Landscape of semi-wild large herbivores in the specially protected nature territories of Latvia

Reķe, Agnese; Zarina, A.; Rūsiņa, Solvita

doi:10.22364/fg.17.8

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Secondly, all of the grazing sites are situated next to a natural waterbody that can provide animals with drinking water. Thirdly, all of the cases bear a similar objective -protection and restoration of mosaic landscape and grasslands [11].…”

Section: Semi-wild Herbivore Grazing Sites In Spnt Of Latviamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first large herbivores in Latvia, Konik horses and Heck cattle, were introduced in 1999 in the Nature Park "Pape" as a part of WWF Latvia's initiative that aimed to restore the natural habitats in the Pape polder -a marginalized agricultural area [10]. Since 1999, grazing areas of semi-wild large herbivores have been established in numerous specially protected nature territories (SPNT) in Latvia, mainly in nature parks and nature reserves [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Management of Semi-Wild Large Herbivores’ Grazing Sites in Latvia

Reķe

Zarina

Vinogradovs

2019

ETR

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Large herbivores were a common part of European nature in the pre-agrarian times. With the development of farming and over-hunting, the number of wild large herbivores rapidly decreased. Wild horses and cattle became extinct. In the 1920-30’s, scientists created two new herbivore breeds that resembled the extinct aurochs and tarpans - Heck cattle and Konik horses. Nowadays the introduction of Heck cattle, Konik horses and other similar large herbivore breeds is widely used in specially protected nature territories (SPNT) as a strategic answer to the question – what should we do with the agricultural lands that have lost their economical meaning. Since 1999, semi-wild large herbivores are introduced in various SPNT of Latvia as well, mainly in nature parks and nature reserves. Based on field visits, interviews and policy analysis, this paper discusses two main approaches to semi-wild grazing animal population management in Latvia: (1) introduced herbivores as a part of rewilding process and (2) introduced herbivores as instruments for habitat protection. The former represents the implementation of western wilderness values, while the latter is related to more specific protection of species and habitats according to particular place-based nature protection goals. This study contributes to the growing discussion on rewilding practises in Europe and the introduction ideas of semi-wild animals, as well as landscape management practices in the era of post-productivism.

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Section: Semi-wild Herbivore Grazing Sites In Spnt Of Latviamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%