Latvian Biodiversity Clearing-House Mehanism

Forest Biodiversity

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Forests are a characteristic element of Latvian landscape and cover 44% of the land area of the country. In forests, tree form the environment and store organic substances. Forest in Latvia is an ecologically stable ecosystem that secures a balanced maintenance of the environment. In Latvia, forests are diverse, their distribution and characteristic features differ quite greatly in various parts of the country. These differences are determined by climatic and edaphic (soil) conditions, as well in a time span - by human economic activities.

Threats and cevelopment tendences

Forests are dynamic ecosystems. In total, during the last 100 years forests have become more fertile. Area covered by Cladinoso-callunosa has decreased as well as diminished area covered by oligotrophic peaty forests. Also the area covered by conifers decreases, in parallel increasing the area of secondary deciduous tress, like birch and grey alder. Such change of forest species is connected with land use type transformation - overgrowing of agricultural lands and possibly also with the climate change. In the last century, areas covered by forest have increase in the Alūksne, Augszeme and Vidzeme Uplands.

Responsible institutions

State administration and state forest property management institutions:

The Republic of Latvia Ministry of Agriculture, Forest Policy Department
The Republic of Latvia Ministry of Agriculture, Forest Resource Department
State Forest Service
State -owned joint stock company Latvian State Forests
Latvian Forest Advisory Board
Latvian Forestry Sertification Standard Development Initiative Group

Scientific institutions:

Non-governmental organizations:

Legislation and policy

National Programme of Biological Diversity
The Republic of Latvia Ministry of Agriculture

Research and monitoring

Forest habitat composition, plant communities, structure and dynamics, species variety is studied at higher education establishments of Latvia. The main centres are:

University of Latvia, Faculty of Biology
Forest habitats, plant communities, plant, animal and fungi species
University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences
Forest habitats, plant communities, forest monitoring
University of Latvia, Institute of Biology
Plant, animal, fungi, forest monitoring
Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry
Plant, animal and fungi species, forest gene pool
Daugavpils Pedagogical University
Plant and animal species

Branch institutions and offices:

Latvian State Forestry Research Institute "Silava"
Plant and animal species, forest gene pool
Forest Research Station "Kalsnava"
Plant species, forest gene pool

Integrated monitoring

Agricultural Biodiversity

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Agriculture land plays an essential role in the maintenance of biological diversity in Latvia. It determines the nature conditions, like hilly relief, diverse wetlands, lakes and rivers, also the low agriculture intensity in considerable areas during the last 50 years.
In Latvia agriculture land covers 2.5 million ha or 39.3% from the country area: 1.7 million ha or 67.4% covers arable land, 0.8 million ha or 31.4% - meadows and grasslands but orchards comprise 1.2% from agriculture land (Data from 1995). About 4.1% from the land used for agriculture include roads and buildings.
There Dynamics of Weed Species number and composition in the corn-fields of Latvia and researches on some invasive species - Hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi distribution are carried out in Latvia by Latvian Agriculture University.
In total in Latvia there are about 15 000 ha of grassland habitats of international or national importance.
Agriculture land is a habitat of international importance for migrating birds, especially cranes and geese. Up to now in the country in total about 150 migrating birds are known from valuable agriculture lands, 15 from them are included in the List of Important Bird Areas in Europe (Racinskis, Stipniece 2000). These areas are protected according to the Bonn Convention that Latvia ratified in 1999. Migrating birds are negatively influenced by the decrease of cropper fields in the areas that are good rest places for birds as well as field interruptions and road margin and ditch overgrowth with shrubs.

Development tendences

In Latvia both regions with wide continuous drained fields where intensive use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers takes place occur as well as extensively managed mosaic agriculture landscape. In the last 50 years considerable agriculture land areas (up to about 2 million) have been abandoned. At present they have overgrown with shrubs and broad-leaved trees of different age forming a mosaic landscape with slight human influence.
At the beginning of 1990-ties with change of political and economic policy essential human influence upon nature took place. As a result of land reform almost all the agricultural land and half of the forests became a private property. Therefore, substantially increased the use of forest resources. In the last years in separate regions, especially in Zemgale increases the intensity of agricultural activities. In the areas with agriculture intensification the maintenance of important landscape elements, valuable habitats and field edges is endangered.

Threats to ecosystem

According to the National Programme of Biological Diversity, the main priority of the conservation of biological diversity is the protection of natural grasslands. Especially valuable are flood-plain meadows.
In most of these areas adequate management activities are not carried out. Therefore, special management activities are needed for the area of 13 500 ha. Area of natural grassland decrease and as a consequence characteristic plant and animal species quickly disappear. This situation is favoured by overgrowing with shrubs after the traditional management of grasslands (mowing and grazing) is stopped, as well as the opposite process - more intensive use of management methods as well as grassland transformation into arable land or perennial grasslands. Large grassland areas discontinue ditches and shrub zones and that is not suitable for wading birds.
Grassland animals, especially birds threaten early mowing (mowing in areas important for birds not earlier than July 1 but traditionally it takes place in the middle or second part of June). Essential threat is mowing without using methods to protect the animals (here: recommendations for grassland management that is favourable for birds).
Small wetlands in agriculture lands are endangered by drainage as most of the intensive managers want to use all the area of their agriculture land. Problem is small wetlands overgrowing with shrubs. In most cases the presence of small shrub clumps is a factor favouring biological diversity but in wetlands with enough open water area for waterfowl breeding (commonly more than 0.5 ha) presence of shrubs eliminate a possibility for rare wading birds and waterfowl and to breed.

Responsible institutions

Governmental institutions

Science institutions

Non-governmental institutions

Legislation and policy

For conservation of the biological diversity most important is the National Programme of Biological Diversity with which legislation must be agreed so far it concerns the use of agriculture land. Needs of the maintenance of the biological diversity are incorporated in "Countryside development programme SAPARD".
Most important normative acts are as follows:

Ramsar Convention. On Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Ramsar, 1971 (ratified in 1995)
Helsinki Convention. On Protection of the marine Environment of the Baltic Sea area, Helsinki, 1974, 1992. (ratified in 1994)
Bern Convention. On Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Bern, 1979 (ratified in 1996)
Bonn Convention. On Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Bonn, 1979 (ratified in 1999)
Rio de Janeiro Convention. On biological diversity, Rio de Janeiro, 1992 (ratified in 1995)
EU Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds 79/409/EEC (1979)
EU Directive on Conservation of Species and Habitats 92/43/EEC (1972)
The Law on the Protection of Environment (1991, 1997)
The Law on Specially Protected Nature Territories (1993, 1997)
The Law on Melioration (1993)
The Law on Agriculture (1996)
The Law on Protected Belts (1997)
The Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (1998)
The Law on Conservation of Species and Habitats (2000)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on Water Use Permits, (15/22.04.1997)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the General Protection and Use of Specially Protected Nature Territories (354 /1997)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the Environmental State Monitoring (198/1997)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the Territorial Planning (62/1998)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the Lists of Specially Protected and Limitedly Exploitable Specially Protected Species (396/14.11.2000)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on the Lists of Specially Protected Habitats (No 421/05.12.2000)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on establishment, protection and management of micro-reserves No.45 (2001)
Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on Biological Agriculture (in preparation)

Management and protection activities

In Europe the Agri-environment Programmes being an important part the continuous agriculture development become more widespread. These programmes as obligatory are planned also in the new EU Regulations of Rural Development in a Programme Agenda 2000. Also in Latvia the National Project of Agri-environment Development is elaborated. Recommendations developed in the project are included in various EU support programmes for rural development in candidate countries - parts of SAPARD plan. The Cabinet of Ministers Republic of Latvia and European Commission Plan has approved the plan. Project results are applied in the description of the 5th priority-support sub-programme "Environment Friendly Agriculture Methods".
Support for the Agri-environment activities in Latvia will be available in selected pilot areas. Highest priority is given to local communities with considerable areas of biologically valuable grasslands.
Taking into consideration quite large areas without great agriculture chemistry application that still have a high biological diversity it is important to elaborate the optimum strategy for the long-term agriculture development decreasing threats to the natural habitats and their flora and fauna. Planning support activities for agriculture and rural development financed by Government resources and EU structural funds various priorities and varied further development scenarios must be given to different territories.
The following Species Conservation Action Plans had been prepared - for Corncrake Crex crex, for Great Snipe Gallinago media, for Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila poparina, also Report on Cranes Grus grus and Agriculture.

Research and monitoring

With rapid decrease of biological diversity in agriculture lands and forests in the EU countries intensive research is carried out to develop mathematical models for habitats and landscape elements to evaluate the overall species diversity as well as separate species. In 1995 a project concerning agriculture landscape was started in Latvia:

Latvian -Danish co-operation project "Biodiversity management in Latvian farmland, a decision support system" (1995, 1997-2000). Project was realised by the Latvian Fund for Nature in co-operation with the Danish expert company "Ornis Consult". Support for research was received also as a grant from the Latvian Scientific Council (leader J. Priednieks). This is the only research in the frame of which the monitoring of bird species nesting in agriculture lands was started.
In addition, research of separate species, like corn-crake, snipe, white stork were started (see separately about these species).
Latvian Agriculture Environment Programme project and the correspondent part in the SAPARD Programme was elaborated in the Latvian Fund for Nature in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture and co-ordinated experts from several countries co-ordinated by the Dutch company "Avalon". Project title "Agri-environmental programmes in Central and Eastern Europe", financed by Dutch Government MATRA Programme.

Mire Biodiversity

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Inland Water Biodiversity

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Marine and Coastal Biodiversity

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BIODIVERSITY OF SEACOAST
Brigita Laime, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia

Total length of Latvian seacoast reaches 496 km. The present seacoast is a relatively young formation (two to several thousand years) and has established after the retreat of the Litorina Sea. Of course, to a greater or smaller extent coastal habitats have developed under the influence of human activities (fishery, forestry, animal breeding and agriculture, military activities etc.). About 90 % from the coast are natural habitats; the rest are built up (ports, buildings) or changed in another way. In spite of that the Baltic Sea coast in Latvia characterise high species and natural habitat diversity. A short overview on the main habitat types is available in the Handbook of Latvian Habitats (Kabucis 2001).

Characteristic of seacoasts

MARINE BIODIVERSITY
Anda Ikauniece, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Latvia

The Baltic Sea distinguishes among the other salt water-basins due to its relatively low salinity that determines the number of species occurring there. There is a small number of water organism species that have adapted to life in slightly salty water. The marine area in Latvia includes two comparatively different ecosystems - the eastern part of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Rīga (excluding its northern part). The salinity in the Baltic Sea is higher (about 7 PSU - Practical salinity units)) than in the Gulf of Rīga (about 5 PSU). Therefore, higher species diversity is observed there.
Both in the sea and gulf ecosystems two different habitat types are distinguished - coastal area and the open part. In the coastal part in the places with suitable substrate, like stones, benthic algal growths occur characterised by the highest biological diversity in the marine ecosystems. The growths serve as a spawning and a feeding area for fish. In the open part two coenosis, such as water (pelagic) and sea bottom (benthic) are distinguished. In the pelagic coenosis plankton groups are most important are, like phytoplankton (microscopic algae) and zooplankton (microscophic crusceans and other animals). Benthic coenosis represent animals living in the ground (zoobentos).

THREATS TO ECOSYSTEM

    The largest threat to the ecosystem is eutrophication - the increase of nutrient concentration in the water inducing ecosystem change. Due to eutrophication in the growths of benthic algae the species structure changes - perennial algae are replaced by annual (Cladophora sp.) causing quality change of the whole habitat. With the decrease of water limpidity, depth range of algal distribution diminishes, as well as quantity of algae and also the ability of ecosystem self-purification. In the pelagic coenosis the eutrophication stimulates the massive development of phytoplankton and the change in the structure of zooplankton that is connected with the increase of the number of plant feeding species. Also in the benthos coenosis with the increase of digesting species number, the change of species structure takes place. In Latvian conditions it is one bivalve species, therefore the decrease of the species number and the dominance of one species is probable. With the increase of the die-off and sinking phytoplankton quantity, in the ground the oxygen condition becomes worse. With the start of oxygen deficiency, the total vanishing of the benthic coenosis is probable.

    Also the other human activities, like organization of port facilities without preliminary study of the environment, ground and waste dropping into the sea, non-adequate fishery intensity, oil product spills, can cause a threat to the ecosystem.

    In Latvia in the 70-ties and 80-ties of the 20th century the eutrophication impact on marine ecosystems was considerable. It is best documented for the Gulf of Rīga where the biomass of the phytoplankton and amount of zooplankton increased (directly increasing the number of plant feeding animals). Similarly, in the benthos coenosis the relation between animal groups changed firstly and increased the quantity of the digesting bivalve Macoma baltica. At the beginning of 90-ties an overall decrease of the number of benthic animals was observed and definite species (mainly amphipods) disappeared from separate parts of the Gulf of Rīga. Although from 1995 the state of the benthos coenosis gradually improved, in the central areas of the Gulf in 2000-2001 the number of benthic organisms was very small. In the 80-ties of the 20th century in the growth of benthic algae the decrease of the limit of the depth distribution and the dominance of annual algae was observed.
    Up to now the second largest threat to marine ecosystems oil product spills. At the beginning of 90-ties after the accident of tanker "Globe Asimi" in 1983 in the benthic algae coastal communities of the Baltic Sea a considerable decrease of growth area was observed.

Invasive species in marine ecosystem

Although in the area of the Baltic Sea several tenth of invasive species are observed, the consequences of their invasion is difficult to follow due to the lack of information about the ecosystem state before the arrival of these species. Therefore, the influence of invasive species can be evaluated only for two of them that have appeared during the last 15 years - for the benthic worm Marenzelleria viridis and zooplankton cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi. The species are well adapted to the life in Latvian marine waters although there is a lack of a thorough information about their influence on environment. There is a possibility that M. viridis conquers with the local benthic worm species. An unpleasant, although economical phenomenon that concerns C. pengoi was observed - during the summer period the species individuals piled in the fishing nets damaging them slightly and diminishing the catch amounts.

Complete species list and figures can be obtained in the data basis of the Baltic Sea invasive species.

RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTIONS

Governmental institutions

Scientific institutions

LEGISLATION AND POLICY

The general regulations and laws concern all the marine area but there is no one management strategy.

National Programme of Biological Diversity (2000)
Nature Protection legislation
- Laws of Latvia
- Regulations of Government
Legislation in Environment protection sector

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES

At present marine ecosystem management is more orientated to the coastal area and directly available nature resources, such as fish, marine ground sediments. The National Programme on Biological Diversity (2000) involves a special part devoted to the protection of marine biodiversity. Most of the activities needed for the marine diversity protection are connected with diminishing general marine pollution and eutrophication. The action plan for the concrete activities is not well elaborated. The main attention is paid to the questions subordinated to the biological diversity, like environment protection in the ports and oil pollution control.

In the frame of Helsinki Commission Latvia has nominated 4 marine areas as the Baltic Sea Protected Areas. Biological diversity is one of the reasons for their choice. Although 3 of them are included in the presently protected nature areas: North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, Slītere National Park and Engure Nature Park, the actual protection and management of the are is lacking.
Also in the Important Bird Areas (IBA) located in the coastal area no real protection is carried out.

Seacoast is protected for more than 150 years. In different times the width of the protected zone has changed between 100 to 300 metres. At present is 300 metres wide protection zone where restrictions for building, forest use and other activities are set. To protect the nature values of the coastal zone in separate places specially protected nature areas are established. The length of these areas are about 232 km near the sea (Laime 2000). The present functional zones of protected nature areas and the corresponding general protection regulations are little orientated to the protection of seacoast habitats and species maintenance. For most of the part of protected nature areas protected landscape area is characteristic or neutral regimen that has little restrictions which would favour the conservation of nature diversity. Only 34 % from the protected coast length concern nature reserves. Most of the coastal habitats belong to those protected in Europe (Anon.1996; Kabucis 2000).

RESEARCH AND MONITORING

Monitoring

The Programme "Marine Environment Monitoring" is carried out by Institute of the Aquatic Ecology of the University of Latvia, Division of Sea monitoring (phone 7614840, fax 7601995, e-mail: juris[at]monit.lu.lv). The Programme includes regular monitoring of abiotic environment factors, like water temperature, salinity, chemical compounds, oil and heavy metal concentrations in different matrixes and biological parameters, such as (phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobentos, phytobentos) in the Sea area of Latvia through the year. Every year Report on the ecosystem status is handed in the Latvian Environmental Agency.

At the moment in the discussion phase is the Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Programme elaborated at the end of 2001 (has an access in Latvian Environmental Agency - web page) that includes sea bird, fish and sea monitoring as well as includes close co-operation with the Marine Environment Monitoring Programme. It is planned to realise the marine environment monitoring jointly with the Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Latvian Fisheries Research Institute and Institute of the Aquatic Ecology of the University of Latvia.

Existing researches

Projects carried out by the Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Latvia in 2000 - 2002:

Andrusaitis A. Investigation of the Pelagic-Benthic Interaction in the Open Part of the Gulf of Rīga.
Balode M. The Role of Environmental Factors on the Bloom of Potentially Toxic Phytoplankton and Production of Algal Toxins.
Boikova E. Seasonal Processes and Mechanisms in the Turnover of Biotic Material
in the Gulf of Rīga.
Additional information about the projects is available in the web page of the Latvian Council of Science

INTERNATIONAL COLLABAROTION

Sea monitoring in Latvia is carried out after the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) that realises the suggestions and decisions of the Helsinki Convention (1992).
A consultant role on marine ecology questions has the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) that manages the Baltic Sea data basis.
Information on phytoplankton development in the area of the Baltic Sea of Latvia is regularly sent to the Finnish Institute of Marine Research where the data on algal blooms is available in several parts of the Baltic Sea as well as the other information connected with marine state.

PUBLICATIONS

Ādamsons V. 1986. Putnu novērojumi 1986. gada rudenī Bērzciema jūrmalā. - Putni dabā, 4, 45-46.
Anon. 1993. Latvijas jūras krastu monitorings. Rīga. LR VAK Pētījumu centrs.
Anon. 1996. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992, on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. In: European Community environment legislation. Vol. 4. Pp. 81-158.
Anon. 2001. Noteikumi par īpasi aizsargājamo biotopu veidu sarakstu (Latvijas Republikas Ministru kabineta 2000.gada 5.decembra noteikumi Nr.421). Grām.: Sugu un biotopu aizsardzība Latvijā. Rīga. Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās attīstības ministrija.
Bērziņs A. 1984. Smilsu krupja - Bufo calamita Laur. - izplatība Latvijā. - Retie augi un dzīvnieki, 33-36.
Bērziņs A. 1987. Jaunas ziņas par smilsu krupi - Bufo calamita Laur. - Latvijā, - Retie augi un dzīvnieki, 26-31.
Bērziņs A. 1988. Smilsu krupja - Bufo calamita Laur. - vasaras slēptuves. - Retie augi un dzīvnieki, 43-47.
Kabucis I. 2000. Biotopu rokasgrāmata. Rīga. Latvijas Dabas fonds.
Kabucis I. 2001. Latvijas biotopi. Rīga. Latvijas Dabas fonds, 96.
Laime, B.2000. Pludmales un primāro kāpu aizsardzības plāns. (Projekta pārskats). Rīga. Latvijas Dabas fonds.
Laime B., Pakalne M. 2000. Starpkāpu ieplaku un vigu veģetācija Latvijā. Zemes un Vides zinātņu sekcijas referātu tēzes. 95-96.
Laime, B., Rove, I. 2001. Pelēko kāpu aizsardzības plāns. (Projekta pārskats). Rīga. Latvijas Dabas fonds.
Lipsbergs J, Lipsbergs U., Strazds A., Strazds M. 1985. Retie un aizsargājamie putni Rīgas jūras līča piekrastē. - Retie augi un dzīvnieki, 63-70.
Pēterhofs E. 1984. Retie un aizsargājamie putni Kurzemes pussalas ziemeļaustrumu piekrastē. - Retie augi un dzīvnieki, 36-41.
Pētersons G. 1997. Latvijas sikspārņi, Rīga, Gandrs, 50 lpp.
Ulsts, V. 1998. Baltijas jūras Latvijas krasta zona. Rīga. Valsts ģeoloģijas dienests.

Invasive species

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Threatened and protected species and habitats in Latvia

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Lists of Latvian species

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Vegetation of Latvia

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