PEOPLE WITH NATURE: Four nature education centres began work in regions of Latvia
The Nature Education Centre (NEC) "Rāzna" established within the framework of Estonian-Latvian-Russian cross-border cooperation project "People with Nature" and located in Lipuški, Rēzekne Municipality, in the territory of Rāzna National Park was opened on 13 December.
The opening of NEC "Rāzna" marks a significant step in the development of nature education – in 2013 four NECs were opened in specially protected natural areas within the framework of the project " Promoting nature education as efficient mean of awareness raising " or "People with Nature”: "Meža māja" ("Forest House") in Ķemeri National Park, "Ziemeļvidzeme" in Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, "Vecupītes" in Gauja National Park and the above-mentioned NEC "Rāzna" in Rāzna National Park. Each NEC offers a variety of nature-related study opportunities for children and adults visiting the centre and presents natural diversity of specially protected natural areas. You can get to know the nature by participating in various research activities, visiting exhibitions and going for a walk along the nature paths and in many other different ways. You can find the information about NEC offers at the web-site of Nature Conservation Agency www.daba.gov.lv in the section Nature education.
Nature education plays a very important role in raising public awareness about the environment, therefore the Nature Conservation Agency will use the experience and knowledge about creation of NECs acquired in the project "People with Nature" to improve the offer of nature education in other specially protected natural areas.
The project “Promoting nature education as efficient mean of awareness raising” or “People with nature” is being implemented in the territory of Latvia, Estonia and Russian Federation, and its main objective is to raise the awareness of the society on sustainable development and integrated nature conservation in the project implementation area as well as raise capacity of nature conservation institutions to the project in the field of nature education. The project duration is 30 months – till 30 September 2014. The project is co-financed by the Estonia – Latvia – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme within European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 2007-2013. Total funding of the project is EUR 1 499 977 or LVL 1 054 190, from which 90 % constituting EUR 1 349 979 or LVL 948 771 is co-financed by Estonia – Latvia – Russia Cross Border Cooperation Programme.
Portfolio of the Project "People with Nature"
Press release prepared by: Ilze Vanaga
Project communication specialist
Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia
ilze.vanaga@daba.gov.lv, phone: +371 26332786
Project home page: www.daba.gov.lv