ECOFORESTS instrument of nature conservation outside Natura2000 areas in the State managed forest lands in Latvia Ieva Rove, Laila Šica, Elmārs Pēterhofs 2 nd Stakeholder Workshop, Forests and Natura2000: opportunities and challenges Brussels, 23 May, 2013 European Commission

LATVIA With 3.8 million ha of forests or 56.9% of the territory, Latvia is among the most forested countries in Europe 2

J OINT STOCK COMPANY LATVIJAS VALSTS MEŽI Forest managed by LVM Forest managed by other owners Rīga The JSC LVM manages over a half of Latvia’s forests Established in 1999 Total area 1.62 mil ha forest 87% wetlands 8% infrastructure 3% non-forest land 2% 3

Why improvement of existing nature management planning within LVM? Surveillance and monitoring of nature values, as well as monitoring about an effect of implemented management measures is not carried out in sufficient amount and quality Highest amount and diversity of nature values in Latvia occur in the State forest managed lands Existing nature conservation system ensures maintenance and increase of nature values partly Significant amount of nature values occur outside the existing network of protected areas, including Natura2000 Management of protected areas, including Natura2000, is not sufficient and effective: Management plans have been developed only for 38% of protected areas Individual rules of conservation and management have been approved by the government only for 17% of protected areas Information about the EU importance species and habitats outside the Natura2000 network is not sufficient 4

ECOFORESTS 5

6 Forest massive where occur highest amount of viable populations of characteristic species according to the prevailing conditions What is Ecoforest?

7 An area of forest where rare and protected species as well as high nature conservation value forest habitats occur, concentrate and overlap What is Ecoforest? Micro - reserves Forest key-habitats Old broad-leaved decidous forests Fennoscandian deciduous swamp wood Bog woodland Wooded dunes

8 An area of forest which provides the key environmental functions Protected belts of rivers Protected belt around mires Protected belt of the coastal dunes of the Baltic Sea What is Ecoforest?

Resources - forests managed by the LVM Ecoforests since 2011 Main steps of development and management of Ecoforests Identification of nature values Assignation of concentration areas Selection of most valuable sites Development of network of Ecoforests Development of management plans for Ecoforests Implementation of management plans Surveillance and monitoring 9

NETWORK OF ECOFORESTS Total area – 258 thousand ha or 16% of the LVM managed lands 10

Why ECOFORESTS are most valuable areas? High diversity of nature values and habitats Homogenous distribution within lands managed by the LVM High level of naturalness of forests High density of nature values Balanced interests between nature conservation and forestry, including timber production 11

Why ECOFORESTS are most valuable areas? 12

MANAGEMENT AND SURVEILANCE 13 Management is based on: - field investigations - scientifically based management plan There are common requirements on forestry: - time - amount - manner Special management measures for nature values: - non intervention - active management: - maintenance - restoration Surveillance and monitoring of species and EU importance habitats, since 2012: - according monitoring programme - in line with Natura200m monitoring programme of the State

MESSAGES 14 - a step towards implementation of green infrastructure and improve connectivity among terrestrial Natura 2000 network Ecoforests are : - voluntary initiative of the LVM additional to the existing legal requirements