Project Description
This project was part of the bilateral co-operation program between Finland and Latvia, and it was funded by the Finnish Government through the Ministry of Environment of Finland. The Finnish Government has supported environmental development in Latvia since 1992. Recently the focus of the technical assistance has been on institutional strengthening of the environmental administration in Latvia in connection with the implementation of EU directives. The Natura 2000 aims at halting the loss of biodiversity.
The project consisted of three subcomponents:
- Support to the implementation of Natura 2000 network requirements;
- Support to the development of compensation mechanisms and support to farmers in management of the Natura 2000 areas;
- Support to the capacity building in the field of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
The overall objective of the SEA component was to assist the Ministry of the Environment in raising awareness and know-how of participants of the SEA process: governmental and municipal institutions (SEA stakeholders), NGOs and the general public. The overall objective of the Natura component was to assist the Ministry of the Environment in improving the information flow and cooperation between the central and regional environmental authorities and other stakeholders relating to the Natura assessment under the Birds and Habitats Directives. The objective of the component was also to assist in establishing the compensation schemes for the owners of agricultural and forest lands in protected areas.
Services provided by SYKE
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA):
- Interviews of relevant authorities and stakeholders;
- Introductory workshop with Finnish and Latvian experiences (good practises, working groups);
- Side by side working with mainly Environment State Bureau through ongoing SEA cases and other stakeholders of the SEA procedure;
- Development of a Guidance Manual on SEA.
Natura 2000:
- Interviews of relevant authorities and stakeholders;
- Introductory workshop with Finnish and Latvian experiences (good practises, working groups);
- Study tour to Finland for Natura assessment professionals such as central and regional environmental authorities and other stakeholders;
- A training programme (2 – 3 training sessions on selected subjects based on the identified gaps and orientation workshop).
More information
Ms. Kati Pritsi, Project Coordinator, International Affairs Unit, Finnish Environment Institute