Ambassador profile

Organisation profile

LTZAR0024

www.grazute.lt

Forest covers 24,5 ha of the private property. Dominating tree species: White Alder, Birch, Pine. The property borders large water reservoir (Antalieptes marios) in the south. All cultural and biological values, including red listed species and forest habitats types included in Habitats Directive are situated in the forests of the property. The rest is
abandoned agricultural land which is gradually overgrowing with forest. Activities within the private property: forestry, education for general public and private forest owners, tourism, angling.

Preparation of the forest management plan for the private property

The following stakeholders were involved in the preparation of the forest management plan: an ecologist from Grazute regional park and a local company preparing forest management plans to forest owners and land owners. Scientists from the Institute of Botany carried out the mapping of the habitat types listed in the Habitats Directive and habitats of red listed species and provided advice on appropriate forest management in these areas.

Development of the nature trail and preparation of demonstration objects.

The trail was set up in close co-operation with land owners. Without their contribution and help with man-power we would not have been able to implement our plans. A private forest harvesting contractor company, which belongs to the land owners, carried out all planned fellings, timber extraction and clearance of the trail in forest. The woodworkers employed by the land owners produced the stands and directing signs for the trail according to the project. The permits needed from Grazute regional park and the local municipality were issued without delays. This cooperation resulted from previous meetings with the stakeholders to explain our plans and introduce the technical project of the trail to them.

Official opening of the demonstration forest and the nature trail.

The administration of the regional park offered to host the official opening of the trail and the use of their facilities and equipment for the event. With the help of stakeholders we managed to attract attention of high level officials to the opening of the trail. The Minister of Environment, Advisor to the Minister on forests, Director of State Protected Areas Service, Director of administration of the local municipality and project financers participated in the event.

Activities and products for the communication of Natura 2000

 

✓Guided visits

✓Other: Web page of the organisation

✓Other: Publications in the journals and newspapers

 

✓At least once per month

 

✓No

 

✓Leaflets

✓Magazines, periodicals

✓Other: Web page of the organisation

 

✓General public

✓Other: Specific publications for foresters, forest owners, harvesting contractors

 

✓No

One TV programme, two publications in the forest related journals after the opening of the nature trail. The third publication will be published soon about the forestry methods demonstrated in the site. Web page information about the demonstration forest is being finalised as well.

 

✓Yes

 

LFN is a partner organisation of WWF. WWF-Sweden and Pasaules Dabas Fonds (Latvian NGO) assisted LFN by providing own experience, information and financial support for the development of the demonstration forests and promotion of responsible forestry in Lithuania.

Very detailed and inflexible forestry legislation, which is not compatible with continuous forest cover forestry, forest restoration activities and application of biodiversity friendly felling methods.

All habitat types listed in the Habitats Directive were mapped by the experts from the Institute of Botany. They are managed according to the recommendations prepared by the experts. The majority of these stands are left without any forest management. The remaining forested area within the property is managed according to continuous forest cover principles with the aim to ensure development of qualities characteristic to forest habitat types protected by the Directive.

The objective was to develop and demonstrate example management of private forest situated in protected area.
Basically we did not have the problems. We changed our initial plans and we did what we could according to the legislation. Nevertheless we share our experiences during guided excursions to forest owners, foresters. We also highlighted the problems during the opening of the demonstration forest, because the Minister of Environment and other high level officials were present in the event.

• Land owners
• Administration of the regional park (Natura 2000 site)
• State Environmental Protection Inspectorate
• Companies preparing forest management plans,
• Local government

• Meetings and discussions with the stakeholders in order to discuss what could be done to implement our plans
• Specific fellings to open, restore or maintain biological values in the property
• The trail was cleared
• Information stands and directing signs set up in the forest

The trail was completed and opened to the public.

We are planning demonstration activities for foresters and forest owners. In winter we are going to carry out new fellings and develop new demonstration objects. We have the full support of all stakeholders.

Euros 30,000

LIFE+