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LVM resumes the quality improvement works of a significantly rare forest biotope in Latvia’s nature reservoir “Grebļukalns”

In mid-October when the forest fire risk season is finished, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) has resumed the quality improvement works of a significantly rare esker forest biotope in nature reservoir “Grebļukalns”. The works are performed alongside the supervised burning of logging residues, and they will ensure beneficial circumstances for Latvia’s rare and protected plant species.

Over the past 12 years, LVM has done diverse territory management work. Last autumn, during the “LIFE-IP LatViaNature” project, the company started implementing voluminous biotechnical measures in an explicitly complicated salient.

“Last year we completed a big part of the total amount - we removed unnecessary trees and hazels from a high gradient esker slope. In the furthest part of the esker, which was especially difficult to reach, we reduced the number of spruce trees to achieve the pine dominance characteristic of the biotope and restore the sun-illuminated spots. The results from the works done a year ago can already be seen - the protected plant species - sand sainfoin - has sprouted in a completely new location on the ridge of the esker, covering several square meters. With the necessary living conditions, the plant seeds have sprouted, and the species can extend to an even larger area,” LVM’s Northern Latgale region environmental planning expert Diāna Marga reveals.

In the picture: After the last year’s work, the rare sand sainfoin has sprouted in a completely new area

The current hazel felling works and the burning of felling residues in the steep area takes place simultaneously with the process of cutting down the unwanted bushes on both sides of the pathway. The pathway flows through the ridge of the esker, and the cutting works will improve the structure of the rare forest biotope, creating a sparse, illuminated pine forest.

One of the most important tasks that were started in mid-October and are still underway is the controlled burning of previously uprooted hazel stumps and felling residues. The fire promotes subsurface mineralization and creates an open space. Such gravel spots will create suitable living conditions for the species characteristic to the biotope, such as sand sainfoin and cutleaf anemone.

In total, the biotope quality improvement works in the nature reservoir take place in the area of more than 13 hectares. Moreover, these works take place over the course of the “LIFE-JP LatViaNature” project that is also co-financed by the European Union. All works in the territory are performed in accordance with certified nature experts’ indications and under specialists’ surveillance.

Esker forest biotope restoration works in nature reservoir “Grebļukalns”

Esker forests or EU-protected biotope 9060 Coniferous forests on esker-like landforms is a rare and natural disturbances-dependent forest biotope. Forest fire is an important process for its maintenance because they eliminate spruce and undergrowth shrubs, but spare pine trees. If there is a lack of natural disturbances, the sparse esker forests overgrow with spruces and hazels. The steep slopes are untypical for Latvia, and they house various light-demanding plant species that can be found only in this biotope. When esker forests overgrow, it creates a strong shading, and the sun-loving species disappear. The underground lighting as well as air and soil temperature in sun-illuminated slopes are higher than in forest plains. Therefore, the bundle of these factors creates suitable living conditions for the specific rare species.

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Nature reservoir “Grebļukalns”, which is also included in Natura 2000, is one of four pilot territories where LVM performs various biotechnical actions over the course of “LIFE-IP LaViaNature”. The actions are performed in order to improve the state of forest biotopes of EU importance, simultaneously testing environmentally-friendly forestry methods to manage and maintain these biotopes also late in the future.

Project “LIFE-IP LatViaNature” (Natura 2000 optimization of the management of protected territories, LIFE19IPE/LV/000010) is carried out with financial support of ES LIFE program and State Digital Development Agency.