Threats to Lake Pape

Eutrophication, poaching, unplanned development...

During the past 70 years, approximately one half of the surface area of Lake Pape has become overgrown with reeds. This is mainly due to the diversion of two small streams, the Ligupe and Paurupe, that were feeding the lake with freshwater.

After they were channelled directly to the sea by Soviet agricultural planning, water circulation in, and oxygen supply to, the lake was dramatically reduced, which led to eutrophication (high nutrient concentrations leading to excessive plant growth, and loss of habitat for fish).

Following the decline of agriculture in the region, the surrounding meadows - which were once mowed for hay but are now abandoned - are starting to become overgrown with shrubs and trees. If this continues, forests will take over these grasslands, and the valuable and diverse natural ecological processes and functions they were providing will be lost.

Planting pines did not help
The Soviets also planted Alpine pines to prevent the shifting of dunes. The pines cut the wind, but this eventually created new microclimatic conditions. As a result, bush grew quickly behind the wind-breaking pines at the expense of native vegetation, which needs the influence of the sea wind to develop.

Poaching, illegal fishing
Other problems affecting the area include poaching of wildlife such as deers, wild boars, geese, and ducks, and illegal fishing in the lake and Baltic Sea coastal waters. Normally, the Latvian authorities should take action against poachers. However, the closest police station is 40 km away, and the rangers only come once a week. They simply lack funding to do more.

Lack of awareness
In addition, nature conservation is not perceived as a priority by local residents, whose prime interest is in quick development, which they see as the best solution to increase their income. They even consider it strange that a non-governmental organization spends funds on conservation.