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New Specially Protected Natural Areas to be Identified for the Protection of Swamp Forests in Latvia’s State Forests

With the Cabinet of Ministers approving the draft regulation developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) “Regulation on Nature Reserves”, the areas of specially protected natural areas managed by JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) will significantly increase. The purpose of this project will be the protection of the rare swamp forests in the European Union (EU), thus forming the basis for the completion of the land network of Natura 2000 territories.

The draft regulation developed by the VARAM provides for establishing 74 new nature reserves and expanding six already existing nature reserves. The new nature reserves include swamp forests with a total area of 2088 ha; 93 % of the land included in the new reserves is under the management of LVM.

The spread of swamp forests in Latvia is fragmented, so the boundaries of the new specially protected natural areas are determined by maximally combining the areas of adjacent target habitats, as well as including the biologically significant areas in the middle or next to each other. This way, the protection status of other biotopes of EU importance will also be improved. The draft regulation provides for determining the protection status of more than 4 000 ha of other forest biotopes of EU importance.

In the new nature reserves, forestry activity restrictions will be in effect, namely, a ban on main felling and a ban on maintenance felling upon reaching a certain age of the stand.

Swamp forest biotope in Latvia is found in a total area of 28 550 ha. Swamp forests are special in that they contain both species that require overhumid conditions and those that can survive in variable moisture conditions. Also, the majority of trees in swamp forests grow on ridges, which are characterized by vegetation different from the rest of the ground cover.

In general, LVM currently manages more than 24 % of the State's forest land territories with the main goal of nature protection. Also, most of the especially valuable dry land of EU significance Natura 2000 in Latvia is under the management and responsibility of LVM.

To improve and restore the habitats of various rare species and various biotopes of EU importance, LVM is currently carrying out important biotechnical measures in three externally co-financed environmental projects in 18 Latvian specially protected natural areas and in two carefully selected demonstration areas. By using nature-friendly forest management methods, the models of which are also tested for their further use in the management of similar habitats in other parts of Latvia and Europe, LVM restores and improves habitats that are particularly rare in Latvia and are dependent on management, such as coniferous forests on sand ridge landforms, pine forests rich in lichens, forested seaside dunes, etc.

Together with the work in the areas of environmental projects, LVM has taken on the methodological and activity leadership of managing methodical solutions for habitat management dependent on regular disturbances, advancing the modern approach to nature protection. The new paradigm of modern nature protection provides for the protection of complex ecosystems by combining active management based on the ecological requirements of the target habitats with undisturbed natural processes.

It should be noted that the nature-important territories in the possession and responsibility of LVM did not emerge suddenly. It is a long-term and purposeful result of cooperation between foresters and the natural environment, in experience-based protection and management.