Environmental protection to focus on water resources

  • 2010-01-20
  • From wire reports

RIGA - The Ministry of the Environment has announced that in 2010 it plans to conduct various activities to inform society on urgent environmental issues that the country faces. This year seven protected sea territories, with a total area of 436,662 hectares, will be created under Latvian jurisdiction in order to ensure protection of sensitive environments, especially of protected species’ habitats, as well as migratory bird feeding and wintering grounds.
This is defined in the Cabinet of Ministers regulations project “Regulations on Protected Territories of the Sea.” The ports won’t be included in protected zones, with the exception of Mersrags port’s outer roadway, which provides for the protection of specially protected bird species.

The laws on specially protected natural territories will be changed next year to provide stricter protection to these territories. Requirements in specially protected territories will be reconsidered, taking into account the economic activities in them.
The Sea Protection Law will be drafted in 2010. Its aim is to create the system of sea protection and management in order to ensure the protection of Latvian waters, and for ensuring the sustainability of the water ecosystem and resources. The law will be adjusted to all sea waters in the jurisdiction of Latvia, including the seabed and sea depths including the continental shelf.
According to European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98/EK, there are new requirements for waste management – for the drafting and implementation of waste monitoring programs, ensuring the implementation of separating waste collection and to promote the recycling of waste. In 2010, the new Waste management law will be drafted.

This year will be active regarding water management - the project “Water management development in Eastern Latvia water basins” will be finished. Second round water management development projects will be implemented in Ventspils, Liepaja and Daugavpils, as well as third round development projects in Riga.