forests of latvia

prepared by Dana Zhuravlyova

and Daria Kuznetsova

Forests cover about one third of the land

area, the area of forest in the world is 38

million km2, of which 264 million ha or 7

%, planted by human. Half of the forest

area belongs to the tropical forests.

- Forest participates in the circulation of oxygen.

- Forest is directly involved in the water cycle.

- Forest is a habitat for many animals. Animals, in their turn, often play in the forest sanitary role.

In Latvia the forest takes up 2.9 million ha

or 44% of the Latvia’s total land area.

There are national parks, 5 nature reserves

and more than 90 parks.

Latvia is one of the most forested

countries in Europe.

Categories

Protected forests

Restricted

management forests

Commercial forests

48%

22%

24%

3% 3%

Trees

Pine

Spruce

Birch

Aspen

Alder

Wet mineral soils take up 12%, wet peaty

soils 11% of the total forest area. Drained

forests (forests on drained mineral soils)

occupy 22% of the LSF (Latvian State

Forests) area.

Latvian forests haverich fauna.

Like:• Moose – 8,700• Deer – 29.200• Roe – 91,800• Wild boar – 26,370• Beaver – 22,780• Fox – 18,530 • Wolf – 810• Lynx – 650

Intensive deforestation

leads to extinction of some

species of animals.

The area of the Park is12 969 hectares. The Natural Park was created on February 25, 1990, to preserve unique natural objects.696 plant species are registered to be found in the Park. Forests cover 38 % of the territory of the Park.

The reserve was established in 1936 and

is 1076 hectares (1063 ha are covered

with forests).

Gauja National Park -

the largest national

park in Latvia.

The Park occupies

the area of 917,45

km2.

47 % of the territory

is covered with

forests.

Slītere National Park is a specially protected area

of nature which is included in the “Natura 2000”

network of European specially protected nature

territories.