13.06.2012

Latvijas Pasts holds special cancellation event to celebrate 100^th anniversary of Moricsala Nature Reserve

On June 6 - the day of founding of the Moricsala Nature Reserve - Latvijas Pasts will hold a special cancellation event for the envelope released in celebration of the nature reserve's 100^th anniversary. The event will take place in the foyer of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, 25 Peldu Street, Riga, from 10 AM to 6 PM. The presentation ceremony with participation of the minister of environmental protection and regional development Edmunds Sprūdžs, head of the transport minister's office Aivis Freidenfelds and representatives of the management of Latvijas Pasts will be held at 11 AM.

To celebrate the hundred-year anniversary of the first specially protected nature area in Latvia - the Moricsala Nature Reserve - Latvijas Pasts has released a special envelope and postmark. The envelope and the postmark have been designed by the artist Ģirts Grīva, and depict a specimen of the rare lucanid beetle Ceruchus chrysomelinus - this species has been entered in the list of specially protected animals, and the Moricsala Nature Reserve is one of the few places where it is found in Latvia. The author of the photograph depicted on the envelope is Doctor of Biological Sciences, professor of Daugavpils University Arvīds Barševskis. The envelope's slogan is Observe, learn, protect! A total of 1000 envelopes will be released.

The Nature Protection Administration of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) will be holding various events on the day of the anniversary. Visitors of VARAM will have the opportunity to see an exhibit of nature-themed stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts, the exhibition Moricsala 100, and children's drawings submitted for the contest Observe, learn, protect!, as well as to participate in various workshops dedicated to learning about nature.

The Moricsala Nature Reserve, established in 1912, is the oldest protected nature site in Latvia. Moricsala is characterized by a very old forest, with the age of trees reaching even 500 years. The reserve's natural environment is home to rare species of lichen, moss and insects. Moricsala is also a paradise for Latvian beetles, as well as the only area with a fish eagle (Osprey) population in Latvia. Two hundred and twenty-two species of butterfly have been observed in the reserve - some of them not found anywhere else in Latvia and even throughout the Baltics. Moricsala (literally "Maurice's Island") got its name from Maurice de Saxe, the son of Elector of Saxony Frederick Augustus I,who used the island to hide from the Russian army in 1727.

See the envelope and cancellation dedicated to the Moricsala anniversary.

The next new philatelic release is scheduled for June 14.

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts

Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a fully state-owned company with more than 4,500 employees.

Additional information
Zane Plone
SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +371 67608504
E-mail: zane.plone@pasts.lv
twitter.com/latvijas_pasts