EVALUATION OF REED RESOURCES IN KURZEME REGION IN LATVIA.

The increasing demand for energy, limited resources of fossil fuel, as well as pollution of the environment and changes in the global climate have raised more interest about the renewable resources. Support to the use of renewable resources has become a very important part of European Union policy. The aim of this paper is to analyse the quantity of reed resources in Kurzeme region in Latvia, to produce clean energy. The use of reeds as a renewable energy resource allows economizing fossil fuels. The paper presents research results of reed resources in lakes of Kurzeme. The investigation of reed resources shows that in the region they are scattered and rational usage of them is connected with environmental aspects. There are 16 significant lakes for reed harvesting in Kurzeme region. The greatest amounts of reed resources are concentrated in the four lakes - Engures, Papes, Liepājas and Tosmares. Using distance control methods, it was stated that reed beds in Kurzeme exceeds an area of more than 7000 hectares. The potential yield of reed biomass is more than 50000 tons per year. Balanced harvesting of reed gives a positive influence on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]