From 6 until 10 August two leading European soil scientists visited Latvia – dr. P.D. Jungerius and dr. J.A.M. van den Ancker, who in cooperation with the Latvian colleagues – dr. Oļģerts Nikodemus, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Land Research of the University of Latvia and dr. Aldis Kārkliņš, Director of the Soil and Plant Research Institute of the Latvia University of Agriculture – reviewed options of categorizing soils in Latvia according to the classification of soils by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

For four days the group of scientists carried out field research in the parish of Svēte in Jelgava District and examined the coast of the Baltic Sea from Nīca to Jūrkalne for a day. Activities included obtaining of soil samples from depth of about a meter and detection of soil types. In five cases detailed investigation reaching the depth of two meters was done.
During examination the scientists discussed the difference between soils in Latvia and in Europe, as well as considered the alternative of transpose the existing Latvian classification of soils and soil maps so that to conform with international standards. Precise and modern classification of soils in Latvia is of special importance for agriculturists, as all fertilizers and pesticides are marked in accordance with the common international classification.
The obtained data will be completely collated in November. Currently Latvian scientists are still analyzing soil samples in laboratory and are working on soil map of Svēte Parish.

We remind that within the project "Building Capacity for Implementation of the "UN Convention To Combat Desertification / Land Degradation" in Latvia", implemented by the "Vides projekti" Ltd. and UNDP and financed by GEF, in all the Svēte Parish of Jelgava District and in polder Meķa in Nīca Parish of Liepāja District agrochemical tests of soils have been done already. In the polder Meķa the experts of the state company "Melioprojekts" SIA checked the condition of the drainage system and developed potential recommendations for its further maintenance.

The results of the practical research are applied developing the National Action Programme for prevention of land degradation during 2008-2012. In 2002 by the ratification of the "UN Convention To Combat Desertification / Land Degradation" the Latvian government has taken international obligations to implement the measures for reducing land degradation, that is to introduce the principles of sustainable land management in law, action policy and further planning.

Additional information:
Aija Jakubovska
Education and Communication Component Coordinator, UN DP/GEF project “Building Sustainable Capacity and Ownership to Implement the objectives of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Latvia”
+ 371 2 914 4371
Aija.Jakubovska@biosfera.gov.lv