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LVM Expands Nature Protection Areas to Preserve Biological Diversity

“Lāču purvs”, “Mērsrags”, “Pečora ezers”, “Šarlotes”, “Vārupe”, “Beiriņu sils” are just a few of the areas that were included in the list of protected areas (in addition to the already existing special protected natural areas (PNAs) and micro-reserves), which in accordance with the procedure established by law could also be included in the network of protected natural areas of European Union (EU) significance – Natura 2000 – after determining the status of these PNAs.  

“These territories or parts thereof were previously managed by LVM as territories of concentration of natural values ​​or territories for the protection of specific species, mainly nesting and roosting places of birds. According to LVM's internal order, new forestry operations – main felling, road construction, restoration of forest drainage systems – are no longer planned in these areas and in other potential Natura 2000 areas. Only such forestry activities that have been started and already planned in previous years are completed, which do not significantly affect its natural values, mainly overwet forest habitats and the habitats of related species, for the protection of which the territories are created and managed,” says Laila Šica, Head of Environmental Planning at LVM.

To expand the Natura 2000 territories, LVM in cooperation with the specialists of the Nature Protection Administration developed the Natura 2000 protected territories extension project for additional protection of habitats and species of EU importance. The potential extensions of protected areas in the lands managed by LVM occupy more than 50 thousand hectares, which include various types of habitats of EU importance and habitats of specially protected species.

Forest management in these areas is aimed at ensuring the preservation or improvement of a favourable protection status for specially protected habitats and species, as well as to promote the preservation of biological diversity.

The territories contain habitats of EU significance of forests, meadows, marshes, and waters, such as swamp forests, alluvial forests, old or natural boreal forests, intact high marshes, and other types of habitats. These areas are nesting and roosting sites for the lesser-spotted eagle, osprey, western capercaillie, black stork and habitats for other specially protected species.