Reflections on Latvia – a GIS Storymap Report

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Whilst this is just one example of cultural heritage as green infrastructure, we encountered numerous others. From traditional barrel making to organic production of medicinal herbs (linked to rigorous scientific analysis and development); from an environment that invites you to swim in every lake, river and seashore…
 …to foraged berries and fresh meals cooked with fresh food every day – our daily experiences and memories made were based on the health and integrity of the environment around us and its place in culture and history.
Without this we would not have found the social cohesion in our group that came about from sitting by the river in the evenings blethering away, listening for wolf calls at night, or stargazing under the Milky Way.

Funded by ERASMUS+, supported by Arch and hosted by the Latvian State Forest Service a group of 8 Scottish environmental professionals took part in a week long nature exchange.  A summary of our key learning points from the visit are presented in this StoryMap.

This interactive map shows the locations visited which included the main ecosystems of Latvia – forest, meadows, wetlands, raised bogs and coastal dunes.

Click on a place or a track for a brief description and photo.

The following sections expand on particular themes related to these locations.  Shortcuts are available on the title-bar.

Introduction

Old Masters to New Barrels – some insights into Latvian woodlands – James Ogilvie

Priority Woodland Species and Habitats – Doug Shapley

Sustainable Game Management – Simon Smith

Peatland Restoration – Stuart Graham

Remote Sensing Applications – Duncan Blake

Public Access to Land – Graham Neville

Capercaillie in Latvia – a bird of conservation concern? – Alison Connelly

Green Infrastructure – Elana Bader

Please follow this link to access the StoryMap –  Latvia StoryMap 2018

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