The LatViaNature project of the nature protection administration invites citizens to participate in a public survey on the attitude, knowledge and understanding of the preservation of natural diversity, nature protection in Latvia, as well as the most important thing about recreation and traveling in nature.
The survey questionnaire can be filled out online until October 31. All information obtained will be used only in an aggregate form and will provide researchers with meaningful data. One of the partners of the LatViaNature project - Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences - will ensure the conduct of the survey, the collection and analysis of the results.
"Nature is the value of the entire society, which ensures a sustainable future, human well-being and a healthy economy. Its preservation and protection is our common interest. Taking into account that the nature protection system in Latvia has historically been formed in stages and fragmented, there is room for improvement, as well as opportunities for development. Public opinion allows us to move towards a Latvian nature protection system that would be well-functioning, scientifically based, stable and understandable to everyone, so I invite everyone to participate in the survey," says Andris Širovs, executive officer of general manager at Nature Conservation Agency.
From September 1 to October 31, face-to-face surveys will be held in parallel with the online survey, targeting the necessary groups of society so that the results of the survey represent the opinion of the entire society as a whole. The survey data will be collected until April 2025, the publication of the data is planned for June next year.
The results of the survey will be handed over to the national nature protection policy makers and used to plan and act more effectively in the preservation of natural values, including management and public education. The survey takes place in the LIFE integrated project LatViaNature implemented by the Nature Conservation Agency. In the course of the project, public opinion survey is carried out three times - in 2021, 2024 and 2028.
Unlike the survey at the initial stage of the project, this year, in parallel with the survey of Latvian residents, a survey of foreign tourists is also conducted with the aim of finding out their experience while relaxing and traveling in the nature of Latvia.
We invite you to share this questionnaire with your foreign friends, acquaintances, colleagues who have visited Latvia and been outside the cities during the last year!
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, which conducts this survey, has accumulated experience in conducting surveys in the State Research Program and international projects, as well as surveys of residents and entrepreneurs in Latvia.
Photo: Nature Conservation Agency