Latvia
| country: | Latvia |
| departures: | 2003; 2nd - 16th August |
| price: | £495 including fodd and accommodation excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Latvia is a country with lots to offer, there is plenty of off the beaten track to explore, as well as Riga, the countries capital. Riga lies on the Baltic Coast and is well worth a visit either before or after your project.
Whether it is dune lined coast or historic towns, or the remote uplands Latvia has it all. Lake Pape is located in south western Latvia, within the Liepaja region, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Reeds have taken over approx. half on the area in the last 70 years, however Lake Pape remains a very significant coastal wetland ecosystem. Many threatened species, including 43 Latvian Red List plant species and 15 European Red List bird species find there homes at Lake Pape.
WWF Latvia are working to restore the natural ecosystem, including all natural ecological processes, to turn the area into a true wilderness of international status.
Leisure avtivities during your free time
A wide variety of options are open for your leisure time. You can help with guided tours of the grazing area, where visitors from around the world come to see the diversity of wildlife. Go fishing, bird watching or swimming in the lake and sea. Experience a local sauna, or go horse riding at Nica. The river Sventaja offers plenty of opportunities for canoeing. Observe. beaver dams, otters, red deer, roe deer and moose, black storks and lesser spotted eagles. If you are really lucky, you can see wolves, or are at least hear them, because at this time ( mid July), young wolves leave dens and start howl. It is possible to rent boats at the Barta river nearby Nica. Canoe boats are available at the WWF house for trips in the lake reed beds.
Accommodation
You will be staying at traditional bed and breakfast accommodation in the nearby Pape village. You will be staying in small groups within the heart of the local community.
Whether it is dune lined coast or historic towns, or the remote uplands Latvia has it all. Lake Pape is located in south western Latvia, within the Liepaja region, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Reeds have taken over approx. half on the area in the last 70 years, however Lake Pape remains a very significant coastal wetland ecosystem. Many threatened species, including 43 Latvian Red List plant species and 15 European Red List bird species find there homes at Lake Pape.
WWF Latvia are working to restore the natural ecosystem, including all natural ecological processes, to turn the area into a true wilderness of international status.
Leisure avtivities during your free time
A wide variety of options are open for your leisure time. You can help with guided tours of the grazing area, where visitors from around the world come to see the diversity of wildlife. Go fishing, bird watching or swimming in the lake and sea. Experience a local sauna, or go horse riding at Nica. The river Sventaja offers plenty of opportunities for canoeing. Observe. beaver dams, otters, red deer, roe deer and moose, black storks and lesser spotted eagles. If you are really lucky, you can see wolves, or are at least hear them, because at this time ( mid July), young wolves leave dens and start howl. It is possible to rent boats at the Barta river nearby Nica. Canoe boats are available at the WWF house for trips in the lake reed beds.
Accommodation
You will be staying at traditional bed and breakfast accommodation in the nearby Pape village. You will be staying in small groups within the heart of the local community.
a day in a life of a volunteer
The basic work will be related to making the tourism trail (hiking and biking) around the Lake Pape, "Promoting the ecotourism in Rucava municipality". The length of the trail is around 25km. You will be involved in marking the trail, scrub clearance and putting the direction and information signs. An additional work area will be constructing small bridges across ditches and construction of bird hides from reeds at river Ligupe entrance into the Lake. You will also help improve the grazing area fences for Wild horses, wild cattle and or European Bison.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
This project aims to build on the biological diversity of the Lake Papa region. You will be involved in restoring and protecting the natural environment.
|
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |