Initiative “For Clean Rivers!” launched to improve Latvia’s river ecosystems
Only one-third (33%) of Latvia’s rivers are in high or good ecological condition[1], so the natural mineral water brand Mangaļi, with the support of the World Wide Fund for Nature, is launching the long-term “For Clean Rivers!” project, through which it will work to improve the cleanliness and flow of Latvia’s rivers. At the beginning of the project, information will be collected on naturally or artificially constructed dams in Latvia’s rivers, and an environmental study will be carried out with the involvement of WWF experts to assess the impact of these dams on nature. The improvement of Latvia’s river ecosystems is planned to take place over several years, but the river research and public education phase is beginning this year.
Although water covers 71% of our planet, only approximately 3% of it is freshwater, and less than 1% of the world’s freshwater is readily accessible and directly usable by people.[1] Recognising that this small proportion of freshwater must be protected from pollution, the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 identifies the restoration of freshwater ecosystems and the natural functions of rivers as one of its areas of action, setting the goal of restoring at least 25,000 km of rivers to free-flowing condition by 2030.[2] A study conducted by WWF Europe last year identified the fragmentation of rivers by dams as one of the most significant problems affecting river ecological quality. Large and medium-sized rivers were assessed and their potential for flow restoration was identified, but smaller rivers and more diverse types of dams must also continue to be surveyed, as this will help restore freshwater quality and riparian habitats.
“For more than 25 years, the core values of our Mangaļi mineral water brand have been clean, natural, high-quality mineral water sourced in Latvia . We obtain water rich in high-quality mineral salts from wells drilled into an underground water deposit. However, we also want to contribute to improving the quality of surface water in Latvia. Latvia has approximately 12,500 rivers, yet only one-third of them are in good ecological condition. People often harm nature, possibly without even realising it, which is why, with the support of WWF, we have set ourselves the shared goal of educating the public and improving the flow of Latvia’s rivers,” says Ilze Auziņa-Grabeca, Marketing Manager at SIA “Cido Grupa”.
This year, as part of the project, information will be collected on naturally or artificially constructed dams in Latvia’s rivers, and a study led by WWF experts will be conducted to assess the impact of these dams on nature. Removing dams is the fastest and most effective way to restore a river’s natural flow—within a couple of months after a dam is removed, the riverbed regains its natural form and water quality also improves significantly as the river ecosystem returns to a more normal state. Throughout the “For Clean Rivers!” project, educational activities will be held to inform the public and foster an understanding of the need to improve the quality of Latvia’s rivers.
“Free-flowing rivers are the foundation of healthy river ecosystems and good water quality. Unfortunately, Latvia’s rivers contain many non-functional barriers, and removing them could restore the rivers to their original ecological condition. To date, approximately 20 such barriers have already been identified in Latvia, and removing them would significantly improve the situation in the rivers. However, many dams have yet to be identified, which is why we support this initiative by the natural mineral water brand Mangaļi—to compile information about dams in rivers and restore their free flow,” says Magda Jentgena, Head of the Baltic Sea and Freshwater Programme at WWF.
Natural mineral water Mangaļi and WWF invite anyone who has observed or notices dams in any of Latvia’s rivers to submit information about them on the project website www.partiramupem.lv or share photographs of the dams and their locations on social media, using the hashtag #partiramupem and tagging @mangali_udens. Updates on the project will be available on the project website and on the Mangaļi brand’s social media channels.
About the Mangaļi mineral water brand
Natural mineral water Mangaļi has been known since 1994, when its production began. It is the first registered natural mineral water produced in Latvia. Mangaļi mineral water is extracted from a certified underground water deposit 213 metres deep. At this depth, the sedimentary rocks are protected from any pollution, making it possible to obtain naturally pure, living water rich in mineral salts. Natural mineral water Mangaļi is a product brand of SIA “Cido Grupa”.
More about the project: www.partiramupem.lv
Find out the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/MineraludensMangali/
Source:
Communications representative for the “For Clean Rivers!” project
[1] https://www.usbr.gov/mp/arwec/water-facts-ww-water-sup.html
[2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/communication-annex-eu-biodiversity-strategy-2030_en.pdf
[1] http://goodwater.lv/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/02_LIFE_GoodWater_IP_projekts-1-1.pdf
