There are less fen peatlands in Latvia than we considered

14 Mar, 2024

Without doubt, Latvia's peatlands play an important role in both meeting the country's climate goals and preserving natural diversity. According to the Latvian Centre of Environment, Geology and Meteorology, approximately 10-15% of Latvia's territory is covered by peatlands, which are more precisely defined as deposits. From a current Latvian geological terminology, a peat deposit is defined as an area of at least 2 ha with a peat thickness of at least 30 cm. The 2023 report of the State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia on "Management of mineral resources in Latvia" states that the lack of data makes it difficult or impossible to fully develop sustainable policies regarding natural recourses.

Microplastics in Latvian lakes

14 Mar, 2024

An international team of researchers (including members of the Lake and Peatland Research Centre) studying the sediments of three Latvian lakes (Usma, Sekši, Pinku) has concluded that the presence of microplastic particles in a particular sediment layer is not indicative of the time when it was produced or released into the environment, as microplastic particles tend to move deeper into the sediment. For example, biodegradable plastics such as polylactide (PLA) were only commercially produced in the 1990s, but can be found in Latvian lake sediments even in layers dating back to the 18th-20th centuries (1733-1813 in Lake Pinki, 1900-1925 in Lake Usma).

The publication of the study in Science Advances is available at: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi8136

LPRC becomes a member of the Latvian National Peat Society

29 Dec, 2022

In November 2022, the Lakes and Peatland Research Centre (LPRC) became a member of the Latvian National Peat Society (LNKB). The objectives of the LNKB are to promote peat as a slowly renewable natural resource in the EU Green Deal, which includes close cooperation with Latvian scientists and research, modernisation of the peat sector and reduction of emissions, local consumption of peat and development of innovative peat products with added value. It is important to note that the LNKB has just become the official Latvian representative of the International Peatland Society (IPS).

Epicentrs now available on youtube

27 Jun, 2022

You can follow us now on youtube (Ezeru un Purvu Izpētes Centrs (epicentrs.lv)) where the content will be available both in Latvian and English.

Black Death Mortality not as Widespread as Long Thought

18 Jan, 2022

Pollen data from 19 modern European countries reveals that although the Black Death had a devastating impact in some regions, parts of Europe experienced negligible or no impact at all.

A new study in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution uses pollen data to evaluate the second plague pandemic’s mortality at a regional scale across Europe. Results show that the impacts of the Black Death varied substantially from region to region and demonstrate the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches for understanding past – and present – pandemics.

Legislation scheme on the extraction of mineral resources

1 Feb, 2018, No comments

A short time ago I was involved in a project on EU legislation on the extraction of mineral resources. My section was on the laws and regulations in Latvia. Unfortunately, the European Commission has not yet given its approval to publish the report of the study and, consequently, for the time being, I can’t publish also my report for this study. However, I will share a small part of the results – the legislation scheme on the extraction of mineral resources.

It is not easy to navigate in the legislation jungles in Latvia. Let this scheme serve as a landmark for those brave who are ready to take a risk and DIG!

Please download scheme here.

TeaComposition H2O initiative

29 Jan, 2018, No comments

Lake and Peatland Research Centre is the only organization from Latvia taking part in the TeaComposition H2O initiative that aims to tease apart the factors that make some ecosystems greenhouse gas emitters while others carbon-sequestering ecosystems. TeaComposition H2O is a global-scale analysis of litter decomposition within wetland ecosystems using household tea bags or Tea Decomposition by monitoring how fast tea bags buried in the soil decompose. There are over 350 sites around the world located in 35 countries and the project will last for three years. For more information read later or see http://www.bluecarbonlab.org/teacomposition-h2o/

map from:
http://www.bluecarbonlab.org/teacomposition-h2o/

Post author: N. Stivrins

Whats new in peat industry? Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2017

7 Nov, 2017, 2 comments

Author: Ilze Ozola

In the course of my studies, conferences caused a panic in me - speaking in front of the audience, in addition to the professors, who can ask questions and I won't have an answers. Thanks to my supervisor, Laimdota Kalniņa, I had to do this often. By the time panic disappeared and I started to enjoy the conferences. I got the inspiration to continue my job and try something new.

Thanks to two little kids I did not participate in any conference for two years, and then in September I was at two very well-organized and content-rich conferences - the 17th Baltic Peat Producers' Forum and the Renewable resources from wet and rewetted peatlands (RRR 2017). Cardinally opposite conferences. First on the first.

Meanwhile planted Sphagnum is waiting for spring..

10 Feb, 2017, No comments

First Sphagnum planted

23 May, 2016, No comments

Over the last few days we have planted 0.13 ha of Sphagnum. More to come.

Sphagnum farming in Latvia

16 May, 2016, 2 comments

Lake and peatland research centre together with LLC "Laflora" start Sphagnum farming in Bog Kaigu, Latvia. For more information follow upcoming updates.

Establishing Lake and Peatland Research Centre

3 Feb, 2016, No comments

At the moment the main novelty is establishment of the Lake and Peatland Research Centre on 2016 February 2 - World Wetlands Day.