Proceedings

Foreword
As society’s dependence on the resources delivered by
ecosystems increases, due in large part to a burgeoning
global population and escalating consumption, our
ecosystems are experiencing increasing stress, and the
need to assure ecological sustainability has become
widely recognized. Healthy ecosystems are inextricably
linked to healthy economies, and both are directly
linked to a healthy quality of life. The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s
(UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve Program was established
to facilitate research and information sharing to advance
healthy ecosystems, healthy economies, and healthy
societies and cultures, which are integrated in the term
sustainable development.
The North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve (NVBR)
designated by UNESCO in 1997 is one of 531 biosphere
reserves in 105 countries around our globe. Biosphere
reserves are areas of terrestrial or coastal ecosystems
internationally recognized for promoting and
demonstrating a balanced relationship between humans
and nature. The principle tenants of the Biosphere
Reserve Program include the conservation of ecosystems,
landscapes, species and genetic variation; the promotion
of economic development at the local level that is socially,
culturally and ecologically sustainable; and support
for scientific research and monitoring, education, and
information sharing on issues of biodiversity conservation
and sustainable economic development.
The Second Scientific Conference of the North
Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve attracted over a hundred
local, national, and international participants and
provided an excellent platform for presenters to share
successes and challenges with respect to advancing
ecological, economic, cultural and social sustainability.
The papers delivered at the conference can be grouped
into the disciplines of planning, tourism, and monitoring.
A short synopsis of the delivered papers follows.
Sustainable development depends on strategic
planning at the local, regional, national and international
level. Melluma et al’s paper describes how the
Latvian government’s endorsement of the European
Landscape Convention in 2007 is contributing to a
holistic understanding of landscape conservation and
management systems. The Vestiena protected landscape
area is a prime example of planning for integrating
cultural and natural heritage. The paper by Bāra et al
illustrates the importance of completing the mapping of
the specially protected nature territories in Latvia so that
managers and developers have current information with
which to avoid incompatible development that could
threaten the habitats of the species of the European
Union and international importance. Neimane and
Zariņš demonstrate the value of Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) for planning purposes to ensure resource
availability, economic efficiency and sustainable use of
biomass for heat and power production. The Atstāja paper
demonstrates the need for a Latvian national pollution
inventory to prioritize and guide pollution prevention,
and, concomitantly, effective mechanisms to inform
the public and decision makers of the enviromental
consequences and economic rationale for pollution
prevention. Cochua’s paper on the Caucasus Ecoregion,
one of the 25 globally significant biodiversity hotspots,
provides a good example of an international government
and non-government cooperative landscape planning
exercise to address ecological and economic stability.
Sustainable tourism is proving to be a tangible
economic driver in many countries, but only after
adequate planning, collaboration, and infrastructure
development, which often takes a number of years.
The papers by Klepers et al and Bērziņa discuss
the importance of entrepreneurial and institutional
collaboration and provide examples of the cluster concept
from the Rāzna National Park area and hierarchy analysis
in Amata county. Grizāne addresses environment and
tourism complexities with respect to minimizing visitor
impacts. Kawata explores the two types of natural
resource use – consumptive and non-consumptive – and
demonstrates how these must often be balanced to ensure
the conservation of the local landscape.
Sustainable development also depends on sufficient
monitoring at all scales. Whitelaw et al illustrate
the valuable role of community-based monitoring in
engaging government and citizens to track and respond
to issues of common community concern. Mongin
et al’s paper on the Great Snipe and Black Grouse
explains how maintaining a mosaic of habitat types, and
balancing consumptive use, is essential to biodiversity
conservation. Both Wilson et al and Mongin et al’s
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