Micro-reserves for Protection of Species and Habitats in Latvia

Marcis Saklaurs Division of Species and Habitats Protection,

Department of Nature Protection, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional

Development

5 April, Cyprus

Micro-reserves - Micro-reserves are territories that are designated

for the protection of specially rare species and their habitats.

- In micro-reserves similarly to specially protected natural territories certain actions that may threaten the rare species or their habitats are restricted or prohibited.

- The establishment procedure

is less complicated and shorter

than that of specially protected

areas.

Definition of a micro-reserve by the Law on

the Conservation of Species and Biotopes

micro-reserve – the territory, which is determined, in order to ensure the conservation of the specially protected species or biotope outside special areas of conservation, as well as within the protected

nature areas, if any of

functional zone fails to

ensure long-term

preservation of species

and habitats Transitional mire with Carex limosa and dystrophic lake surrounded by bog woodland

Author: Liene Auniņa

Area of micro-reserves and buffer zones in Latvia,

ha

Area of Latvia;

6458900; 99%

Area of

microreserves;

38263,6; 1%

Area of buffer

zone for

microreserves;

31611,2; 0%

Regulation on habitat and species protection (Micro-reserves)

• The Law of Protection of Species and Habitats (2000).

• the Law on Forests (2000). • The EU Birds or Biotopes Directives (2004). • The establishment procedure of micro-reserves and

protection requirements are defined by: - regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers “Regulation

on Establishment, Protection and Management of Micro-reserves” (Nr. 45/2001)

- regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers “Regulation Regarding the List of Specially Protected Types of Biotopes” (Nr. 241/2000).

Rare and endangered species in Latvia

- There are 18 047 animal, 1937 vascular plant and 4000 mushroom species in Latvia.

- The scientists consider 719 species (about 3% of total species)

are rare and

endangered

(written in

Law).

Author: Liene Auniņa

Competence of the Ministries and Other State Authorities

- determine micro-reserves (except for forest lands and the spawning places of the specially protected fish species).

- determine micro-reserves in the nature reserves and national parks specified in laws.

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

Ministry of Agriculture

- The State Forest Service shall determine the micro-reserves in the forest lands (except for the forest lands.

Pulsatilla patens Author: V. Kreile

-The Institute BIOR shall determine the micro-reserves at the spawning places of the specially protected fish species. Genetic resources in Latvia

Competence of decision for micro-serves

Expert

Nature Protection Board

Regional Forestry

Board

Ministry of

Environmental

Protection and

Regional Development

proposal

negotiations, approval

negotiations

approval

1 month

Institute of Food Safety,

Animal Health and

Environment (BIOR)

Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

Person

assessment

Subjects of microreserves

- Mammals 3

- Birds 32

- Reptiles 2

- Amphibians 3

- Invertebrates 35

- Vascular plants and ferns 145

- Mosses 23

- Lichens 35

- Fungus 12

- Fishes 6

- Algea 1

Species 297 Biotopes 86 - Forests and bushes 16

- Swamps/mires 8

- Meadows 10

- Stagnant freshwater 15

- Flowing freshwater 12

- Seashore 9

- Saltwater 9

- Caves and outcrops 7

Number of micro-reserves, 2062

1151 701

149

94

31

2717

Birds

Biotopes

Vascular plants andfernsMosses

Invertebrates

Lichens

Fish

Fungus

Mammals

Area of micro-reserves, ha

33651.5

3355.54.4

8.438.2

68.0

172.2965.4

Birds

Biotopes

Vascular plants andfernsMoses

Invertebrates

Lichens

Fungus

Mammals

Data Basis

• The information regarding the micro-reserves and the species found in them is stored in the Data Basis of Nature Conservation Agency and is available for registered users only.

• Nature Conservation Agency maintains data base of protected plants species. This data base provides information on protected plant species (geographical location, quantitative and qualitative status), information covers historical information, as well as data on repeated inspection on the spot.

• Nature Conservation Agency maintains data base of micro-reserves. Data base provides information on object (species or biotope):

- for which micro-reserve has been established, - location of micro-reserve (region, municipality, geographical

coordinates and/or description of borders), - information on population of species or status of habitats. • !!! Information on species and habitats in micro-reserves may be spread

with a permission from the Nature Conservation Agency only. • New Data Basis will be finished at 2012 with name “Ozols” (oak).

Nature Conservation Agency www.daba.gov.lv

First micro-reserve in Latvia

• First micro-reserve established at 19.03.2002. Forest

biotope: “Forests on slopes and glens”

Broad-leaved forest on slopes Author: Liene Auniņa

Size of micro-reserves

- Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, vascular plants and ferns, mosses, lichens, fungus, fishes, algea 0,1 – 20,0 ha

- Birds up to 200 ha

Ciconia nigra Author: M. Maskalāns

Area of micro-reserves as Natura 2000, ha

1047,0

54,1

35,9

Bird: WesternCapercaill ie (Tetraourogallus)Biotopes

Vascular plants andferns

Rare and endangered plant species in Latvia

- 231 vascular plant species (18% from all indigenous species) are considered rare and endangered and are protected by Law - Microreserves can be established for 64% (147) of them

Cephalanthera rubra

Dactylorhiza incarnata

Author: Liene Auniņa Author: Liene Auniņa

Vascular plant species richness in Latvia,

1937 vascular plant species

1304

633

Indigenous species

Alien species

Pulmonaria angustifolia Author: E. Zviedre

Location of vascular plants and ferns in

different biotopes, ha

meadows; 57,7;

6%

mires; 220,0;

23%

forests; 687,7;

71%

Number of vascular plants and ferns

microreserves in different biotopes

forests;

114; 77%

mires; 23;

15%

meadows;

12; 8%

Thank you for your attention!

Author: Liene Auniņa

Floodplain grassland with Allium schoenoprasum

Hydrocotyle vulgaris – rare lake-shore and fen species

Erica tetralix - a very rare wet heath

and pine forest species

Swertia perennis – found in spring fens in only one locality in Latvia

Dry grasslands with Helictotrichon pratense and Galium verum