Predstavnici NP „Krka“ posjetili latvijske nacionalne parkove

U sklopu Erasmus+ projekta, koji u potpunosti financira Europska unija, latvijski nacionalni parkovi predstavili su bogatu bioraznolikost i očuvane ekosustave na svom prostoru

Krajem rujna 2024. održano je treće, posljednje, studijsko putovanje u sklopu Erasmus+ projekta „Podizanje ekološke osviještenosti kod mladih iz zaštićenih područja“. Domaćini su bili nacionalni parkovi Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds i Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds iz Latvije. Projektni partneri iz Finske i Hrvatske upoznali su se s latvijskim zaštićenim prirodnim vrijednostima i aktivnostima mladih čuvara prirode, na temelju kojih će se formirati i program mladih čuvara prirode u Hrvatskoj.

Prvi dio studijskog posjeta bio je posvećen upoznavanju lokaliteta u Nacionalnom parku Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds. Iznimna bioraznolikost, značajna kulturna i povijesna baština, bogat šumski ekosustav i impresivne pješčane litice mladim čuvarima prirode i njihovim voditeljima omogućuju provođenje raznolikog programa aktivnosti. U Parku se nalazi razgranat sustav pješačkih staza, Līgatne Nature Trails, koji omogućuju, posebno mladim čuvarima prirode, upoznavanje sa svijetom biljaka i životinja bez uznemiravanja njihovih staništa.

„Upoznavanje s terenskim aktivnostima i edukativnim programima namijenjenim mladim čuvarima prirode omogućuje nam bolje razumijevanje potreba mladih i motiva zbog kojih se uključuju u zaštitu prirode. Iskustva iz Latvije poslužit će nam kao temelj za kreiranje programa koji ćemo uspostaviti u NP ‘Krka’, a povezivanje zaštićenih područja kroz ovaj projekt poslužit će za razmjenu znanja i iskustva na europskoj razini“, kazala je ravnateljica Javne ustanove „Nacionalni park Krka“ Nella Slavica i dodala: „Pozivamo mlade zaljubljenike u prirodu da se sljedećih mjeseci pridruže aktivnostima vezanim za formiranje prve grupe mladih čuvara prirode u Šibensko-kninskoj županiji.“

Sudionici su obišli pitoreskni gradić Sigulda, smješten u rubnom dijelu najvećeg i najstarijeg nacionalnog parka u Latviji, koji je ime dobio po rijeci Gauji, koja prolazi negovim središtem. Gradić je okružen velebnom šumom, koja pruža obilje mogućnosti za aktivni boravak u prirodi. Kanjon rijeke Gauje formiran je prije tristo milijuna godina, a današnji izgled poprimio je prije dvanaest tisuća godina.

Posebno nadahnjujuć bio je posjet Nacionalnom parku Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds, poznatom po izvorima pitke sumporne vode, koja se koristi u hidroterapiji, i močvarnim staništima, koja su u toplim jesenskim bojama posebno atraktivna za promatranje ptica. „U našem Parku imamo primjer savršenog ekosustava, bez utjecaja čovjeka: livadu na kojoj u potpunoj slobodi žive divlji konji i divlji bikovi. Uravnotežen i osjetljiv travnjački ekosustav povezan je s drugim ekosustavima u velike prirodne procese i cjeline koje nadilaze ljudskom rukom ucrtane granice država“, istaknula je ravnateljica Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds Agnese Balandiņa.

U posjetiteljskom centru Meža māja održane su radionice na temu aktivnosti za djecu i mlade koje se provode na otvorenom. Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds nalazi se nedaleko od glavnog grada, Rige, čije se središte nalazi na UNESCO-ovu Popisu svjetske baštine zbog posebnog arhitektonskog stila i kulture.

Aktivnosti u sklopu projekta „Podizanje ekološke osviještenosti kod mladih iz zaštićenih područja“ (2023-3-LV02-KA210-YOU-000170610) provodit će se od 1. veljače 2024. do 31. siječnja 2026. Ukupna vrijednost projekta iznosi 60.000,00 eura, što u potpunosti financira Europska unija. Nositelj projekta je Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds iz Latvije, a projektni partneri su Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds iz Latvije, Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra ry iz Finske i Javna ustanova „Nacionalni park Krka“. Ciljevi su projekta informiranje mladih o klimatskim promjenama, jačanje njihove svijesti o potrebi očuvanja prirode i okoliša, sudjelovanje mladih u dobi od trinaest do trideset godina i razmjena njihovih iskustava preko zajedničkih platformi zaštićenih područja u zemljama partnerima projekta, te razvoj sistema motivacije za sudjelovanje mladih u očuvanju okoliša, njihovo umrežavanje i razmjena ideja.

Projekt je sufinancirala Europska Unija. Sadržaj ovog materijala isključiva je odgovornost JU „NP Krka“.

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Representatives of Krka National Park visit Latvian national parks
As part of an Erasmus+ project, fully financed by the European Union, Latvian national parks presented their rich biodiversity and well preserved ecosystems

At the end of September 2024, the third and final study visit was made as part of the Erasmus+ project entitled “Raising ecological awareness among youth from protected areas”. The hosts were two national parks in Latvia: Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds and Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds. Project partners from Finland and Croatia were acquainted with the exceptional Latvia protected natural values and the activities for young rangers, and the experience will form the basis for a young rangers programme in Croatia.

The first part of the study visit was dedicated to getting to know localities in Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds. The exceptional biodiversity, significant cultural and historical heritage, wealth of forest ecosystems, and impressive sandy cliffs enable the young rangers and their guides to conduct a wide range of programme activities. There is a large, branching system of sandy trails called the Līgatne Nature Trails, which enables visitors and especially the young rangers, to become acquainted with the flora and fauna in the park, without disturbing their habitats.

“Learning about the field activities and educational programmes conducted with the young rangers enables us to better understand the needs and motives for including youth in nature conservation. The experiences from Latvia will serve as a basis for considering the programmes to introduce at Krka National Park, and connecting protected areas through this project has enabled an exchange of experiences and knowledge at the European level,” stated Nella Slavica, director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park. She added, “We invite all young nature lovers to join in the activities in the coming months to create the first groups of young rangers in Šibenik-Knin County.”

Participants toured the picturesque town of Siguld, situated at the end of Latvia’s oldest and largest national park that was named after the Gauja River that passes through it. The town is surrounded by a massive forest that offers countless active outdoor activities. The Gauja River canyon was formed some 300 million years ago, and took on its present-day appearance about 12,000 years ago.

The visit to Kemeru nacionālā parka fonds was particularly inspiring, known for its springs of sulphuric waters that are used in hydrotherapy, and for the wetland habitats that are especially attractive for bird watching in autumn due to the abundance of foliage colours. “In our park, we have examples of perfect ecosystems untouched by humans, a meadow where wild horses and wild cattle roam and live freely. The balanced and vulnerable grassland ecosystem is connected with other ecosystems, and these large natural areas and processes that surpass the national boundaries drawn by human hands,” stated Agnesea Balandiņa, director of Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds.

At the Meža Māja Visitor Centre, workshops were held on the topic of outdoor activities for children and youth. Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds is situated near the capital city of Riga, whose city centre has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its distinctive architectural style and culture.

Project activities will be carried out from February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2026. The total value of the project is EUR 60,000.00, which is entirely financed by the European Union. The holder of the project “Raising ecological awareness among young people in protected areas” (2023-3-LV02-KA210-YOU-000170610) is the Ķemeru National Park Fund (Ķemeru nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia, while the project partners are the Gaujas National Park Fund (Gaujas nacionālā parka fonds) from Latvia, the Kehittämisyhdistys Sepra ry from Finland, and the Krka National Park from Croatia. The goals of the project are to inform young people about climate change, to strengthen the awareness of young people about the need to preserve nature and the environment, as well as the participation and exchange of experience of young people between the ages of thirteen and thirty through common platforms of protected areas in the project’s partner countries, the development of a system of motivation for young people’s participation in environmental protection, and the development of networking and the exchange of ideas.

Project co-financed by the European Union. The content of these materials is exclusively the responsibility of the Public Institute of Krka National Park.

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