Nature Accessible Certification
2018 - ongoing
The Nature accessibility certificate “Naac” (Nature Accessible) ensures accessibility to natural objects - around the Baltic Sea including the coast, lakes and rivers, observing all the principles of nature protection and promoting the economic growth of small entrepreneurs and municipalities.
HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
Coalition Clean Baltic has started developing Nature Accessible Certification (NaaC) scheme since 2018, when the idea for it was presented by the Latvian Green Movement together with Association of disabled people and their friends Apeirons at the International conference on “Sustainable Development Goals: To Raise Public Awareness in Building Sustainable Communities Around the Baltic Sea” on 26-27 September 2017 in Jūrmala, Latvia.
The work on nature accessibility certificate “Naac” to ensure accessibility to natural objects - in the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, observing all the principles of nature protection and also promoting the economic growth of small entrepreneurs and municipalities has continued. The main criteria for obtaining such a nature accessibility certificate are ensuring the accessibility of coastal natural objects, following the principles of universal design, starting from the car park and ending with the universal toilet.
NaaC sites in Latvia
Ainaži trail to the old port (Salacgriva municipality)
- A yellow diploma has been received because of a missing accessible path and parking site. In addition, the flag was missing.
Mērsrags Lighthouse Beach (Mērsrags municipality).
- A NaaC flag has been received and with the support of the BaltCF, the Green Universal Toilet (GUT) was implemented. In 2022 the NaaC flag was cancelled, due to the bad condition of the GUT. Later the toilet was taken away and the planned new accessible toilet was still not built.
Jūrkalne main beach parking site (Ventspils regional municipality)
- The NaaC flag has been received and thanks to the support of BaltCF, a GUT was implemented. Since 2023 NaaC flag is no longer awarded to this site because the GUT was taken way as too much used up. The alternative universal toilet is now too far away from the parking site.
Roja Beach (Roja municipality)
- Since 2012, Roja Beach has been built and reconstructed according to the universal design principles. In 2019 the local municipality was ready to apply for the NaaC flag and the Green diploma. Currently, Roja is a part of the Talsi region.
Ķesterciems beach (Engure municipality)
- Since 2020 this site has been awarded with the NaaC flag. They have an accessible parking site for disabled people and a modern universally accessible toilet. Nowadays Engure/Ķesterciems is a part of Tukums region.
Liedagi Beach (Grobiņa municipality)
- Awarded with the NaaC flag. BaltCF financed GUT. Good and accessible infrastructure for people with disabilities. Currently, this is a South Kurzeme region.
Bernāti beach (South Kurzeme region)
- A new place, very popular among tourists, situated near Liepaja (bicycling road is built) was awarded this year, providing all the necessary accessibility elements. Since 2021 – the yellow diploma, has been received because of some missing accessibility elements. In 2021 BaltCF supported the set up of the GUT.
NaaC IN A NUTSHELL
Why NaaC?
We provide access to nature to all social groups using accessible infrastructures.
- Access to nature: sea coast, rivers, lakes and forest
- To all social groups: disabled people, seniors, young families and everyone else
- Using accessible infrastructures: information, toilets, ramps and trash bins, roads and pathways, car parkig
How NaaC is implemented?
NaaC has been developed and implemented through the following activities:
- SAVE LATVIAN DUNES, co-funded by several donors, including EU LIFE Operating Grant, Baltic Sea Conservation Fund (BaltCF) and Latvian Environmental Protection Foundation (LVAF), 2018-2021
- LaGM has arranged 3 seminars on Nature Accessibility principles – “NaaC” and criteria for NGOs, municipali-ties and foreign representatives with more than 100 participants in total. We have produced brochures on “NaaC” in Latvian, English and Russian. More than 3000 copies were distributed in different NaaC events
- Within the coastal nature accessibility direction of the campaign, BaltCF project financed universal green toilets, wooden trails and view sites in dune areas thus improving the infrastructure in Ventspils, Salacgriva, Roja, Mersrags and Engure coastal municipalities
- Project and Roundtable ‘To See And Save: Creating An Accessible Educational Environment In Specially Protected Nature Areas’ on 21 March 2019, co-funded by CCB
- Project “Step to the future - friendly and comfortable municipalities”, with one of the activities aiming at creating conditions for observing birds on the territory of the Curonian Spit National Park and establishing a two-tiered tower is equipped with a ramp for the movement of people in wheelchairs and stationary binoculars, one of which, lower in height, is also designed for tourists with disabilities
- The work on promotion of NaAC Certification scheme through CCB network continued in 2023, comprising of:
- In frame of the main LaGM General Meeting, in March 30, The decision for the members of LaGM was made to continue work and find funds for NaaC in future. It was decided to address also some private business investors.
- Experience exchange trip to learn dune protection and accessibility mechanisms and tools was arranged to visit to Polish and German coastal areas in June 2023 LaGM experts visited several nature reserves and recreation areas to monitor nature accessibility in coastal areas of Poland and Germany.
What are the impacts?
We ensure accessibility to natural objects - in the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, observing all the principles of nature protection and also promoting the economic growth of small entrepreneurs and municipalities.
MATERIALS
