Three new environmental education and information centres being established in Latvia

With the aim of promoting an environmentally friendly attitude and the development of a sustainable lifestyle in society, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) is continuing the “NATURE=ME” initiative. Thanks to support from European Union funds, three new, modern and multifunctional environmental information and education centres of national significance are currently being constructed at the Latvian National Museum of Natural History, the National Botanic Garden in Salaspils and Riga National Zoological Garden.

Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development Artūrs Toms Plešs (AP!): “To achieve the goals related to the preservation of biodiversity, as well as to halt the ever-increasing climate change and environmental pollution, not only decisive policies are needed—each person’s everyday choices are also important. Therefore, strengthening environmental awareness and education is becoming increasingly important. We have begun constructing several important environmental information and education centres aimed at informing the public, and we believe that the knowledge gained there will provide ever greater motivation to respect the interests of the environment and act responsibly.”

Riga National Zoological Garden

The centre will be created by reconstructing the Monkey House, built in 1912 and designed by architect Herman Zeiberlich. It will include four thematic spaces dedicated to biodiversity, mobile exhibition stands, as well as outdoor areas for educational activities. The total area will be nearly 900 m2, allowing three groups of up to 30 people each to be accommodated simultaneously.

National Botanic Garden and its “Botania” Environmental Education Centre

“Botania” will welcome visitors by taking them through six thematic exhibitions on two floors. The exhibitions include more than one hundred topics concerning plant life, from root to fruit. Specially equipped classrooms will also be provided. The centre’s total area will exceed 940 m2.

Latvian National Museum of Natural History

As part of the project, two new museum exhibitions have been created and five have been renovated at the Latvian National Museum of Natural History. They have been supplemented with information stands and models illustrating natural processes and environmental protection activities. The museum’s lobby has been renovated, important items supplementing the collection holdings have been acquired, and a new exhibition hall has been created.

About the “NATURE=ME” Campaign

The aim of the campaign is to promote society’s, particularly schoolchildren’s, interest in nature, its processes and interactions within each process, as well as to inform the public about the three environmental information and education centres of national significance. As part of the campaign, a variety of activities will be organised to encourage people both to visit the institutions mentioned above and to learn about and become aware of their role in preserving environmental diversity. The “NATURE=ME” campaign was launched in November 2019 and will continue until the autumn of this year.

The project “Public information campaign on investments from European Union funds in three environmental information and education centres of national significance and the promotion of public environmental awareness” is being implemented with the support of the European Union (EU) Cohesion Fund.

More information - https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvija-top-tris-jauni-vides-izglitibas-un-informacijas-centri

Author:

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

varam.gov.lv