Background Lake Pape is an area rich in sensitive and important habitats. It sits in a remote region of south-west Latvia along the Baltic coast close to the border with Lithuania. The 6 800 ha area is a complex mosaic of coastal lagoons and meadows, natural forests, active raised bogs, species-rich grasslands, calcareous fens and coastal dunes. It is on the main Western Palearctic migratory flyway and forms a major bottleneck for hundreds of thousands of birds passing through each year. No less than 75 species listed in annex I of the Birds Directive have been recorded there, including six priority species such as the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola). Just over half the area’s inland territory is designated as habitats of EU importance. The region has had a difficult history. Before 1940 it supported families who lived by fishing. During Soviet times, it became the Russian frontier and out of bounds to most Latvians. Fishing was banned and many young people moved away. Today the population has dwindled to 100 people, most of whom are of retirement age. There have been dramatic consequences. The lake has been choked by reeds over half its surface. Lack of grazing and mowing has caused precious grassland and meadow to become overgrown. Peat extraction in the Nida bog has caused the raised bog to dry up and the coastal area has become popular with Lithuanian tourists leading to erosion of this valuable dune complex. Objectives The project set out to tackle these threats in a coordinated way and to create a sustainable long-term institutional framework for managing Lake Pape Nature Park. It aimed to work in partnership with the two municipal authorities to develop a preservation regime for defined priority habitats such as coastal lagoons and natural raised bogs, and introduce grassland management to maintain habitat for endangered wetland birds such as the corn crake (Crex crex) and great bittern (Botaurus stellaris). It sought to create a long-term management structure, which would include management plans acceptable to other stakeholders and a monitoring system to police new regulations preventing illegal fishing and hunting and providing protection for sensitive dunes and wetlands. This would look to maintain and extend the project’s gains. Specific planned measures were the re-introduction of grazing by horses and cattle, installation of dams in the bog areas to prevent drying-out and cutting-down of 100 ha of reeds each year. Water-management assessment would be made and work carried out to improve exchange of water between lake, sea and source rivers. It was also a specific objective to minimize destructive visitor impact by producing public information and introducing systems such as nature trails and signs. Results The project succeeded in producing a long-term Lake Pape Nature Park management plan, approved by the Minister of Environment in July 2007. The new management structure should ensure the future nature conservation and hydrological restoration of the lake and the Nida bog, and protection for EU priority species and habitats. Lake Pape Nature Park Fund has been established as a driving force for management of the area. It is already active in seeking finance for future work foreseen by the plan. The project began with an inventory of flora, fauna and habitats, a hydrology study and a feasibility study for calcareous meadows. These resulted in an action plan. An advisory committee of stakeholders was formed, with 13 participants. Agreements were achieved to lease 421 ha of land, which was then fenced. Six horses and 23 cattle were bought and when combined with existing stock, resulted in 54 cattle and 31 horses grazing this land by the end of the project. Dredging of two rivers was carried out to improve water exchange and thus prevent overgrowth of the lake. Reed cutting was carried out as intended, with 100 ha cut down each year. An inspection system was established to prevent violation of new controls. Two inspectors have been in place since 2004. During the project period, 7 748 m of illegal fishing nets were removed. In the popular coastal dunes area, visitors are now controlled by a signed nature trail and by the setting-out of seven designated camping places. A bird-watching tower was built in 2006. A wide range of public information has been produced, including a handbook about the area’s history, nature, protected species and the new rules that help its preservation. There are also leaflets, a video and website. However, major disappointments have been the lack of much of the work to improve water exchange between sea and lake, or on restoration of the natural wetlands or the Nida bog. Failure to carry out this part of the project designed to protect priority habitats such as the coastal lagoons and natural raised bogs was considered serious. The beneficiary believes all hydrology restoration will be completed by 2018. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).