Starting from September, the Latvian Fund for Nature offers the geocaching series “ClimateQuest” in various places of Latvia to explain climate change and its consequences.

Six caches, which are placed in Riga, Liepāja, Limbaži and other cities in Latvia, allow the participants to familiarise with natural and cultural-historical values and understand how they will be and are already affected by climate change. The geocaching series “ClimateQuest” was created within the framework of the Latvian Fund for Nature’s project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game!”.

The Latvian Fund for Nature has placed six caches in different places in Latvia, where there are unique natural and cultural-historical values that have been affected by climate change. The caches can be found in the northern forts in Liepāja, in the area of the Jūrkalne steep bank, in the vicinity of the Aiviekste hydroelectric power station (HPS), by the Noriņa River in Salacgrīva District, at the former transport stop “Pociems” in Limbaži and at the shopping centre “AKROPOLE Alfa” in Riga. The Latvian Fund for Nature’s geocaching series “ClimateQuest” will not disappoint treasure hunters – the caches will not only reveal the story of the diversity of Latvia’s nature, but also educate about climate change.

One of the caches placed by the Latvian Fund for Nature is located in Jūrkalne – the most picturesque sea coast in Latvia. Jūrkalne boasts a beautiful sandy beach and the highest steep coast in Latvia, but coastal erosion caused by climate change is clearly visible in the territory. By finding this cache, it is possible to find out what affects the shrinkage of the steep bank. The cache which is located in the vicinity of the Aiviekste hydroelectric power station (HPS) tells about the impact of the HPS on nature and the surrounding environment. On the other hand, from the cache in the former Pociema station, you will learn about the connection of the transport sector with climate change.

To start geocaching, you need a smartphone with a GPS function or a GPS device, and you need to create a profile on www.geocaching.com and get the Geocaching application on your smartphone. Downloading the application and searching for caches placed by the Latvian Fund for Nature is free of charge and is possible at any time convenient for the participant. More information about each of the caches placed by the Latvian Fund for Nature and their codes are available here: https://ldf.lv/lv/article/latvijas-dabas-fonds-aicina-meklet-slepnus-un-izglitoties-par-klimata-parmainam.

Geocaching is an international form of active recreation in which, using GPS (Global Positioning System) technologies, participants search for hidden caches or containers in the open air when it is convenient for them. The practice of geocaching allows you to identify and get to know the rarities of nature and cultural history. Also, the creators of caches often supplement them with unique information about the specific place, thus giving an added educational value to the cache.

The project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game!” is an initiative created by 10 partners in 8 countries of Europe with the aim of deepening the public understanding of climate change and how individual actions can facilitate a sustainable and climate-friendly development, and inviting the youth to get involved in the “climate game” to become climate activists. The project is implemented in Latvia by the Latvian Fund for Nature. The project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game” is co-funded by the EU DEAR (Development Education and Awareness Raising) programme.

More about the project: https://climategame.eu/climatequest/

Information prepared by:

Dita Stalovska

Communication representative

Latvian Fund for Nature

+371 22368037

dita.stalovska@ldf.lv

PRESS RELEASE

Riga, 7 September 2022