FORESTS IN LATVIA,    FORESTS IN EUROPE

In order to protect and maintain biodiversity of nature, in Latvia there are 684 specially protected natural areas approved by law or regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers. The protected areas are classified as:
•    Strict nature reserves - territories untouched by human activities or nearly natural, in which unhindered development of natural processes shall be ensured in order to protect and study rare or typical ecosystems and parts thereof. There are 4 strict nature reserves established in Latvia – Moricsala (1912), Grīņi (1936), Krustkalni (1977) and Teiči (1982).
•    National parks - broad areas which are characterised by outstanding nature formations of national significance, landscapes and cultural heritage landscapes untouched by human activities or nearly natural, a diversity of biotopes, abundance of cultural and historical monuments. Along with nature protection, scientific research, education and organization of leisure have an important role. There are 4 national parks in Latvia: Gauja National Park (1973), Ķemeri National Park (1997), Slītere National Park (1999) and Rāzna National Park (2007).
•    Biosphere reserves - broad territories in which landscapes and ecosystems of international importance are located. The aim of these reserves is to ensure the preservation of natural diversity and to promote sustainable social and economic development of the territory. In 1997 North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve was established in Latvia. It is included in the international network of biosphere reserves.
•    Nature parks - territories that represent the natural, cultural and historical values in particular region, and are suitable for recreation, education and the instruction of society. There are 42 nature parks in Latvia, from which the most popular are Tērvetes Nature Park and Nature Park “Daugava’s Circles”.
•    Protected landscape areas - territories remarkable for original and diverse landscapes and special beauty. The aim of these areas is to protect and preserve cultural environment and landscapes characteristic of Latvia in all their diversity, as well as to ensure the preservation of environment appropriate for recreation of society and tourism. There are 9 protected landscape areas in Latvia.
•    Nature reserves – nature territories unaffected or slightly affected by human activity, which include habitats of specially protected wild plant and animal species, and protected biotopes. There are 259 nature reserves in Latvia.
•    Nature monuments - separate, isolated natural formations: protected trees (secular trees, potential secular trees, rare trees of foreign species, specifically trees), dendrological plantings, avenues, geological and geomorphological nature monuments (detritions of rocks, secular stones, caves, springs, waterfalls), which have scientific, cultural and historical, aesthetic or ecological value. 206 geological and geomorphological nature monuments, 89 dendrological plantings and 60 avenues are protected in Latvia.

In order to ensure protection of specially protected species or habitats outside specially protected nature territories, as well as within the specially protected nature territories, if protection is not ensured by any of the functional zones, the microreserves are being established in Latvia. In microreserves similarly to specially protected natural territories certain actions that may threaten the rare species or their habitats are restricted or prohibited. Microreserves are usually smaller than specially protected areas (0.1 – 20.0 ha, for birds up to 200 ha) and the establishment procedure is less complicated and shorter as than that of specially protected areas. By the situation at the beginning of the year 2010 1949 microreserves with total area 36 694 ha are established in the forests of Latvia (according to the data of the State Forest Services).
Most of specially protected natural areas, as well as several microreserves are included in the joint net of protected areas of European importance (Natura 2000), which are established to ensure the protection of rare and protected species and biotopes. From species and biotopes, which are included in the lists of two European Union directives (Birds and Biotopes Directives), 20 species of plants, 20 species of invertebrates, 5 species of mammals, 3 species of reptiles, 11 species of fish, 70 species of birds and 60 types of habitats are found in the territory of Latvia and are protected.
The network of Natura 2000 in Latvia includes 327 territories – 4 strict nature reserves,  4 national parks, 3 nature reserve zones of North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, 237 nature reserves, 37 nature parks, 9 protected landscape areas, 9 nature monuments and 24 microreserves. Together they cover 793 thousands ha or 12 % of the total area of Latvia. The protection and management regimes are various – from minor restrictions in landscape areas to absolute prohibition of any management in nature reserves.