Latvian farmers will install more than 30 thousand kilometers of buffer zones to protect water quality

Following the European Union's Green Deal, Latvian farmers plan to implement at least 30,000 kilometers of buffer zones over the next 5 years to protect water resources from nutrient leaching.

Since buffer zones have not been a widespread measure until now, and farmers have primarily created them on a voluntary basis, many are not clear about the basic principles of their creation and maintenance. For this reason, the Farmers' Council is inviting farmers to a field day on June 15th of this year "Buffer zones - where, why and how to manage?", which will take place in Īle parish. The event will include information exchange, demonstrations of various techniques and consultations that will help farmers choose the best methods and technologies for meeting the new requirements and adapting them to each specific location.

Deputy Chairwoman of the Board of the Farmers' Assembly, Maira Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre: "Latvia is a land rich in water, because despite the severe drought we are currently experiencing, in general more rain falls here than evaporates in a year. That is why, when thinking about how farmers can become more environmentally friendly, the first thought that came to mind was water protection. Both manure and mineral fertilizers, as well as simply unfertilized soil, can cause surface nutrient leakage – primarily nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. This, in turn, further flows into ditches, rivers, lakes and the Baltic Sea, contributing to their overgrowth. To prevent this, farmers have committed to creating buffer zones along rivers and ditches over a length of more than 30,000 kilometers over the next 5 years. The length of these zones will be equivalent to the distance from Latvia to Australia and back."

The first part of the Countryside Day will take place at the Īle People's Hall, where the event will be opened by the Minister of Agriculture Didzis Šmits and the Chairman of the Board of the Farmers' Saeima Juris Lazdiņš. Ilvars Strazdiņš, Chairman of the Board of SIA "Latvi Dan Agro", will introduce the "green" measures implemented on the farm, including the creation and experience of buffer zones. Next, Jānis Šīre, representative of the LVĢMC, will talk about the tasks and first conclusions of the LIFE GoodWater IP project. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture will explain to farmers what role buffer zones play in achieving green goals.

In the second part of the event, a demonstration of the LIFE GoodWater IP project buffer zones will take place in Īlē, representatives of the Latvian Nature Foundation will explain the importance of buffer zones in preserving natural values, and during the field day, participants will be able to view the demonstrated equipment and consult with equipment dealers.

Mandatory previous application by June 14th, by completing the electronic registration https://forms.gle/J9tEpMhQRhT8a1HL6

Venue:

The first part of the Countryside Day will take place at the Īle People's House (Īle, Īle parish, Dobele municipality) from 10:00.

The second part of the Countryside Day/demonstrations will take place at the Sesava River https://maps.google.com/?q=56.556969,23.066956