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Latvia: Gauja National
Park (Gaujas nacionalais parks)
| Natura
2000 Ambassador for the Natura Network Initiative... |
|
|
Representative
of Gauja National
Park Administration |
| Meldra
Langenfelde |
| Country |
Latvia |
| Natura
2000 site location |
Vidzeme
region (Riga, Cesis and Valmiera districts) |
| Nearest
urban settlement |
Riga, the
capital of Latvia, as well as Sigulda, Ce¯sis, Valmiera |
| Natura
2000 site name |
Gauja National
Park (Gaujas nacionalais parks) |
| Natura
2000 site number |
LV0200100 |
| Size
of site (hectares) |
91,745
ha |
| Key
Species types |
The
territory of Gauja NP hosts 341 species (202 animal, 121 plant, 18
fungi) of national and European importance. Birds listed on Annex
I of Council directive 79/409/EEC: Ciconia nigra, Cicioni ciconia,
Pernis apivorus, Circus aeruginosus, Aquila pomarina, Pandion haliaetus,
Falco columbarius, Bonasa bonasia, Tetrao terix tetrix, Tetrao urogallus,
Porzana porzana, Crex crex, Grus grus, Pluvialis apricaria, Tringa
glareola, Bubo bubo, Glaucidium passerinum, Caprimulgus europaeus,
Picus canus, Dryocopus martius, Dendrocopos medius, Dendrcopos leucotos,
Picoides tridactylus, Lullula arborea, Alcedo atthis, Ficedula parva,
Lanius collurio, Emberiza hortulana, Sylvia nisoria; Mammals listed
on Annex II of Council directive 92/43/EEC: Lutra lutra, Ursos arctos,
Myotis dasycneme; Amphibians and reptiles listed on Annex II of Council
directive 92/43/EEC: Triturus cristatus; Fishes listed on Annex II
of Council directive 92/43/EEC: Cobitis taenia, Lampetra fluviatilis,
Lampetra planeri, Cottus gobio, Slamo salar, Aspius aspius, Rhodeus
sericeus amarus, Alosa fallax, Petromyzon marinus; Invertebrates listed
on Annex II of Council directive 92/43/EEC: Margaritifera margaritifera,
Ophiogomphus cecilia, Osmoderma eremita, Unio crassus, Leucorrhinia
pectoralis, Graphoderus bilineatus, Euphydryas maturna, Stephanopachys
linearis; Plants listed on Annex II of Council directive 92/43/EEC:
Saxifraga hirculus, Agrimonia pilosa, Drepanocladus vernicous, Cypripedium
calceolus, Pulsatilla patens, Liparis loeselii |
| Key
Habitat types |
There are
<16 habitats listed in Annex II of Council directive 92/43/EEC: 5
forest habitats, 2 habitats of raised bogs, mires and fens, 2 habitats
of natural and semi-natural grassland formations, 4 habitats of freshwater
and 3 habitats of rocky areas and caves (9010* Western taiga, 9180*
Tilio-Acerion forests and slopes, screes and rayines, 7160 Fennoscandian
mineral rich springs and spring fens, 8220 Siliceous rocky slopes with
chasmophytic vegetation, 91E0* Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa
and Fraxinus excelsior, 7110 Active raised bogs, 7140 Transitional mires
and quaking bogs, 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with
vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or Isoeto- Nanojuncetea,
3150 Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharitiontype
vegetation, 3160 Natural dystrophiclakes and ponds, 3260 Water of plain
to monatne levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion
vegetation, 3270 Rivers with muddy banks with Chenopodion rubri p.p.
and Bidention p.p. vegetation, 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and
scrubland facies on calcareous substrates, 6510 Lowland hay meadows,
8310 Caves. |
| Key
management issues |
Mowing
of natural meadows, exploration and monitoring of forest biotoes and
bogs. A special management plan has been elaborated for the Ungura mire. |
| Site
classification / description |
"The central part
of the Gauja NP is the Primeval valley of the Gauja River and together
with its tributaries it forms a particularly original landscape. The
Gauja River valley is notable for its prevailing broad-leafed (Querco-Fagetea)
and mixed broad-leafed forests, a remarkable amount of vascular plant
species within such a comparatively small area, mosaic-like location
of phytocenosis, and the history of flora and fauna under the anthropogenic
influence. The valleys of the Gauja River and its tributary valleys
are areas comprising places of concentration of rare flora species and
migration paths. On the banks of the these valleys, as well as on many
smaller rivers and brooks there are the biggest Devonian outcrops in
Latvia – sandstone cliffs, rocks and caves. Forests cover 47%
of the park’s territory. About 900 plant, 149 bird and 48 mammal
species inhabit the territory of the Gauja NP.
The territory of the Gauja NP comprises more than 500 monuments of history
and culture – castle mounds, castles, churches, manors, water
and windmills as well as numerous archaeological and art monuments.
Tourists started to visit this area already in the 19th century and
it is still a very attractive area for visitors. On the banks of the
Gauja, Amata and Brasla Rivers there are special campsites for water
tourists." |
| Natura
Network Agreements |
| Organising
at least one Green Days event per year |
The Administration
of Gauja NP organises several events, excursions and lectures devoted
to habitat and species conservation every year. |
| Promoting
Natura 2000 at the local level |
Mostly
in lectures where the nature conservation system is presented it is
told about Natura 2000 as well. There are several booklets and posters
about Natura 2000 prepared by the Nature Protection Board of Latvia
that are distributed by the Gauja NP Administration in Visitor Centres
as well as brought to municipalities and schools. |
| Twinning
/ Networking for knowledge exchange |
Not yet, although we
exchange experience with several protected areas in Europe but it is
not done on a regular basis. |
| Involving
stakeholders in the management planning process |
The Management Plan
of Gauja NP includes mostly information on conservation of nature and
culture-historical values as well as information about the fields of
responsibilities and obligations of stakeholders. I am involved mostly
in issues related to tourism planning, nature education and communication.
The areas where the stakeholders are involded most often are planning
of water tourism activities and development and management of privately
owned forest areas. The Gauja NP Administration organises seminars in
cooperation with other nature conservation organisations, to which local
owners, representatives of municipalities etc. are invited. The Gauja
NP Administration is involved in the elaboration of development plans
of municipalities. Represantatives of the Gauja NP Administration regulary
visits municipalities as well as other stakeholders if there is a request
for information or explaination. The Gauja NP Administration regulary
organises events for general public where the stakeholders (mostly local
people and entrepreneurs) are involved. |
| Branding
Natura 2000 |
Not yet,
but there are plans to promote it in close future. |
| Agreeing
to become an NNi ambassador |
Meldra Langenfelde
meldra.langenfelde(at)gnp.gov.lv is an NNi Ambassador
for Natura 2000 |
| Site
contact |
Meldra
Langenfelde meldra.langenfelde(at)gnp.gov.lv is an
NNi Ambassador for Natura 2000 |
| Web
site |
http://www.gnp.gov.lv |
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