeri National Park project co-ordinator Andis Liepa told the schoolchildren about the restoration project and natural grazing of floodplain meadows by Heck cattle and Konik horses.
20/02/2006
On 20 February the new Technical and Financial Project Report has been sent to the Commission. It covers the time period from the beginning of the project on September 2002 till December 2005. The report is available also in our website in Documents chapter.
01/02/2006
On January 31 the current project manager Gatis Pāvils is leaving the project. The new project manager will be Jānis Ķuze, Head of Survey and Planning Department of Ķemeri National Park Administration.
25/01/2006
Following the approval of project modification by Commission, Administration of Ķemeri National Park signed a contract with “VND 2” Ltd. on reconstruction of sluices on river Starpiņupīte (project action C4). The reconstruction works will be carried out in several stages - design, production of mechanical equipment by “MVE technika” (Czech Republic) and construction works. The deadline for construction works is 30 November.
11/01/2006
European Commission approved modifications to our project at the end of 2005.
Modifications were necessary in order to take into account the changes taken
place around the project over the last years (f.e. rise of land prices).
Main goals of the project remain unchanged. Project has been extended by
one year - until the end of 2006.
Our homepage includes those changes both in its text and in the attached
project document.
09/09/2005
At the end of August - beginning of September there were moved Kasku purvs meadows in Kemeri
National Park, Sala municipality in Riga district. Kasku purvs meadows (approximately 30 ha) some years ago were extremely
rich with Crex crex. Those abandoned meadows are overgrowing with larger plants and shrubs.
If we would like to see corncrake and other species characteristic for meadows, there is needed care
about these meadows.
Project action - D.1.
31/08/2005
In order to comply with the style and structure of the new Kemeri National
Park homepage there has been prepared new LIFE project homepage. The structure
and content of this homepage differs significantly from the previous homepage.
Main introduction - possibility to publish the news in the project.
Project action - E.1.
29/08/2005
Price quotation of 26th July about the selection of contractor for levelling
of Lake Kanieris artificial islands has ended without result - we did not
receive any quotations. Reason - construction companies don't have technical
possibilities to transport excavator over the lake to the islands. At the
moment, before announcing the next price quotation we are discussing with
the hydrotechnical engineers - we hope that they have enough experience
in order to move the equipment around the lake.
The artificial islands in Lake Kanieris should be levelled to make them
unsuitable for the residing of predators. Predators here destroy the nests
of birds. No. of action in the project - C.5.
22/08/2005
At the 21st August heck cattle in Dunduri meadows got new neighbours - 10
wild horses, who arrived here from Lake Pape Nature Park.
As a part of activities of LIFE-Nature financed project "Conservation of
wetlands in Kemeri National Park, Latvia" there is continued release of
large herbivores in the area of Kemeri National Park. This time there were
brought 10 "konik polski" breed horses, who were transported from the meadows
near Lake Pape. They have been well adapted to the Latvian climate conditions
and are breeding well. Those 10 horses have formed a herd of 1 stallion,
6 mares and 3 colts of this year.
Currently there are living 10 heck cattle and 10 horses in Dunduri meadows.
Activities done under activity of project action C.6.
08/08/2005
The visitors of Kemeri NP can access one more site worth visiting since
the middle July - herd of heck cattle in fenced area around the renaturalised
Slampe River.
This object has been created as a part of EU LIFE project with an aim to
recreate natural environment in lower reaches of Slampe river.
Works done under project action C.3. and C.6.
16/07/2005
In concordance with the requirements of Environment State Bureau from 15th
July 2005 there is necessary to carry out analysis and/or mathematical modelling
in order to evaluate the impact of the planned renaturalisation of Great
Kemeri bog. These works can influence the stock of sulphur water in Kemeri
National Park - unique natural resource.
This activity will require several months - thus we have to shift the planned
renaturalisation works to the summer of next year.
Works would be made under action C.1. in order to prepare for the implementation
of action C.2.
16/07/2005
At 14th July 2005 there was finalised competition with an aim to select
the contractor for reconstruction of both sluice gates in Starpinupite -
small river connecting Lake Kanieris and the sea. We received one bod from
the enterprise “VND 2”. This bid was valid and there was decided
to start contract negotiations with the winner.
The bid has higher sum than envisaged in the project document. There have
passed three - four years since the preparation of project document and
the costs have grown considerably. Now we have to wait for the accept of
EU Commission before making agreement.
Works would be done under action C.4.
15/07/2005
At 15th July Kemeri National Park organised an event to mark the finalisation
of Slampe River renaturalisation works. Invited guests and interested guests
were introduced to the works done at the site. They were informed about
the importance of this action and the expected results. There was participating
Minister of Environment Raimonds Vejonis.
Remeandering of Slampe river is one of the most ambitious actions under
EU LIFE supported project “Conservation of wetlands in Kemeri National
Park, Latvia”. Remeandering in Tukums district, Slampe municipality
have been done in 3 km long section. The aim of the project - to renovate
natural hydrological regime and regain the natural river floodplain ecosystem.
This is the first project of such kind in Latvia - now Kemeri National Park
possesses unique knowledge.
Activities done under activity C.3.