Northern river sparrow in Latvia

Northern river sparrow is a species that is threatened with extinction not only in Latvia, but also elsewhere in Europe. Its relative, the thick mother-of-pearl, is more common, but is also rapidly disappearing. Both mussels need clean water in rivers to live.

We already wrote ("Unfinished homework in nature protection", LA, 12.12.2019) that the European Commission (EC) sent a letter to Latvia accusing it of insufficient action in nature protection, including pointing out the poor condition of the thick mother-of-pearl.

When "Latvijas Avīze" asked the question, what exactly is Europe blaming and what will be done to preserve the thick mother-of-pearl, the Ministry of the Environment, Regional and Development, hiding behind the regulatory enactments, stated that this is still "information of limited availability" and it will be so until the moment. when the final court ruling will take effect.

There are plans, but it doesn't help

The protection plan for the species of northern river plover was developed more than fifteen years ago - in 2004, while the thick pearl plover - in 2010.

Despite these plans, the goals of species protection formulated in them: to stop the extinction of the species and to help it regain a normal cycle of reproduction and development - are still relevant.

The zoological collections of the LU Museum contain more than one handwritten document related to the activities of the Zoological Museum of the Institute of Systematic Zoology of the University of Latvia in the 1920s and 1930s. Several prof. Manuscripts of A. Mäder (1873 – 1944). One of them is a manuscript for a publication on the history of pearl mining in Latvia. It contains information on pearl mining since the 17th century. When the University of Latvia was founded in 1919, Alfred Mēder was appointed its professor. His scientific activity was related to differential geometry, mathematical analysis and probability theory. At the same time, he was also very active in the Riga Society of Naturalists.