Emys orbicularis

Pupins, Mihails & Pupina, Aija, 2014, P R O J E C T S O N E M Y S O R B I C U L A R I S (R E P T I L I A: Testudines: Emydidae) In Latvia For Thirty Years (1984 - 2014): Biological Aspects, Results And Effect On Population And Ecosystems, Acta Biologica Universitatis Daugavpiliensis 14 (2), pp. 159-175 : 168-169

E. orbicularis research and conservation problems in Latvia, actual for the project:

Created in the result of realization of previous projects Plan on protection urgently required implementation in Latvia, for which there were no means of the background private project. The most important problems were the following: 1) problems of forming and long-term keeping of a breeding group of Emys orbicularis ; 2) problems of regular rearing and releasing into nature of breaded young Emys orbicularis for supporting of becoming extinct populations; 3) problems of restoration of degraded biotopes and creation of green corridors for vanishing populations of Emys orbicularis , especially for contacting with stronger southern populations in Belarus and Lithuania; 4) problems of popularization of protection of Emys orbicularis among population of Latvia.

Project activities and main results: The main target activities of the project were the following: 1) preliminary investigation of becoming near to extinct population on the territory of Nature 2000 Silene Nature Park; 2) development of the Plan on management of the population for Silene Nature Park; 3) renovation of an old Centre for conservation of rare reptiles and amphibians; 4) rearing of Emys orbicularis and long-term keeping of juvenile turtles for their releasing into nature; 5) restoration of biotopes of Emys orbicularis on the territory of Silene Nature Park; 6) education of population of Latvia. The main results of the project are the following: 1) renovated and entirely functioning Centre for conservation of rare reptiles and amphibians of Latvia; 2) restored biotopes of Emys orbicularis in Silene Nature Park that create a green corridor for transborder contacts of Emys orbicularis populations; 3) for the first time in the history of Latvia 42 young adult turtles and semi-adults turtles, reared in the Centre, were released into Silene Nature Park in 2014 for restoration of the population of Emys orbicularis ( Fig. 3 ); 4) international cooperation for research of northern Emys orbicularis ; 5) a wide network of educational arrangements for population. The project has apparent very long-term after-LIFE effectiveness and sustainability.

Figures

Fig. 3. Location of zones of influences of Project LIFE-HerpetoLatvia.