Location: Mežvidi Parish, Ludza Municipality
Project Area: Grīvu Island in the Lubāns wetland complex
Farm Size: 500 ha
Activity: Beef cattle farming
Project Activities:
- Restoration of the hydrological regime in the floodplain meadows of Grīvu Island
- Habitat restoration
- Restorative grazing on 175 hectares
- Investment in agricultural machinery
- Expansion of the cattle herd with Charolais breed cattle
Ivars Silkāns is a farmer who has managed the floodplain meadows on Grīvu Island in the Lubāna Wetland since 2001. Although these areas are neither the easiest nor the most profitable to manage, Ivars recognizes their value – unique nature, bird diversity, and plant richness. This is the second project supporting Ivars in managing Grīvu Island. The primary effort – restoring the original hydrological regime – has required extensive work, including filling in ditches, creating mini-wetlands for amphibians, and preparing technical designs and permits for each action. Currently, with the support of the MarshMeadows project, the restoration of Grīvu Island’s ecosystems continues, and it has already become one of Latvia’s most important areas for bird species associated with wet grasslands, as well as an outstanding example of nature restoration.