The walking trail along the Daugava River, extending from the Aizkraukle city stadium to the new bicycle park, has gained a new, pleasant look. The trail has been renovated and improved as part of a cross-border project involving the Aizkraukle Municipality and the Biržai District Municipality Administration in Lithuania. Both municipalities are implementing the project under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Program 2021–2027, project No. LL-00045 “Protection of biodiversity and green infrastructure by development of the sustainable management of areas used for recreation in Birzai and Aizkraukle”
Project Goals and Significance
The goal of the project is to preserve biological diversity in green spaces, promote sustainable management practices in recreational areas, and foster an environmentally friendly lifestyle in Biržai (Lithuania) and Aizkraukle. Much progress has already been made, with plenty more planned. The walking trail is nearly 800 meters long and traverses a hilly area along the Daugava riverbank.
Developments and Achievements
Along the trail, wooden stairs have been built to help people navigate steep slopes without harming the fragile tree roots that were exposed and susceptible to human impact. Four wooden footbridges span the ditches, four wooden benches have been installed for rest, and a platform has been constructed with a view of the Daugava landscape.
Future Plans
The green infrastructure project on the shores of the Aizkraukle reservoir will also include additional works such as installing a water collection point for residents, building an insect house, and constructing nesting boxes for the edible dormouse (Glis glis) with a monitoring system. Additionally, a biodiversity inventory will be conducted in the area, and informative signboards will be installed.
Community Engagement and Education
In 2025, the project will also focus on community engagement and education regarding a healthy, ecological, sustainable, and waste-free lifestyle. This lifestyle will be promoted through an environmentally friendly youth camp, where 20 participants from Latvia and 10 from Lithuania will take part. Primary school students will be able to compete in a contest to design and build a model of an insect house, while pre-school educational institutions will host informative activities about plant growth processes.
The project is being implemented under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Program 2021–2027, project No. LL-00045 “Protection of biodiversity and green infrastructure by development of the sustainable management of areas used for recreation in Birzai and Aizkraukle” (“Safe and Diverse”).
