„Protected natural areas and tourism management in Latvia“ EEA TOUERM

1. „Protected natural areas and tourism management in Latvia“EEA TOUERM Eriks Leitis, PhD Department of Nature Protection, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia

2. General information Latvia’s total territory - 64 589 km2 use of land: 38,5% agriculture 44,4% forestry 17,1% other - 13% specially protected territories, including 334 Natura 2000

3. Specially Protected Nature Territories of Latvia Total Area of Specially Protected Nature Territories except marine areas – 1’170’868 ha

4. Ecotourism research areas 4

5. The main institutions The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Department of Nature Protection: Development of the Biodiversity Protection Policy Cooperation with the European Commission and International Conventions

6. Integration of specially protected nature territories of Latvia in spatial plans Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia

7. Spatial plans of local governments Spatial plan specifies the requirements for land use and building, including functional zoning, public infrastructure and land use and building regulations, as well as other land use conditions for administrative territory or a part of it Spatial plan is elaborated by harmonizing public and private interests and providing society involvement – various proposals of landowners, that are interested in valuable use of their property, may be taken into account

8. Target group Owners and managers of the land in protected nature areas Local spatial planning experts/ local municipalities Responsible state institutions and managing institutions

9. Financial instruments for the management of Natura 2000 EU funds, Rural Development Program, LIFE, Interreg Horizon 2020) National development Plan (2014 – 2020), Latvia 2030

10. Trends in the development of ecotourism in Natura 2000 10

11. Ecotourism resources- especially protected nature territories(EPNT) 11

12. Ecotourism resources - heritage 12

13. Nature and heritage resources for the development of ecotourism The Sabile vineyard (2012) Sabile by W.S. Stavenhagen (1860) 13

14. Nature and heritage resources for the development of ecotourism Nature Park “Daugavas loki” 14

15. Nature and heritage resources for the development of ecotourism The trail of history - Nature park “Daugavas loki” 15

16. Landscape resources for the development of ecotourism – Nature Park “Sauka” 16

17. Good environmental practise in ecotourism to reduce impact of industry on Natura 2000 1. Waste managemnet; 2. Ecotechnologies for sewage watewr treatment; 3. Environmentally friendly mobility; 4. Eco-building; 5. Renewable energy resources; 6. Organic products; 7. Ecovillages; • Environmental education; • Environmental ethics and philosophy • Certification of ecotourism products and services 17

18. Eco building Camphill Rožkalni village (2002) 18

19. Eco building Waldorf school in Lizdeni (1999) 19

20. Videi draudzīgie risinājumi ekotūrismā – atkritumu šķirošanaManagement of waste separation in Ventspils city (2008) 20

21. Camp site near the Daugava river in the Nature park “Daugavas loki” (2011) 21

22. Methodology of research/ approachA content analysis of legal acts, policy and planning documents, statistical data; Bseven case studies in the area of ecotourism in protected nature areas;C observation and evaluation of tourism impact;Dsurvey of target groups and occasional respondents – 379 respondents,surveycovered following areas of evaluation (a total of 53 questions):1. participation of various interested parties in ecotourism;2. tourism activities in the local surroundings;3. forms of tourism that could be developed;4. tourism entrepreneurship;5. the importance of tourism resources;6. factors affecting tourism as a business;7. types of tourism education; 8. environmentally friendly approaches and technology proposals. 22

23. Findings and dataEcotourism feasibility studies have been carried out at several Natura 2000 sites in Latvia since 2001: environmental risks:air and water pollution, waste, soil erosion, timber industry; environmentally friendly solutions:biological water treatment systems, eco-buildings,eco-villages, environmentally-friendly mobility,renewable energyresources, energy saving, bio-products; 23

24. Ecotourism research area - results 24

25. Ecotourism research area - results 25

26. Ecotourism research area - results 26

27. Development of new ecotourism products - Sonata of Lighthouses 27

28. Prolongation of the ecotourism season 28

29. Model for the Development of Ecotourism 29

30. Ecotourism Development Cycle 30

31. Conclusions While Ecotourism is still a relatively new concept in tourism throughout the world, this is especially so in Latvia where it has barely been accepted let alone understood and has even interpreted in many and diverse ways, thus creating problems for the planning and realisation of this form of tourism. In Latvia, there remains a notable deficit of studies and publications in the field of ecotourism and this is tied to a lack of information with regard to its importance and value in the overall advancement of sustainable development. 31

32. Conclusions In planning for ecotourism projects a key factor revolves around the integration of environmentally friendly technologies and approaches – renewable energy resources, reduction of emissions of sewage water and air pollution, application of energy efficiency, separation of waste, promotion of organic products, eco-village and ecobuilding projects, green mobility, nature guiding, environmental science and education. 32