Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
“Building Sustainable Capacity and Ownership to Implement UNCCD (UN Convention on Combating Desertification/Land Degradation) objectives in Latvia”

In Latvia land degradation processes have been, in most part, stimulated by inappropriate and incorrect land management. In many places an inappropriate amount of organic and artificial fertilizers used decreases the fertility of agricultural lands, results in changes in the organic part of the soil structure, soil compaction and acidification. Excessive or incorrect processing of public and private forests impoverishes forest soils.

In Latvia land degradation causes a considerable decline of the biodiversity, changes the traditional rural landscape and influences the overall stability of ecosystems. Under the impact of land degradation Latvia is more exposed to the threat of climatic changes that take place upon the decline of photosynthesis, biological activity and upon the weakening of the fundamental soil functions.

The Project is implemented during the period from December 2005 till January 2008; the Project is financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported also by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

The main goal of the Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) “Building Sustainable Capacity and Ownership to Implement UNCCD (UN Convention on Combating Desertification/Land Degradation) objectives in Latvia” (hereinafter – the Project) is to improve knowledge at all levels, from farmers to senior officials of ministries, about land degradation and sustainable development, analysis and decision-making skills as well as the ability to take appropriate action to reduce land degradation risks. At the same time the Project provides assistance to the government of Latvia in fulfilling its commitments that it has undertaken by signing the UN Convention on Combating Desertification/Land Degradation.

The immediate Project outcomes are as follows:

1. improved and amplified national policy of action, by integrating principles of sustainable land management into policy documents and the legislative system;
2. capacity is created for the implementation of sustainable land management practice in pilot areas and consequently,
3. improved knowledge, skills and capacity for the implementation of sustainable land management principles in Latvia.

The Project is implemented in four phases:

The legislative and regulatory system will be coordinated and improved within the frame of Phase 1 „Legislation and its implementation strategy and practice”, incentive and sustainable financing mechanisms and a coordination mechanism for addressing land degradation problems will be developed.

Within the frame of Phase 2 „Local capacity building in pilot areas (PA) in the Nīca municipality of the Liepāja district and in the Jelgava district” the knowledge and skills of representatives of rural municipalities and districts in integrated land planning and in developing cooperation in problem-solving, by undertaking practical land degradation assessment activities that will result in the development of a plan for the Exchange of knowledge and replication.

Within Phase 3 „Improved knowledge and capacities” activities of further education will be provided for local farmers, other land uses and local decision-makers concerning sustainable land management, a textbook on „Land Degradation and Monitoring” for educational institutions will be developed, published and distributed; principles of sustainable land management will be integrated into the content of general education and activities will be undertaken for the information of the community in line with the progress of the Project.

Administrative functions of Project management will be implemented within the frame of Phase 4 „Project management and monitoring”.

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