naTuRal anD culTuRal hERiTaGE TOuRiSM FOR incREaSED BalTic SEa REGiOn iDEnTiTY

TREaSuRES OF ThE BalTic SEa

FORESTS
The Green Gold

STOnES anD ROckS FOREST RED BRick GOThic ShiFTinG SanD DunES caSTlES anD MuSEuMS

Treasures of the Baltic Sea

FORESTs
The Green Gold

EDiTORial

Dear readers,
what comes into your mind when you think of the Baltic Sea Region: endless beaches, sand dunes, birch forests, castles and churches or even amber? Countries around the Baltic Sea share a great variety of natural and cultural resources as well as a long common history. The area, however, is still not well recognised as one common region outside its borders. In the framework of the EU-funded project AGORA 2.0 we aim to improve the common identity of the Baltic Sea Region, based on its rich natural and cultural treasures. The five issues of the Treasures of the Baltic Sea are our appetisers for you to raise your awareness of the unique beauty of the Baltic Sea Region by telling exciting stories and providing short background information at a glance that make you feel like visiting the region. This issue will bring the fascinating world of forest in the Baltic Sea Region closer to you.

Dipl. oec. Betina Meliss

Photos: 1 - Lauku Celotajs, 2 - Shutterstock

Editor University of Greifswald Institute of Geography and Geology Makarenkostrae 22 17487 Greifswald fon +49 (0) 3834 / 864541 agora@uni-greifswald.de

content
4 5 6 8 10 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Editorial Content Forests In The Baltic Sea Region The History of the Baltic Sea Regions Forests Boreal Forests Nemoral Forests Boreo-Nemoral Forests The Most Characteristic Forests In The Baltic Sea Region Pine Forests Spruce And Mixed Spruce Deciduous Forests Nemoral Broadleaf Forests Bog Woodland Slope And Ravine Forests Gallery And Alluvial Forests Birch Forests Deciduous Swamp Woods Wooded Meadows And Pastures Map Latvia Pierga Region Kurzeme Region Latgale Region Vidzeme Region Zemgale Region Lithuania Auktaitija Region Dzkija Region emaitija Region Lithuania Minor Region Estonia Northern Estonia The Islands Of Estonia Southern Estonia Poland The Masurian Forests Notecka Forest The Szczecin Forests The Tuchola Forest Belarus Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve Braslav Lakes National Park Finland Koli National Park Nuuksio National Park Sweden Norra Kvil Skuleskogen National Park Denmark Rold Forest Germany Ancient Beech Forests Jasmund National Park Touristic Information Imprint

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FORESTS in ThE BalTic SEa REGiOn

The Baltic Sea region is the most wooded territory in Europe. Forest cover reaches from 13% in Denmark up to 74% in Finland.

Photos: 1 - Ilze Priedniece, 2 - Dina Meiere, 3,4 - Valda Baronia, 5 - Vilnis Skuja

A boreal pine forest with ground cover of lichens and mosses.

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Since the region covers a fairly large area, its forests are rather diverse. Boreal coniferous forests dominate in the northern stretches, while temperate broadleaf forests are found in the central and southern parts. The Baltic States, Belarus and the southern part of Sweden are located in the transition zone between these two forest types. The forest is an integral component of the northern European landscape and cultural environment. It plays an essential role in the environmental, economic and social aspects of these countries. It is no accident that the forest is known as green gold in the area. Over the course of ages,

forests have served as sources of inspiration, leading to countless legends, stories, fairy tales and riddles as a very important part of the intangible cultural heritage of the region. It is a very important element in satisfying the emotional, aesthetic and informational needs of local people. The forest has always been an important resource for the economies of the regions countries and forestry is a major industry in most of them. In Latvia, for instance, it accounts for 20% of export earnings, in Sweden 1520%, in Finland 3540%. The emphasis is put on the value of timber resources in most cases, but there are other no less valuable treasures wild

berries, nuts, mushrooms, medicinal plants, game and other gifts from the forest that are widely used to this day. We cannot overvalue the role of the forest in producing oxygen, in stabilising the climate and the water regime and in preserving biological diversity. The woods improve air quality, tamp down noise, protect against excessive wind, and reduce risks of floods and soil erosion. They offer habitats for a huge amount of plants and animal species, which could not survive anywhere else. If you learn about these species, every visit to the forest will become an exciting and very informative adventure.

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*2 Golden needle mushrooms, found on the shelves in shops, also grow in our nemoral forests. Late in autumn it can be found on dead wood or in the injury places of growing trees, especially on willow and aspen. *3 Cowberry or lingonberry is quite common in boreal pine forests. *4 Tree lungwort one of the largest lichens in the forests of the Baltic Sea Region grows in old, almost intact forests on lit-up trunks of broad-leaved trees, quite often on the upper part of the trunk.

Instantly recognisable by their red fur, ear tufts and long, fluff y tails, red squirrels were once the only squirrel species in Europe. This changed when grey squirrels, that quite often can be seen in our forests and parks, were introduced from America.

THE HISTORY OF THE BALTIC SEA REGIONS FORESTs

Photos: 1 - Liene Aunia, 2 - Vilnis Skuja, 3 - Uvis Suko, 4 - Sandra Brzia

Ostrich Fern is the largest and most beautiful fern in the nemoral forests of Europe. Reaching heights up to 1.7m, these plants almost look like something out of a jungle. Unlike other parts of Europe, this region saw the emergence of forests over the course of 12,000 years after the last Ice Age. As ice melted, it left behind large lakes, rapid rivers and bare outcrops of sediment. Gradually, plants typical of tundra began to appear lichens, mosses, dwarf birches, dwarf willows etc. Although the climate was still cold and dry for the next 5,000 years, pine and birch trees slowly colonised the southern and south-eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. As the climate became warmer, spruce, aspen, grey and black alder began to expand. Once the plants were there, birds, reindeer, elks, hares, foxes, wolves, lynxes and other animals followed. 6,000 to 7,000 years ago, the climate became considerably warmer and damper. The average air temperature was 22.5C higher than nowadays, and precipitation volumes were nearly one-third higher. A lot of mires and ravines evolved because of the large humidity and heavy rainstorms. The proportion of pine trees in the forests declined in favour of hazels and alder trees, along with broadleaf trees such

Eurasian Elk the largest animal in the Baltic Sea Region was widespread in the whole region till the 9th century. Currently they are found in Sweden, Finland, Poland, Russia, the Baltic States and southern Belarus. and spruce took over on fallow land, forever altering the natural forest structure. Despite the changes caused by slashand-burn agriculture, most of the forests maintained their primeval nature until the 12th or 13th century. The felling of trees increased in the 14th and 15th century and later, when the shipping industry, manufacturing and trade flourished. Since the expensive oak timber was most in demand, broadleaf forests suffered the greatest damage again and were felled heavily until the end of the 18th century. Over the past 500 years, the amount of forests has both increased and decreased due to wars, epidemics and management forms dictated by political systems. As the timber industry developed, production of wood and management of the forest became targeted processes. Forestry practice based on clear felling and replanting has reduced the areas of natural woodland to small isolated islands. Scientists have estimated that less than 3% of the regions forests can be classified as relatively intact.

as oak, lime, elm, beech and hornbeam. The climate began to dry up again about 4,700 years ago. The scope of broadleaf trees, alder and hazel diminished, while the number of birch, pine and spruce increased. Luxuriant hardwood and lime stands still grew in fertile lowlands while spruce, pine, birch and elder expanded in dry elevations and wet depressions. During the last millennium, the proportion of tree species continued to change, but this time, the human activities have been the most important factor. The first humans arrived at the coasts of the Baltic Sea toward the end of the Ice Age more than 10,000 years ago. They were small tribes of reindeer hunters, who did not affect the environment much. Human influence on forests expanded with the development of agriculture 5,600 years ago. The forests were cut down and burned to create areas for fields and pastures. People learned that the best place for fields was in the fertile broadleaf forests, thus they were devastated first. The broadleaf trees could not re-conquer the abandoned fields. Instead, birch, aspen

Moist and almost natural pine-spruce forest in Latvia.

Ground lichens like Powdered Funnel Lichen is among the first inhabitants of the region after the ice of the last Ice Age melted.

BOREal, nEMORal anD BOREOnEMORal FORESTS

Photo: Uvis Suko

Monotonous ground cover is typical in boreal pine forests on dry and sandy soils. The amount of dry and fallen trees that usually support biodiversity in such forests has been reduced by traditional forestry.

BOREal FORESTS
Most of Sweden, Finland and the northern part of Russia are located in the Boreal Region that stretches around the northern hemisphere of the Earth across Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska and Canada. It is known for its coniferous forests, mires and lakes that mingle together seamlessly, creating a characteristic mosaic landscape of forests and wetlands. Among Norway spruce and Scots pine, that are the main species in Boreal forests of Europe, silver birches, downy birches and common aspens are quite common. The structure of boreal forests is relatively simple with a sparse field layer of mosses, lichens and dwarf ericaceous shrubs on shallow soils. Where the soil is more fertile, the groundcover becomes carpeted with well-adapted herbaceous shrubs and bushes.

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Most boreal forests grow in their natural area of distribution in Sweden, Finland, the Baltic States, Belarus, in the northern part of Poland and Russia. However, coniferous plantations occur also in places where, in natural circumstances, mixed or deciduous forests would grow. In Denmark, for instance, only junipers and yews would grow in the areas unaffected by humans.

A groundcover of nemoral forest in the spring when Wood and Yellow anemones and Bird-in-a-bush are blooming.

European badger is indigenous to the nemoral and boreonemoral forests and parks of Europe. It is a nocturnal animal that can be met during the daytime in the period of feeding the young.

A nemoral forest in the middle of summer when vernal species of forest groundcover have given the place to summer vegetation.

nEMORal FORESTS
Much of Denmark, Germany and Poland are located in the Continental or Nemoral Region, covering the largest part of Europe. This vast area was once covered with broadleaf forests, interspersed with extensive floodplains and mires. Unfortunately, during the last centuries many of these forests have been cleared for fuel and timber and replaced by large scale agricultural production or converted into deciduous or coniferous plantations. Nowadays, the majority of European nemoral broadleaf forests grow in Poland, Belarus, Russia, Germany, Denmark and Lithuania. Smaller, isolated areas can also be found in western Latvia, Estonia, and southern parts of Sweden, mostly in valleys of rivers, on islands and other places that are fertile but difficult to cultivate.

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One of the most characteristic features of nemoral forests is an impressive total change from vernal to summer vegetation. Many plant species take advantage of the fact that there is a lot of light in broadleaf forests early in spring. They rapidly flower and sow seeds in the first month of spring to give the place to other plant species around the middle of summer.

Photos: 1 - Liene Aunia, 2 - Vilnis Skuja, 3 - Uvis Suko

Photos: 1 - Valda Baronia, 2 - Valda Baronia

The dwarf birch is an example of boreal plants that can be found in the Baltic mires and bog woodlands.

The Baltic States are the southernmost point for Northern Twinflower that is a typical inhabitant of the boreal region and cannot be found in central Europe.

BOREO-nEMORal FORESTS
The Baltic States, Belarus and the southern part of Sweden are the areas where boreal coniferous forests meet nemoral broadleaf ones. This is a gradual transition. The geographic and climatic conditions, however, are the reason why there are both coniferous and broadleaf forests, as well as mixed ones in which both kinds of trees grow. It is the southernmost point for many boreal species and the northernmost for many nemoral ones. Examples include the presence of Northern twinflower, a typical species of boreal forests that does not grow in central Europe, or common hornbeam, a typical species of European broadleaf forests that does not grow in Scandinavia, Estonia and in the northern part of Latvia. The Baltic States and Belarus are located in a zone where western (Atlantic or coastal) and eastern (continental or inland) species come into contact as well. An example here is cross-leaved heath, which is found

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along the south-western coast of the Baltic and the North Sea, but there is no point in looking for it in the eastern parts of the Baltic States or in Belarus. The Baltic and Belarusian forests are considerably diverse due to the large variation of soil and terrain conditions on fairly small territories and historical forest management traditions. Compared to Western Europe, this is the place where semi natural forests of high biodiversity value can be found more often.

ThE MOST chaRacTERiSTic FORESTS in ThE BalTic SEa REGiOn

Dry Boreal pine forests occasionally can be found on comparatively fertile soils. Such pine stands are much richer in plants and junipers than typical pine-lichen forests.

Foxy bolete is one of the fungi that grow exclusively under pine trees. Like most of boletes, it can be cooked without prior boiling.

PinE FORESTS
Dry pine forests are quite common along the shore of the Baltic Sea and in the northern part of the Boreal Region. Most of pine stands are found on sandy dunes and sandy lowlands where other species find it hard to compete. In places where the soil is the poorest, light and open pine forests with junipers, heather, crowberries, cowberries and a thick ground cover of white lichens and green mosses are found. In areas that have more moisture and nutrition, there are more productive pine forests that include some spruce and birch trees. These forests are the best place to find chanterelles, boletes, bilberries and cowberries. Though it might seem that the diversity of animal species in dry pine forests is not great, more than 2,000 species dwell here. Most of them are small invertebrates living in the soil, however, the surface of the ground is also rich in invertebrates. These are the best place for ants, robber flies, antlion, pine borer, pine weevil and wood tiger beetle. Open pine stands are home to tree pipit, redstart, pied flycatcher and many other birds. Dry pine forests with rich heather, cowberry, blueberry, bearberry and crowberry stands are important winter grazing places for roe deer, elk and red deer. Pine forests seldom have been cleared for agricultural purposes, because the soil is poor and inappropriate for grains. It is also not advantageous to try to grow other kinds of trees at such locations. Pines have been utilised to produce building materials, ship masts, telephone poles and rail-

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road ties for centuries. Many natural pine forests are converted into pine plantations. As a result old pine forests with natural forest features are extremely rare. They can be found only in places where commercial forest management is limited by natural circumstances or nature protection requirements along the sandy shoreline of the Baltic Sea or on the islands of mires. Such old pine forests are easy to recognise by trees of different age and dimensions, by dead wood in different stages of decay, by biologically old trees with flat crowns, large branches, thick bark, woodpecker signs and scars from fires and by species that can live only in such biologically valuable forests. Most of them are included in Natura 2000 sites.

Photos: 1 - Uis Piterns, 2 - Dina Meiere, 3 - Valda Baronia

Chaffinch is one of the most common forest birds that are found in forests, parks and gardens. It makes a perfectly camouflaged nest in the forks of branches or trunk, quite often in young spruce.

Photos: 1 - Ainars Auni, 2 - Valda Baronia, 3 - Agnese Priede

Wood-sorrel is a typical companion of Norway spruce. It can be found even in the densest spruce forests.

A semi natural boreal spruce forest with dense stands of Fir Clubmoss in Latvia.

SPRucE anD MiXED SPRucE DEciDuOuS FORESTS

14 Dark and shady spruce forests or slightly lighter and more diverse spruce deciduous forests are found throughout the whole region, particularly in highlands, where the soil is more fertile and moist. These are typical boreal coniferous forests with a distinct green moss ground cover and tall herbs that have adapted to life in shady conditions. The largest areas of spruce forest are ones in which rowan and hazel can be found in the undergrowth and a lot of wood sorrels and green mosses in ground cover. Where the soil is loamier, there can also grow some lime, oak, maple, ash, hornbeam or even beech trees. Undergrowth of such forests consists of rowans, hazels, honeysuckles and spindles, while the herb layer is made of fir clubmoss, wood horsetail, northern starflower, sweet woodruff and ferns. In sparse areas, usually there are a lot of bilberries, but in dense places, the ground cover is made up of scattered mosses. Since a large part of spruce forests now grow in the territories of former broadleaf forests, species typical of broadleaf forests can be found there, for instance, liverleaf, lily of the valley, greater stitchwort and yellow archangel. Spruce forest is one of the best places for Goldcrest, Crossbill, Chaffinch, Crested tit and Dunnock. Fox, pine marten and the rarities of our fauna wolf, lynx and bear are delighted to find shelter here, too. As late as in the latter half of the 19th century, spruce and birch trees were considered as weeds. It was only toward the end of the century, as the pulp and paper industry developed, that the spruce was first appreciated. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the spruce has been one of the target species of trees. In many places, spruce was planted in areas cleared of broadleaf forests as well as in areas of dried bog woodlands. Although the total area covered with spruce has increased, old and semi natural spruce forests are rare. They can be recognised by large trees with holes and woodpecker signs, covered with mosses and lichens and by many dried and fallen trees of large dimensions and various age. Such old spruce and spruce-deciduous forests are protected. Most of them are included in Natura 2000 sites.

European hornet is a quite frequent wasp in deciduous forests, rich with old and hollowed trees.

Spring pea contributes to the colourful vernal aspect of vegetation in oak and beech forests.

Ramsons mark the vegetation of nemoral oak forests. In appropriate places they form dense stands, which are embellished by white blossoms in May and in the beginning of June.

nEMORal BROaDlEaF FORESTS

Nemoral broadleaf forests are the richest forests in Europe. They consist of beech, hornbeam, oak, lime, ash, elm and maple trees in many different combinations. Broadleaf forests are distinguished by vernal species like anemones, stars of Bethlehem, bird-in-a-bush and spring pea that carpet its groundcover before the tree canopy shuts out the light. They are characterised by a large diversity of mosses, lichens and polypores, which grow on tree trunks and on fallen trees. Since various species require different light and moisture conditions, each has its own place on the trunk of the tree. Light-loving lichens are closer to the tops of the trees, because they can survive without moisture for longer periods. The base of the tree is often covered with a thick moss boot, as there is more moisture that mosses need. The more shady part of the trunk, usually on its northern side, dries less, and the moss boot tends to be distinctly higher there. The rough bark and knotted boughs provide shelter to various beetles. Leaves, in turn, serve as food for larvae of various butterflies. The wealth of insects attracts many bird species, especially warblers, flycatchers, tits, chaffinches, nuthatches and jays. Although all nemoral forests have much in common, there are some differences between the eastern and western stretches. The climatic conditions and soils are particularly well suited to beech in Denmark, Germany, Poland and the western part of Belarus, while further to the north and east beech is gradually replaced by oak, lime and hornbeam. Thick, dense canopies are characteristic of beech forests. In summer, this roof of leaves prevents sunlight from reaching the forest floor, stifling the growth of other trees and wildflowers. Oak forests, in turn,

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are more diverse. Lime, elm, ash, rowan and hazel trees commonly grow among oaks and its groundcover is thickly covered with plants during the summer months. Since the slash-and-burn agriculture and subsequent development of the agriculture and forestry, broadleaf forests have been transformed the most. Spruce forests and fields have replaced them in many places, and old and natural broadleaf stands have become extremely rare. Such areas can be recognised by trees of different age and old trees, full of holes, woodpecker signs, covered with mosses, lichens and polypores. Old broadleaf forests are rich with glades, dry and fallen trees, lots of decayed wood, and species that live only in such forests. Such old broadleaf stands with features of unmanaged forests are protected. Most of them are included in Natura 2000 sites.

Photos: 1 - Uis Piterns, 2,3 - Valda Baronia

Old and semi natural bog woodland has many elements that are of key importance in protecting biological diversity trees of various age, lots of dried and fallen trees, hummocks and openings.

Photos: 1 -Uvis Suko, 2 - Liene Aunia, 3 - Valda Baronia

A Nordic bog woodland landscape with downy birch. In such a forest, mosses predominate in the ground cover and lichens are common on stems and trunks.

The highly aromatic Northern Labrador tea can be found in almost every site of bog woodland.

BOG WOODlanD
Bog woodlands are coniferous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests on peaty soils in places where the water level is permanently high and the groundwater is very poor, most often on the edges of mires or in relief depressions between hillocks. These are typical boreal forests where pines, downy birches, spruces or black alders form the tree layer, which is often low with many stunted trees, while blueberries, bog bilberries, cranberries, heather, Labrador tea, bogmosses, feather moss, wind-blown moss and sedges form the undergrowth. Old and almost natural bog woodland has many elements that are of key importance in protecting biological diversity trees of various age, lots of dried and fallen trees, trees with holes and woodpecker signs, hummocks and openings. Such forests are home to many rare and protected species. They host several species for which the south part of the Baltic Sea Region is the very edge of their distribution area, for example, cross-leaved heath, bogmyrtle, dwarf birch and drooping wood-reed.

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Trees in bog woodland grow slowly, and they are hard to manage. That is why large areas of bog woodlands have been drained to improve the quality of the timber and forest management success. This, however, means the degradation of this valuable habitat and loss of many elements, which are needed for the existence of lots of species. To preserve the remaining ones, most of old and semi-natural bog woodland stands are included in Natura 2000 sites.

Shady slopes of riverbanks with ravines have many elements that are of key importance in preserving biological diversity.

Norway maple that is quite frequent in slope and ravine forests becomes bright not only in autumn, but also in spring, before leaves open, when the branches force into sulphurous blossoms.

Common birds nest is a very frequent fungus in deciduous forests, slope and ravine forests and parks, but it is rarely spotted as the cup does not exceed 1 cm. A pale yellow lid covers the young ones. When the fungus grows up, the lid breaks, revealing up to 1015 eggs with spores.

SlOPE anD RaVinE FORESTS

Mixed nemoral forests composed of maples, ashes, elms, limes and oaks are quite common on coarse sediments on slopes and ravines. Depending on the local climatic conditions, two subtypes can be recognised. A subtype with maple dominates in cooler and more humid environments while a subtype with limes is the most common on warm and dry slopes. Slope and ravine forests are characterised by permanent shade, lower temperatures and higher humidity than in the surrounding areas. Springs, brooks, large boulders and patches of bare soil or rock diversify the forest structure providing places for different species to co-exist. As nemoral forests, slope and ravine forests are rich in vernal species. Shady ravines and slopes faced to the north are always wetter, cooler and shadier, so they have a wealth of snails and slugs, fallen trees covered with mosses, and plants which love moisture and fertile soil. Warmer, drier and lighter slopes (those facing the south) are denser with light tolerant herbs and lichens on trees.

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Since slope and ravine forests are difficult to access and harvest, such forests are less transformed. Signs of a natural forest are quite common there old and large trees, large hazel bushes, many dried trees, lots of fallen trees and trees with holes and woodpecker signs. Such sites provide a refuge for many rare and endangered mosses, snails, slugs and lichens. The most important sites of slope and ravine forests are included in Natura 2000 sites.

Photos: 1 -Valda Baronina, 2 - Uvis Suko, 3 - Dina Meiere

Photos: 1,2 - Daiga Brakmane, 3 -Uvis Suko

Common hop that creeps upwards along the trees and shrubs is a quite frequent liana in alluvial forests. After blooming, the female plants develop peculiar, soft fruits that are widely used for brewing beer, in medicine and cosmetics.

Continuous fern cover is quite common in gallery and alluvial forests.

GallERY anD alluVial FORESTS

Unique types of forests are found along riverbanks and in floodplains. They become flooded regularly and then drained in a natural way, while the fertile soil is enriched by the floodwaters. Structures like oxbows, silts, depressions and piles of sand created by the flood streams provide a diverse spatial structure for species to co-exist. Particularly outstanding are the forests that have evolved naturally as rivers twisted and turned and washed away their banks. In todays highly managed landscape, these natural forests are an extreme rarity. This varied habitat includes ash, alder and elm forests in floodplains and willow galleries along watercourses, often with bird cherry, common hop and black currant underneath. Nettles, meadowsweets, sedges and other herbs preferring humid and nutrient-rich soils replace anemones, lesser celandines, marsh marigolds and other vernal plants during the summer. Old and often flooded alluvial forests have trees with higher roots and trunks covered with mosses and lichens. The lower parts

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of trunks are often covered with bits of soil that have been carried by the floodwaters, which means that they have fewer mosses than on the central part of the trunk. This provides good evidence of the effects of flooding and also indicates the level of the floodwaters. Gallery and alluvial forests are relatively widespread, but they are seriously threatened due to regulation of watercourses and management of water levels. For this reason alluvial forests are fairly uncommon and protected nowadays.

Birch leaf roller is a frequent beetle in birch forests. Rolled birch leaves easily determine its presence.

Birch groves consisting of silver birch are quite common within the whole region.

Common spotted orchid is the most widespread orchid in Europe. It produces some fabulous flowering displays across a wide range of habitats from dry grasslands to marshes and forest edges.

BiRch FORESTS
Silver birch is one of the most common species of trees, which can grow in various habitats and in combination with other types of trees. They are found on abandoned farmland and meadows as well as on forest openings as birches appear quickly after storms, fires, clearcuts and abandonment. Since the birch is a comparatively valuable and fast growing species, birch plantations are quite common in many places of the region. Nevertheless, birches do not create longlasting forests. Young spruce trees feel fine in the shadow of birches, and spruces gradually replace birches over the course of time without purposive management. Depending on the place and the history of the forest, birch forests will contain plants that are typical of grasslands, fallow lands or coniferous forests. Many species, which usually grow along the edges of forests, are typical there, including the endanger-

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ed marsh and spotted orchids. Despite the fact that the birch is so common, intensive use of it has meant that there are very few old and natural birch stands that are appropriate for rare or protected species.

Photos: 1 - Uis Piterns, 2 - Baiba Strazdia, 3 -Valda Baronia

After the spring floods have passed and fertile silts deposited, dense stands of high sedges, ferns, yellow iris and cabbage thistle are common in swamp forests in floodplains.

Kingcup or marsh marigold is one of the most gorgeous vernal plants that can be seen in the swamps and floodplains.

Even during a dry summer, empty or sparsely vegetated areas of land indicate the presence of almost permanently flooded patches.

DEciDuOuS SWaMP WOODS

On wet, fertile and regularly flooded wetlands, edges of mires and groundwater outflow places where a paludification tendency can be observed, black alder and ash forests named swamp woods are the most common. As other trees find it hard to compete in such places, black alder and ash swamps can persist for thousands of years under artificially unchanged conditions. The most characteristic elements of these forests are a mosaic pattern of vegetation, hummocks around the tree stems and almost permanently flooded patches. Even during a dry summer, when pools dry out, empty or sparsely vegetated areas of land will indicate their presence. Swamp woods that are not intensively managed are characterised by multi-aged stands, presence of old stems, high hummocks, sun-exposed snags, dead wood in different stages of decay, trees with holes and woodpecker signs, providing a diverse spatial structure for species to co-exist. Wood-sorrel, blueberry, bugleweed and buckler-fern are the most common plants

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at the tops of the hummocks where soil is relatively dry, while sedges, bog arum, marsh cinquefoil, marsh fern, bittersweet nightshade and yellow iris can be found in most cases at the foot of hummocks and in flooded spaces between hummocks. Due to their highly specific location and intensive melioration, swamp woods are quite rare. Its most important sites are included in Natura 2000 sites.

Photos: 1,3 - Valda Baronia, 2 - Baiba Strazdia

A typical wooded meadow with large oak trees. *1

Photos: 1,2 - Valda Baronia, 3 - Liene Aunia, 4 - Dina Meiere

Wooded pasture with large pine trees.

This brightly yellow tois orange sulphur polypore that Common Spotted orchid the most widespread orchid in Europe. grows in wooded meadows and parks is edible It produces some fabulous flowering displays across while a wideit range young,from but should be carefully cooked before ofis habitats dry grasslands to marshes and forest eating. edges.

WOODED MEaDOWS anD PaSTuRES

Wooded meadows and pastures are one of the oldest types of landscape in our region. They have evolved over the course of the centuries as livestock has grazed in forests and along their edges. This landscape consists of scattered oak, lime, elm, ash, birch or pine trees and patches of open grasslands. Lush rowans, hazelnuts and crab apple trees find a place in the shadow of the large oaks quite often. They can be characterised by species-rich vegetation complexes with rare and threatened meadow and forests edge species like cowslip, wood cow-wheat, cranesbill, lily of the valley, wild and creamy strawberries, wild orchids, and a well developed epiphytic flora of mosses and lichens. In an area of just 25 m2, more than 60 species of plants and nearly 200 species of lichens can be found. This is a very important place for rare and protected saffron yellow polypore, hermit beetle, and the light-tolerant lichens that grow on the trunks of broadleaf trees. Traditionally, these areas were managed by a combination of haymaking, grazing and lopping of trees. Unfortunately, very few of these areas are managed nowadays. When management ends, most wooded meadows and pastures become overgrown. That is why most wooded meadows are under special protection.

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*1 From the end of May until August, one can often oberserve large stands of bluish yellow cow-wheat on the wooded meadows and forest edges. Its dominant shade is created by the yellow blossoms that come into bloom at the top of the stem, but the bluish violet colour by the fringytoothed leaves.

latVia 1 Kemeri National Park 2 ltere National Park 3 Gudenieku Nature Reserve 4 Rzna National Park 5 Gauja National Park 6 Northern Gauja Protected Landscape Region 7 Trvete Nature Park lithuaNia 8 Augtaitijos National Park 9 Labanoras Regional Park 10 Dzkijos National Park 11 Neries Regional Park 12 emaitijos National Park 13 Kuri Nerija National Park estoNia 14 Lahemaa National Park 15 Vilsandi National Park 16 Soomaa National Park 17 Karula National Park PolaND 18 The Masurian Forests 19 Notecka Forest 20 The Szczecin Forests 21 The Tuchola Forest Belarus 22 Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park 23 Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve 24 Braslav Lakes National Park FiNlaND 25 Koli National Park 26 Nuuksio National Park sweDeN 27 Norra Kvil National Park 28 Skuleskogen National Park DeNmark 29 Rold Forest germaNY 30 Ancient Beech Forests 31 Jasmund National Park

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Photos: Lauku Celotajs

emeri NatioNal Park (emeru NacioNlais Parks) emeri National Park is one of the largest wetland areas in Latvia with a huge diversity of species. It is also of pan-European importance in terms of sulphurous springs. The sulphurous waters originate from the raised bog areas in the surroundings of emeri village. One of the most outstanding wetlands in the park is the Large emeri Bog with a wide moss and cranberry carpet, small pine trees, serpentine lakes and islands of mineral soil. Almost all types of forests characteristic of Latvia can be found in the park. The old pine forests on the dunes represent the coastal landscape. Widely spread mixed forests offer an important nesting place for such protected bird species as black stork (Ciconia nigra), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) and white-backed woodpecker (Picoides leucotos).

Varied broadleaf forests with the natural density of dried and fallen trees provide ideal conditions for rare and endangered plants and animals. The wet forests in river floodplains that are protected in large areas of the park should be especially mentioned, while in the rest of Latvia and Europe they have been almost fully destroyed. Everyone is invited to the wooden pathways called Dumbrju trail to discover the kingdom of the black alder (Alnus glutinosa) swamp forest along the Vrupte River. The most impressive scenes occur during spring flooding and after major rainfall during the rest of the year. Thick roots of alder trees are evidence of frequent seasonal floods. By Lauku Celotajs, Sintija Kordule

cOnTacT
Nature conservation agency Pierga regional administration
Mea mja (Forest House) emeri, Jrmala, LV-2012 Tel. +371 677 300 78 pieriga@daba.gov.lv www.daba.gov.lv/kemeri

laTVia
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ltere NatioNal Park (lteres NacioNlais Parks) ltere National Park is one of the most outstanding sites in Latvia, because of its biodiversity and geological features that show the historical development of the Baltic Sea and cultural heritage of the Livonian Coast. The ancient shoreline of the Baltic Ice Lake known as the Blue Hills of ltere is the geologically oldest part of the park. The Blue Hills are covered with old, relatively intact broadleaf forests that are rich in species. Due to the specific microclimate of northern Kurzeme, ancient plants such as the Baltic ivy (Hedera helix var. baltica) and the common yew (Taxus baccata) can be found here. The dunes of the park are overgrown with dry pine forest. The dune habitats, forests and very old sand-borrowed pine trees can be explored along the Kolkasrags Pine Trail. The oldest trees might be around 200 years old. During the spring and autumn bird

migration, the park is crossed by millions of birds every year. There are many great places that offer unforgettable experiences for bird watchers. The park includes one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latvia the Cape of Kolka. Tourists can enjoy interesting nature trails, bicycle routes and viewing towers. guDeNieku Nature reserVe (DaBas liegums guDeNieki) The Nature Reserve was established to protect and manage one of the rare stands of juniper in Latvia that are 5070 years old. A part of the area is managed by sheep. Juniper growths were often used for grazing purposes in the past, and that facilitated their existence. Nowadays, when traditional farming declines and areas of grazing land shrink, the most significant stands of junipers are protected and managed in order to preserve them from disappearing among trees and other bushes. By Lauku celotajs

cOnTacT
Nature conservation agency kurzeme regional administration
lteres meniecba, Dundagas county, LV-3270 Tel. +371 632 860 00 kurzeme@daba.gov.lv www.daba.gov.lv www.slitere.lv

Photos: 1,2 - Lauku Celotajs, 3 - Madars Mileiko

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Photos: Baiba Strazdina

rzNa NatioNal Park (rzNas NacioNlais Parks) Latvias newest national park was formed to protect the nature and wealth of cultural heritage of the ethnographic region of Latgale widely known as the Land of the Blue Lakes. Big and small hills among which there are lowlands or valleys interspersed with lakes are typical relief features of the park. Lake Rzna is called the Sea of Latgale, because it is not only the second largest lake in Latvia, but also the richest in water. One of the most popular destinations in the park is Mkokalns Hill, which offers a lovely view of Lake Rzna. Nature values of the Lake Eezers and its surroundings have been protected since 1928 and it is the longest protected area in the park. Forests cover nearly one half of the park. The mix of conifer and broadleaf forest fragments overgrows many of the hill slopes, valleys, lake banks, peninsulas and islands.

On the banks of the Lake Eezers, which has more islands than any other lake in Latvia, grow the Piori oaks one of the few remaining pure stands of oaks in Latvia (19.6 ha). The oldest trees are thought to be 300 or 400 years old. Oak is the largest and most magnificent tree in Latvian forests. In folklore it is the symbol of power and masculinity. Oak seeds or acorns are essential feed for birds and other animals, and the stands of trees offer a great living space for different species of plants, mushrooms and insects. During spring, the blooming plants like liverleaf (Hepatica nobilis), wood and yellow anemones (Anemone nemorosa, Anemone ranunculoides), spring pea (Lathyrus vernus) etc. make the ground of the oak forest very colourful.

cOnTacT
Nature conservation agency latgale regional administration
Zemnieku 16a Rzekne, LV-4601 Tel. +371 646 058 60 latgale@daba.gov.lv www.daba.gov.lv

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gauja NatioNal Park (gaujas NacioNlais Parks) This was Latvias first national park, and it was set up to protect the ancient Gauja River Valley, the valleys of its tributaries, its species and its cultural landscape. The territory has a great diversity of species some 900 plant species in total. Almost all types of forests characteristic of Latvia can be found here. The park is well-known for its impressive slope and ravine forests. Such forests are less transformed, because they are difficult to access and harvest. Many contain signs of a natural forest old and large trees and bushes, many woodpecker holes and lots of fallen trees. Many rare and endangered mosses, snails, slugs and lichens find refuge in such forests and indicate that the forests in this region have existed for a very long time. One of the most outstanding geological highlights in the park is the Sietiiezis Cliff. Devonian sandstone cliffs are interesting because of their diversity of forms. From

the southern parts of the Sietiiezis Cliff, visitors can see the scenic river valley and the pine forests that surround it. More beautiful sandstone cliffs can be visited on the banks of the Amata River, which is one of the most rapid rivers in Latvia. Down from the RgaVeclaicene highway, it flows along a deep valley with slope, mixed spruce and deciduous tree forests. The park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latvia. It is one of the best protected territories in Latvia in terms of nature trails and tourism routes. the NortherN gauja ProtecteD laNDscaPe regioN (ziemegaujas aizsargjamo aiNaVu aPViDus) The forests in this area are situated along the banks of the Gauja River. Various habitats can be seen along Zle trail boreal forests, slope forests, mixed forests of deciduous and broadleaf trees as well as wooded meadows with oaks. Managed wooded meadows are of very high aesthetic, cultural and historical value.

cOnTacT
Nature conservation agency Vidzeme regional administration
Rgas 10a Salacgrva, LV-4033 Tel. +371 640 714 08 vidzeme@daba.gov.lv www.daba.gov.lv www.gnp.lv

Photos: Lauku Celotajs

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Photos: Juris Smalinskis

trVete Nature Park (trVetes DaBas Parks) The valley of the Trvete River with its scenic landscape and nature as well as cultural values is the focus of this nature park. Extensive forests cover more than a half of the nature parks territory. The Old Pine Park is one of the most interesting parts of this protected area, because of its scientific and aesthetic significance. The oldest and tallest pine trees in the Baltic States grow here. Some trees are 300 years old. They are up to 40 metres high. Other parts of the park like the Fairytale Forest, the Dwarfs Forest and the playground with different attractions are very popular among families with children and school classes. Most of them come here to meet the fairytale characters like little Annele with her friends, Sprdtis and giant Lutausis created after the plays by the

famous Latvian author Anna Brigadere. More than a hundred wooden sculptures and statues that depict the figures of the well-known fairytale plays can be found in the parks area. The Trvete Nature Park has been successfully adapted to the leisure and environmental education needs of visitors. There is a dense network of trails for a day-long hiking as well as routes that are suitable for cross-country skiing during snowy winters. Different environmental activities such as forest expeditions, workshops or lessons in nature are offered to preschoolers and schoolchildren. The Trvete Nature Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Zemgale. by Lauku Celotajs, Sintija Kordule, Source: www.tervetesparks.lv

cOnTacT
information centre of the trvete Nature Park
Trvetes sils, Trvete Parish Trvete Municipality, LV-3730 Tel. +371 637 262 12 tervete@lvm.lv www.tervetesparks.lv www.mammadaba.lv

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augtaitijos NatioNal Park (augtaitijos NacioNaliNis Parkas) The first national park was established to protect the Lithuanian Land of Lakes with a landscape supplemented by the Augtaitija highlands and the local villages. Beside the countless lakes, large areas of the park are covered with forests. Most of them are coniferous forests, in which stands of pine predominate. The oldest pine trees grow in Aviniai Wood. The age of many trees is over 200 years. In terms of biodiversity, the park is one of the richest protected areas in the country. Visitors are invited to visit the Botany Trail that leads along the shore of the lake, the sandy dunes, the valleys of small streams and wetlands, and introduces nature lovers to more than 150 plant species. The trail is 3.5 km long and circular with its start at Pal on the eastern end of the Liai Lake.

Cultural heritage of the park includes many wooden objects carvings, sacral buildings and crosses made by master craftsmen. There are several authentic villages in the park with interesting buildings and street plans. Beekeeping has a very long tradition in the area of the park and has become a popular product for tourists as well as culinary heritage. laBaNoras regioNal Park The park is one of the most forested regions of Lithuania with many lakes and extensive leisure opportunities. The Peroknos Nature Trail is 4 km long and passes through various forest habitats. Plants, animals, old trees and other objects can be seen along this trail. The site is suitable for a one or two-day boating trip along the lakes of the park and the streams that link them.

cOnTacT
auktaitija National Park Visitor information centre
Ignalinos r., Pal LT-30202 Lithuania Telefon +370 386 474 78 info@anp.lt www.labanoroparkas.lt

Photos: 1 - Bronius ableviius, 2,3 - Lauku Celotajs

Dzkija Region

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Photo: Lauku Celotajs

Dzkijos National Park (Dzkijos nacionalinis parkas) Dzkijos National Park is situated in the southern part of Lithuania, where one of the largest forests in Lithuania is located. The forest has always been of great importance in the culture and traditions of the Dzkian people. Most of the territory is covered by coniferous forests. Pine groves dominate and cover wide areas of the inland dunes. Stands of spruces mostly grow on the highlands while deciduous trees like elms and alders can be found in the valleys of rivers. The park is crossed by several rivers with lovely banks and distinct river valleys. The mighty Nemunas River Valley offers a look at cultural and historical monuments from various ages. This is an outstanding landscape. Streams and rivers offer clear and cold water. There are several villages in the park that have retained their ancient beauty. The people of Dzkija have always

worked as beekeepers, and those traditions might best be seen in the village of Musteika. The witnesses of very old beekeeping traditions are trees with hollows growing in the forest of Dzkija. The wide forest area offers great places for picking wild berries and mushrooms. The famous forests of Dzkija, the area around Marcinkonys and the cultural heritage of the Dzkians can be explored along the Zackagirio Nature Trail. The epkeliu swamp (epkeliu raistas) Alongside the Dzkijos National Park is the largest moss swamp in Lithuania, the epkeli swamp. The epkeliai State Nature Reserve was established in order to protect it. Before visiting the bog, visitors must register at the Dzkijos National Parks visitor centre in Marcinkonys. The epkeliu Nature Trail leads from Marcinkonys along

a sandy forest road (about 9 km there and back). Visitors can hike or bike to the edge of the bog where wooded dunes and the bog itself feature a 1.5 km nature trail and a viewing tower, which offers a lovely view of the western part of the bog. Neries Regional Park (Neries regioninis parkas) Neries Regional Park was established to protect the landscape, species and natural oak-wood of the middle stretch of the Neries River. Moreover, it is one of the most forested regional parks in the country. The landscape of the park is dominated by coniferous forests; most of them are different types of pine forest. In places where the soil is poor, there are light and open pine forests with cowberries. More productive pine forests with spruces, bilberries, cowberries etc. grow in areas that have more nutrients and moisture. They are important winter grazing places for deer and elks.

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cOnTacT
Dzkijos National Park and epkeliai state Nature reserve administration
Vilniaus str. 3, Merkin Varnos r. LT-65334 Telefon +370 310 446 41 www.dzukijosparkas.lt

merkins visitors centre

Vilniaus str. 3, Merkin Varnos r., LT-65334 Telefon +370 310 572 45 merkine@dzukijosparkas.lt www.cepkeliai-dzukija.lt Deciduous forests can be found in the valley of the Neries River, its tributaries and on the banks of lakes. The largest area of the broadleaved forests in the park is Dktos Oak Forest. It covers an area of about 300 ha and belongs to the widest and oldest oak forests in Lithuania. The oldest trees are thought to be 180 to 200 years old. It is possible to visit this great place by walking the Dkt Oak Forest Trail that is 2.3 km long. The oak trees had a spiritual meaning for ancient people. Since they believed that the souls of the deceased lived in trees, they felt a respect and affection for oak trees. More fascinating nature and culture objects can be admired along the Dkt Nature Trail. It is an approximately 5 km long path that passes through the landscape of the Neries River and its environmental and cultural treasures, including impressive exposures, huge boulders, historic hill forts etc.
Photos: Lauku Celotajs

Neries regional Park Visitor centre

Vilniaus str. 3, Dktos, Vilnius District Tel. +370 525 992 42 neries_rp@centras.lt | www.neriesparkas.lt

marcinkonys visitors centre

ilageli str. 11, Marcinkonys, Varnos r., LT-65303 Telefon +370 310 444 66 info@dzukijosparkas.lt www.cepkeliai.lt

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Photos: 1 - Betina Meliss, 2 - Lauku Celotajs, 3 - V. Bezaron

emaitijos NatioNal Park (emaitijos NacioNaliNis Parkas) The national park was established in order to protect the Plateliai Lake the largest, deepest and cleanest lake of emaitija as well as the nature and cultural environment of the highlands that have the same name. Forests cover nearly one half of the park territory. Shady spruce groves occupy the hills and deep depressions. There are also some old and natural coniferous forests that consist of spruce and pine trees with very little birches and asps. Stands of old pine trees can be found on the eastern coast of Plateliai Lake. Old and tall trees are very important for raptors like eagles to provide nesting places. There are basically untouched broadleaf forests on the islands of the Plateliai Lake.

Near a former Soviet nuclear weapon base, the Ploktins Nature Trail has been created. While walking along this 3.2 km long trail visitors can see spruce groves, stands of birches, nesting boxes of bats, local plants and animals as well as a nature monument Pilelio spring. The Mikyt Nature Trail is a 1 km circular trail featuring a huge forest and information about the history of the terrain in the emaitija highlands and the surrounding area. An excellent landscape can be seen from the Mikitai hill (an ancient pagan ritual hill). Visitors have many opportunities for bird and animal watching, mushroom or berry picking, hiking, cycling, boating, diving or taking part in the cultural festivals or activities. Travellers love Lake Plateliai and emaii Kalvarija as important destinations for pilgrims.

cOnTacT
Visitor centre of the emaitijos National Park
Didzioji str. 8 Plateliai, Plunges District LT-90420 Lithuana Tel. +370 448 492 31 info@zemaitijosnp.lt www.zemaitijosnp.lt

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kuri Nerija NatioNal Park (kuri Nerijos NacioNaliNis Parkas) The Kuri Nerija National Park features one of the most impressive sets of dunes in Northern Europe with sandy areas, marvelous pine tree forests and the cultural environment of ancient Curonians. Dunes of the Curonian Spit on both Lithuanian and Russian side belong to the UNESCO World Heritage as a cultural landscape with significant natural and cultural heritage value. For centuries, people have desperately battled against sand but it has been quite impossible to win. In fact, the sand has buried more than just a few homes and villages. The interaction between nature and humankind led to the establishment of the national park in order to protect this unique territory. The largest part of the park is covered with forests that consist mostly of pine trees. Birch and alder predominate among decid-

uous trees. More than half of the forest was planted by human hands. At Urbas Hill, one of the first dunes forested by local inhabitants, planting of trees and shrubs has been carried out since 1874. While the scots pine is one of the most common tree species in the region, dwarf mountain pine was introduced in the middle of the 19th century. It is about 1m high on average and even being blown over with sand it is able to stay alive for several years. Dry pine forests are very vulnerable to fire. A peculiar landscape of trunks of dry mountain pine still remind everyone of the massive fire here in spring 2006 when 235 ha of century-old pine trees burned down. The Great Dune Ridge is the largest relief formation on the Curonian Spit, stretching along its eastern side from the north to the south. Most of the Great Ridge is covered with trees. It is the most beautiful forest on the Curonian Spit. The Hill of Witches in Juodkrant is one of the largest and

most spectacular parabolic dunes on the Curonian Spit. The slopes of the hill are enveloped with conifers. There is an outdoor exhibition of wooden sculptures which was established in 1997, and this is one of the most popular destinations in the Park. Article based on The Curonian Spit National Park Administration, Nida Culture and Tourism Centre Agila, Lauku Celotajs and www.nerija.lt

cOnTacT
kursiu Nerija National Park administration
Nagliu str. 8, Neringa, Lithuania Tel: +370 469 51224 info@nerija.lt | www.nerija.lt

Photos: Lauku Celotajs

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Photos: Lauku Celotajs

lahemaa NatioNal Park (lahemaa rahVusPark) The first national park in Estonia was set up to protect the coastal environment and its cultural heritage. With good reason, it is called the Land of Gulfs in Estonian. There are four coastal peninsulas that are separated from each other by small gulfs. Forest covers extensive areas of the park and it is home to large predators as wolf, bear and lynx. The Ksmu peninsula has a dense network of forest trails suitable for hiking and biking. There are impressive fields of moss-covered stones in the forest located at the northern end of the peninsula. The park features many geologically interesting objects. Many fieldstones were carried to this location during the Ice Age, and some of them are very huge. The fieldstones in some places resemble

Scandinavian landscapes and their fields of rocks. Some kilometres from the Gulf of Finland, there are the steep and hilly cliffs best known as North-Estonian Klint. Beautiful waterfalls on the rivers and streams cross the Klint. The stands of broadleaved forest with high biodiversity can be found in some places at the foot of the cliffs. There are many wetlands in the park, including raised bogs surrounded by swampy forests. Visitors can enjoy the outstanding environment of the bog in the Viru Swamp Trail. The 3.5 km long trail crosses the Viru bog from the north to the south. There is a wooden observation tower from which the typical landscape of a mossy swamp can be surveyed. Source: Lauku Celotajs, www.estonica.org

cOnTacT
environmental Board Palmse oce
Palmse, Vihula vald, Lne-Virumaa Tel. +372 329 55 30 lahemaa@keskkonnaamet.ee www.keskkonnaamet.ee

Visitor centre
Palmse, Vihula vald, Lne-Virumaa Tel. +372 329 55 55 info@lahemaa.ee www.lahemaa.ee

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VilsaNDi NatioNal Park (VilsaNDi rahVusPark) The landscape of the Vilsandi archipelago resembles the views that can be seen along the shores of Scandinavia, and this is truly unique in the Baltic Sea Region. There are birds, seals, interesting vegetation, ancient fossils and lighthouses. Vilsandi National Park was established to protect the nature and cultural heritage of the coastal landscapes. The Park includes 150 small islands with the Vilsandi Island being the largest one. It is a very new island that emerged only 2,000 years ago thanks to the rising crust of the earth. This brought together two separate islands and occurred around 350 years ago. Most of the area of Vilsandi Island is overgrown with forest and fields of juniper.

The Vaika Islands were the first protected nature area in the Baltic States with the Vaika Islands Reserve being established in 1910. The area is a particularly restricted reserve and can only be viewed from a distance. The Elda cliff and peninsula offer a beautiful area of land covered with stands of juniper. The seashore is interesting here because of sediment layers dating back to the Silurian Era. Other islands of the archipelago can be seen from the tip of the peninsula. Source: Lauku Celotajs

cOnTacT
Visitor centre of the Vilsandi National Park
Loona Manor Loona, Kihelkonna Parish, SA Telefon +372 454 65 10 info@loonamanor.ee www.loonamanor.ee www.vilsandi.ee

Photos: Lauku Celotajs

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Photos: Lauku Celotajs

soomaa NatioNal Park (soomaa rahVusPark) In Estonian, the word Soomaa means the Land of bogs. The Soomaa National Park is one of the largest complexes of wetlands (bogs, fens, lakes, unregulated rivers etc.) in Estonia. The Region of Soomaa is known for its fifth season. During this time, vast areas are flooded, including meadows and forests, and it is only possible to get around by boat. There is a dense network of nature trails created for nature friends. The Meiekose Hiking Trail passes through wet forests and floodplain grasslands, which are inundated during the flooding season. The trail is between 3 and 5 km long. It leads along an old road on the left bank of the Tramaa River. Various types of forests can be discovered in the Ignatsi

Hiking Trail. The trail is 4.5 km long, leading along the former narrow-gauge railway line, which was used to transport timber during the mid-20th century. The Lemmje hiking trail starts at the confluence of the Lemmjgi and the Raudna rivers. The trail passes through floodplain grasslands and old and very wet forests, which are among the largest forests of their type in Estonia. The Kuuraniidu nature trail is 1.7 km long and circular, passing through various forest habitats and providing information about their inhabitants and the basic principles of forest management. Along the Beaver Trail visitors can see how beavers adapt the environment to their own needs. Source: Lauku Celotajs, www.keskkonnaamet.ee/soom-eng/nature

cOnTacT
soomaa National Park Visitor centre
Krtsi-Tramaa Tipu Village, Viljandi County 71211 Estonia Tel. +372 435 71 64 soomaa.teabepunkt@rmk.ee www.soomaa.ee

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karula NatioNal Park (karula rahVusPark) Karula National Park was established to protect the environment and cultural landscapes of the Karula highlands. The park is located in the centre of a huge forest, which is one of the largest forests in southern Estonia. Forests cover approximately 70% of the territory. Bogs and lakes separate the forest areas from each other. There are several opportunities for hiking and discovering the nature in the park. The Prajrve Forest Trail is 4 km long, marked and circular, leading through a large forest and allowing visitors to study plants, animals and forestry traditions. The trail starts at the village of Prajrve.

The Rebse Landscape Trail is a circular 7km trail leading through various lovely habitats forests, grasslands and small wetlands. The cultural landscape of the park is made up of small single-family farms and villages with wooden buildings and small country roads. The Sibula granary, which has been restored, is one of the oldest buildings in the park. It was built in the mid-19th century. Source: Lauku Celotajs

cOnTacT
rmk information Point in the karula National Park centre
hijrve Village, Antsla Rural Municipality, Vru County Tel. +372 782 83 50 karula.teabepunkt@rmk.ee www.rmk.ee

Photos: Lauku Celotajs

The Masurian Forests

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Photos: 1 - M. Arent-Nieradka, 2 - Public Domain Image

The Promotional Forest Complex Masurian Forests is the largest of its kind in Poland. This area is considered to be one of the most beautiful and most valuable natural and scenic areas of Europe. Covering an area of 118,216 ha, the complex is located in the regions of Warmia and Mazury. It is composed of forests belonging to the State Forest Districts: Pisz, Maskuliskie, Spychowo, Strzaowo and Mrgowo. It also includes the land of the Research Station for Ecological Agriculture and Preserve Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Popielno. This is the only place in Europe where one can observe beavers and learn about them through direct contact. A large part of the Masurian Forests is the Piska Forest. In the north there are many large lakes, including niardwy, the largest lake in Poland and Nidzkie Lake, a landscape reserve. In the southern part there are no lakes, but streams and rivers

are frequent. The landforms result from the movement of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet, especially during the last Baltic glaciation. Clay is the prevailing soil in the northern part with moraines and bottom moraines characterising the landscape. The south is an area of sandy sandurs. The dominance of glacial deposits and younger deposits of the Holocene has created numerous bogs. The most common tree here is pine. Particularly well-known is the Masurian Pine, which covers the eastern edges of the Mokre Lake. It can reach a height of 40 m and an age of 200 years. Lakes are hidden in oak and mixed forests, swamps and alder woods with old monumental trees. Due to continental influence, which is partially mitigated by the great mass of lake water, the climate is characterised by long and cold winters. A typical feature of the Masurian Forests is the variety of geomorphological forms

which results in a mosaic of soils and habitats, abundance of water and wetlands, extensive and well-preserved forests, moderately intensive or even extensive agricultural activity and a relatively high degree of naturalness of many habitats. These features contribute to biodiversity. Wolves and many rare animals live here such as golden eagle, lesser spotted eagle, osprey, eagle owl, black stork, black grouse cranes and elks. After years of absence, lynx have been observed in the area. Free-ranging herds of Polish pony also inhabit the forest. Interesting specimens of plants are lichen and Iceland moss an endangered species, which needs very clean air to live. A floristic curiosity is the northern twinflower a relic of the glacial epoch. The Masurian Forests include uknajno Lake, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with an area of about 1,300 ha. It is on the list of protected wetlands under

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the Ramsar Convention and also belongs to the Natura 2000 network. The reserve was created to preserve one of Europes largest colonies of mute swan. Large lakes and good habitat conditions favour the existence of such a large colony, numbering around 2,000 birds in some years. Educational activities are carried out in the Forest Ecological Education Centre in Spychowo. An education complex, which consists of a separate building for the Forest Museum, an amphitheatre for 800 people with a covered stage, a Forest Educational Path and The Bear Site is located around the centre. The whole area is beautifully situated on the shores of Spychowo Lake. Once a week during the holiday season, foresters organise bicycle tours. It is possible to rent bicycles from the Education Centre.

cOnTacT
spychowo state Forest District
Spychowo 12-150 ul. Mazurska 3 Tel. (+48) 089622 50 82 Tel. (+48) 089622 50 06 (visitor centre) spychowo@olsztyn.lasy.gov.pl lkp@olsztyn.lasy.gov.pl

research station for ecological agriculture and Preserve animal Breeding

Popielno, 12-222 Wejsuny Tel. (+48) 087 423 15 19, Tel./ Fax (+48) 087 423 16 17 sbpan@wp.pl

Photos: Public Domain Images

Notecka Forest

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Photos: Public Domain Images

The Promotional Forest Complex Notecka Forest is located near the cities of Gorzow Wielkopolski, Pila, Poznan and Szczecin. It includes the state forest districts: Potrzebowice, Wronki, Krucz, Sierakw, Oborniki, Karwin and Midzychd. Mostly 80-year-old pinewoods that grow on sandy soil cover the forest areas. Furthermore, there are numerous glacial lakes. Some of the protected species in Notecka Forest are: European beaver (Castor fiber), dormouse (Glis glis), European otter (Lutra lutra), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), red kite (Milvus milvus), whitetailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo). Beavers can be found in almost all reservoirs and watercourses in the area of Notecka Forest. These animals actively transform the environment by leaving visible traces of their activities like thinning forests or damming water.

Notecka is also rich in protected plant species such as fern, snowdrop, sundews, ivy and lily of the valley. There are 16 protected nature reserves and more than 400 nature monuments altogether. Moreover, conservation areas for birds were established. Visitors who like to obtain more information on Notecka can follow educational trails, for example the nature trail Welna River Valley (Dolina Weny), which is located in the forest near Ronowo village. The trail has a length of 16.5 km and was designed for horse riding and cycling tourism. It is signposted with horse silhouettes. The trail starts at the railway station in Ronw and ends at the foresters lodge. Following this path makes visitors familiar with the subject of forest management as well as forms and methods of conservation. It is also possible to see many natural and historical curiosities. Thematic stops covering different topics are located along

the trail for example about cultivation of forest, mixed forest and forest undergrowth. Furthermore, there is information given about the European beaver and there are stops at the Museum of Milling in Jaracz, at the Welna River, including a viewpoint, and at a natural monument an oak. The nature trail Wilderness of Notecka Forest (Ostpy Puszczy Noteckiej) starts at the shelter Robbers Cottage (Chata Zbjcw) in Bucharzewo village. It has a length of 3 km and passes through a typical Notecka Forest area. Ten information boards are located along the path with information about nature and forestry. It is possible to find out about the phases of the forest development, functions, activities and locations of forests in Poland and about the benefits of the forest. The bird clock explains differences in the biological activity of different species of birds. The nature trail describes the

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tree as a habitat and brings visitors closer to one of the residents of the forest squirrels. This path is interesting for anyone who wants to get to know the secrets of nature and forestry. The path Koczak Valley (Dolina Koczaka) is located 1.6 km from Stobnica in the Oborniki State Forest District and follows the easily accessible path along Koczak stream. It starts at the car park near the road linking Stobnica and Boruszyn. The trail is about 7.7 km long and at a leisurely pace it is a 4-5 hours walk. It is signposted with the symbol of a beaver. Twelve information boards are set along the trails, which want to raise visitors awareness about the processes and work related to forest management and nature conservation.

cOnTacT
karwiN state Forest District
ul. 1 Brygady 18 66-530 Drezdenko Tel. (+48) 095 762 05 90 www.szczecin.lasy.gov.pl/karwin

sierakw state Forest District

z siedzib w Bucharzewie 64-410 SIERAKW Tel./Fax (+48) 061 295 20 65 www.poznan.lasy.gov.pl/sierakow

oBorNiki state Forest District

Dbrwka Lena ul. Gajowa 1 64-600 Oborniki Tel. (+48) 061 297 13 02 www.poznan.lasy.gov.pl/oborniki

PromotioNal Forest comPleXes Promotional Forest Complexes (PFC) were introduced in Poland in 1994. Their purpose is to create areas where management agrees with active ecosystem protection and promotion of environment-friendly technologies, research and education. Currently, there are 19 PFCs in Poland.

Photo: M. Arent-Nieradka

The Szczecin Forests

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Photos: M. Arent-Nieradka

A special feature of the Promotional Forest Complex (PFC) Szczecin Forests is its location near the agglomeration of Szczecin with over half a million inhabitants. The city is the third largest area and the seventh most populated city of Poland. Three large green areas surround it: Bukowa Forest, Goleniowska Forest and Wkrzaska Forest. The total area of the PFC is 61,070 ha. Bukowa Forests is characterised by the dominance of well-preserved, fertile deciduous forests, especially beeches. The rich terrain diversity of Bukowe Hills favours the preservation of the natural values of these forests. Tourists frequently visit the artificial Emerald Lake because of its beauty and surroundings. The lake owes its name to its distinctive colour of the water, which is the result of interaction between a carbonate rock bottom and sunlight.

Wkrzaska Forest is located in the Zachodniopomorskie Region on the Polish-German border. It belongs to the Natura 2000 network and forms a few popular parks like Arkoski, Gbokie, Kasprowicza within the city of Szczecin. It is also an important recreational area for the citizens of Szczecin. Numerous cross-border hiking trails and cycle routes pass through Wkrzaska Forest. Coniferous forests cover 80% of the third area Goleniowska Forest. There are mainly pines and spruces, which were planted by humans in the 19th century. In autumn, Goleniowska and Wkrzaska Forests are good places to collect mushrooms. Inhabitants of Szczecin regu-larly use the forests of Szczecin City as a leisure and recreational area.

An important feature of the Szczecin Forests is the positive impact of the Atlantic climate on biodiversity. Moreover, the rich hydrographic network includes a part of the river basin of the Oder as well as the Ina and Ponia Rivers and Miedwie Lake. The complex includes 147 natural monuments (individual trees of different species, erratic boulders and springs), 5 Natura 2000 sites designated under the Birds Directive, 5 areas under the Habitats Directive, 9 nature reserves and 2 nature parks Beech Forest Szczecin Landscape Park (Puszcza Bukowa) and the Lower Oder Valley Nature Park (Dolina Dolnej Odry). This region is home to many rare plants and animals, for example white-tailed eagle, black stork, black and red kite and lesser-spotted eagle. There are also protected plant species such as wild service tree, woodbine, purple turks cap lily and at least 18 species of orchids.

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The PFC with numerous hiking trails is a popular tourist destination. It allows getting in contact with nature for any-one who is interested in active relaxation. The Glinna Arboretum plays a special role here with an area of more than 5.5 ha. It shows a rich collection of trees and shrubs from all around the world. The Nature and Forest Education Centre in the Kliniska Forest District offers educational activities in the form of outdoor classes, lessons in the education hall, school meetings, events and exhibitions, seminars and conferences. It is situated approximately 30 km from the centre of Szczecin on the A3 highway connecting Poland and Germany. Also often visited is the Nature and Forest Information Point in Glinna in Gryfino For-est District and the Education Centre and Museum located in widwi Nature Reserve.

cOnTacT
kliniska state Forest District
72 - 123 Kliniska Tel. (+48) 091 418 14 70 Tel./Fax (+48) 091 416 22 59 gryfino@szczecin.lasy.gov.pl gryfino@szczecin.lasy.gov.pl

gryfino state Forest District

ul. 1 Maja 4 74 - 100 Gryfino

Photo: M. Arent-Nieradka

The tuchola Forest

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Photos: Karol Pamua

The Promotional Forest Complex Tuchola Forest has a system of outstanding natural (or semi natural) features. The most interesting are numerous picturesque lakes, varied land forms, a charming section of the Brda River, many streams and springs and the rich flora and fauna. Glacial forms characterise the landscape with sandy sandur plains being the dominant landform. Four State Forest Districts with a total area of 84,053 ha form the Promotional Forest Complex Tuchola Forest: Dabrowa, Osie, Tuchola and Woziwoda. Most of the forests are located in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region and only a small part of the municipalities Chojnice and Czersk belongs to the Pomorskie Region. Tuchola Forest is one of the largest homogeneous forest areas in Poland. Besides the predominate pine tree, there are also large

stands of holm oaks, hornbeam, aspen, birch and yew trees. Mushrooms and berries sprout in the dense undergrowth. Well-preserved fragments of the original forest in Poland and rare relict plants can still be found in Tuchola Forest as well as endangered species of birds and mammals like capercaillie and otter. Furthermore, the white-tailed eagle, a symbol from the Polish national emblem, might be seen here. The Polish statutory forms of conservation protect almost the entire area of Tuchola Forest. The three largest landscape parks are: Tucholski, Wdecki and Dolina Dolnej Wisy (the Lower Vistula Valley). In addition, the three protected landscape areas are: liwicki, Wschodni and wiecki. The most valuable natural areas are protected in 18 nature reserves with a total area of nearly 2,700 ha. Pine occupies more than 95% of the forested area of the complex as a

result of a systematic approach to cultivate forests that predominated in the Tucholskie Forests in past ages. The monoculture of pine favours outbreaks of pest insects, fungal diseases and provides little resistance to forest fires. This does not change the fact that the Tuchola Forests remain one of the most beautiful and precious natural areas in Poland. One of the most interesting places is the Yew Reserve in the State Forest District of Wierzchlas. This reserve has the largest concentration of yews in Europe. It is named after the great Polish painter Leon Wyczkowski, who gave the Polish art more than a hundred stunning images of beautifully shaped old trees. Equally interesting are archaeological monuments known as Stone Circles in Odry village, by the Wda River. The circles with a diameter of 15 to 33 m are made of partly dug in stones. The history of the circles is still not exactly clear.

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Burial chambers were discovered below the circles. The cemetery dates back to the 1st 3rd century. Through Tuchola Forest flow the Brda and Wda Rivers (also known as Black Water). Both rivers have cut impressive meandering valleys with cascades in the ground. The rivers flow through numerous lakes so that they form popular canoe trails. The main attractions of Tuchola Forest are woods, of course, but the large number of lakes surrounding the forests also impress visitors. In terms of size, Wdzydze Lake is the largest one. The largest body of water has the Koronowski reservoir, which is a huge tourists attraction. Here it is possible to swim, rent kayaks and boats or to spend time on the beach.

cOnTacT
state Forest District tuchola
ul. Gobek 4 89 - 511 CEKCYN Tel. (+48) 52 334 80 05 Fax (+48) 52 334 80 04 tuchola@torun.lasy.gov.pl

tourist information centre in the museum of tuchola Forest

ul. Podgrna 3 89 - 500 Tuchola Tel./ Fax (+48) 52 334 21 89 www.it.tuchola.pl muzeum@tuchola.pl

Photos: Karol Pamua

BElaRuS

BElOVEzhSkaYa PuShcha naTiOnal PaRk

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Photos: Lauku Celotajs

Belovezhskaya Pushcha is regarded as the oldest nature reserve in Europe. Its origins date back to the 15th century. Nowadays the territory has been granted the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site (5,200 ha), an Important Bird Area and an Important Plant Area. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the only location in Europe where such a large intact and old area of forests typical of Western Europe has been preserved.The average age of forest stands is 97 years, but the maximum reaches 200300 years. Many oak trees are about 600 years old. The national park accommodates 1024 species of plants,

292 lichen, 270 moss and more than 3000 fungi species. 90 species are included in the Red Data Book of Belarus. One can find over 12,000 invertebrate and 362 vertebrate species here, from which more than 100 are very rare. The European wisent (Bison bonasus) is among them. The number of this species has already exceeded 400 animals. Tourists can stay in four hotels, visit the nature museum as well as go on various tours. Different hiking andcycling routes are available here, or one can go for a ride in a carriage.

cOnTacT
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park
Kamenuki Brest Region, Kamieec District 225063 Belarus Telephone: +375 1631 5- 61-69 npbpby@rambler.ru www.npbp.brest.by

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BElaRuS

BEREzinSkY BiOSPhERE RESERVE

MINSK

47

The reserve has been created to protect the mixed spruce-deciduous forests, typical of the eastern European region. The statuses of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Important Bird Area have been granted to the territory. The Berezina River and about 50 other smaller rivers run through the reserve, joining the mires and lakes by canals. Mires and bog woodland cover 61% of the total area. More than 1260 species, including 811 species of plants, have been found here. There are 78 species of plants and fungi that are presently on the verge of extinction here. More than 3600 invertebrate and 336 vertebrate species have been stated in the reserve. A number of them are recorded in the Red Data Book of Belarus. The administration of this

territory plays an important role in the protection of brown bear, European bison, osprey, black stork and western capercaillie (wood grouse) populations. Tourists can stay in two hotels or in guesthouses. Nature tourists are offeredhiking routes (Ecological Trail, Animal Trail, Nature Drugstore) and other trails, cycling routes (The Serguch Channel from the Varangians to the Greek a 20 km long route) andwater touring routes (Along Berezina Water Course, Reserve Lake Secrets). Those who are interested can go on bird, mammal and plant observation tours as well as on mire and combined tours and in winter they can visit Santa Claus.

cOnTacT

Belarus 211188 Lepel District, Vitebsk Region Domzheritsy Tsentralnaya Str. 3 Tel. +375 2132 26406 www.berezinsky.by tourism@berezinsky.by

Photos: Lauku Celotajs

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BElaRuS

BRaSlaV lakES naTiOnal PaRk

MINSK

48

Photos: Lauku Celotajs

Braslav Lakes National Park, which is situated in the borderland of Belarus and Latvia, is regarded as the benchmark area of the Baltic lake district. It comprises about 200 lakes, the majority of which are joined in a unified water system by canals and the Druyka River. Forests cover about 53% of the park territory. 1243 species of plants have been found in the park. 28 of them are recorded in the Red Data Book of Belarus (twinflower, martagon or turks cap lily, ramsons, Siberian iris, shingled gladiolus etc.). 295 species of animals have been found in the area from which 64

species are endangered (lesser spotted eagle, black stork, Eurasian lynx, European badger etc.). Tourists can stay in five recreation centres, country homestays and holiday camps. Those who are interested can discover a nature trail. There are coach tours available, too. Furthermore, visitors have great opportunities for watching birds and animals and for fishing.

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Braslav lakes National Park
Braslav, Vitebsk Region Belarus braslav_by@tut.by www.braslav.com

FinlanD

kOli naTiOnal PaRk

HELSINKI

25

49

Koli is one of 39 national parks in Finland and offers forested hills with inspiring lookout points. In spite of the parks relatively small area (30 km2), one can find northern coniferous forests all over the view. Lake Pielinen and quartzite cliffs in this traditional woodland make Koli one of Finlands best-known national landscapes. From the lookout point Ukko-Koli, visitors can enjoy a stunning view over Lake Pielinen with many small islands. Although the forests were used for slashand-burn agriculture, Koli was a place of pilgrimage for Finnish artists in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was a source of inspiration for many composers and painters, for example Jean Sibelius, Eero Jrnefelt and Pekka Halonen during their visits.

Cultural heritage is still cherished in Koli. Several fields are slashed, burnt and re-cultivated annually. Traditional Finnish livestock (cows and sheep) graze in the meadows each summer. Both tourism and conservation play a significant role in Koli and its woodland management. In 2007, Europarc Federation awarded Koli National Park the certificate according to The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. There are several kinds of accommodation from hotels to rental huts and camping sites. Furthermore, a range of sustainable nature tourism services is available in the area. The Visitor Centre Ukko provides information on Kolis heritage landscape, wooded hills and culture of eastern Finland.

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Visitor centre ukko
Yl-Kolintie 39 83960 Koli (Lieksa) Finland Tel. +358 205 64 5654 Fax: +358 205 64 5771 ukko@metsa.fi www.outdoors.fi

Photos: Visitfinland.com

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nuukSiO naTiOnal PaRk

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HELSINKI

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Photos: 1 - Visitfinland.com, 2 - Reijo Juurinen

Thanks to its location near the Helsinki area, Nuuksio National Park is an escape from the busy capital offering boreal forest experiences. The national park comprises an area of 45 km2 and forms the western part of so called Nuuksio lake uplands. Its location so close to the capital (less than two hours by train and bus from Helsinki city centre) is unusual. The area is the most extensive and ecologically important backwoods area of the region. It is affected by broken bedrock and it consists of an intricate mosaic of habitats because of its relatively southern location. Dozens of endangered or near threatened species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are known to inhabit the area.

With its marked trail, cooking shelters and camping sites Nuuksio is ideal for short hiking trips. Visitor advisors provide tailored trip packages and tips to local destinations. The Finnish Nature Centre Haltia (opened spring 2013) gathers the pearls of Finnish nature. The internationally high-ranking centre will showcase Finnish nature in a unique way. Haltia is a gateway to all Finnish national parks and it shows interactively the richness of Finnish nature from the fells in Lapland to the herb-rich forests in southern Finland and from the Baltic Sea archipelago to areas of wilderness. In Haltia, visitor will see, hear, smell and feel the Finnish nature with all senses. Comprehensive restaurant, conference and nature shop services complete the experience.

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haukkalampi Nature information hut
Haukkalammen luontotupa Haukkalammentie 02820 Espoo Finland Tel. +358205 64 4790 nuuksio@metsa.fi www.outdoors.fi

STOCKHOLM

SWEDEn

nORRa kVill

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Firetraces on pine

Lake Stora Idglen

The Norra Kvill National Park is a unique and well-preserved virgin forest area near Vimmerby in Kalmar County in the highlands of Smland, southeastern Sweden. It was established in 1927, enlarged in 1994 and comprises an area of 114 ha. The purpose of Swedens national parks is to preserve large areas in their natural state for research and outdoor recreation. At Norra Kvill no trees have been felled for 150 years, with the result that the forest is steadily reverting to its primeval state. Some 80 per cent of the trees in the national park are pine trees, many of them more than 350 years old. The pine migrated to southern Sweden 8,000 or 9,000 years ago, following the retreat of the last ice cap. Spruces prefer moister declivities and are usually younger but bigger than pines. There are giant specimens here, 35 m tall and 2.5 m in circumference. Often they shelter burgeoning growths of moss, both on boulders and on the ground itself.

The primitive forest is also of scientific interest: it can be studied how different trees reproduce, compete with and succeed one another in a natural context. In the south of Sweden, only fragments of primitive forest remain today. Rumskulla oak, Europe's largest English oak with a circumference of about 14 m, can be seen a few kilometres from the park. The oak is thought to be about 1,000 years old. Fire used to be the forests normal method of rejuvenation. Innumerable fires have shaped the forest in the National Park over the centuries, both spontaneous and anthropogenic. More than a hundred years have passed since Norra Kvill last caught fire. A small area in the northwest, which burned down on that occasion, now offers hundred-year-old self-sown pine trees. In the western part of the National Park there are pine stumps showing traces of up to six forest fires. Source: www.lansstyrelsen.se

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the kalmar county administrative Board
Lnsstyrelsen i Kalmar ln S-391 86 KALMAR Sweden Tel. +46 10 223 80 00 kalmar@lansstyrelsen.se www.lansstyrelsen.se/kalmar

Photos: 1 - Sigge Sundstrm, 2 - Anna Lindberg

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SWEDEn

SkulESkOGEn naTiOnal PaRk

STOCKHOLM

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Photos: 1 - Jonas Salomonsson, 2 - Johann Uebel

Skuleskogen national park is situated on the east coast of Sweden, about 500 km north of Stockholm. Established as Swedens nineteenth national park in 1984, it is part of the majestic High Coast, a World Heritage Site, where the Baltic Sea is at its deepest and its islands at their highest. The red-coloured Nordingr granite cliffs, the land uplift coast, and the coniferous forest of the borderland between north and south characterise the national park. Skuleskogen is like a textbook in physical geography, where you can see how ice sheet, land uplift and waves formed the land of Sweden. It is a forested landscape that reveals what the countryside of our ancestors looked like. In the olden days, Skuleskogen formed the boundary between the northern Nolaskog region and the Sunnanskog area to the south. Trolls and giants once lived in these forests The national park boasts magnificent hills and valleys, an exciting history with the world record in land uplift, and ancient

forests with rare species of lichens, beetles and woodpeckers. Since the eighteenth century botanists have been fascinated by this area. The vegetation is unusually lush on the deciduous slopes, both alpine plants and southerly plants associated with broadleaved woodland grow in the national park. One of the rarities is the beard lichen Usnea longissima. It can be found draped on old spruces that grow on north-facing slopes with high and even humidity. The Swedish right of public access (allemansrtten) is an old custom and well known in other countries, too. It means that visitors are allowed to sojourn in the nature, even on private land. It is even allowed to put up a tent for one day, to pick berries or mushrooms. But with this right a responsibility must be accepted which can be summarized in the take nothing - leave nothing rule. Source: www.naturumhogakusten.se

inFORMaTiOn
Visitor information Naturum hga kusten
Skuleberget 870 33 Docksta Tel. +46 613 700200 Fax. +46 613 700 209 info@naturumhogakusten.se www.naturumhogakusten.se

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DEnMaRk

ROlD FOREST
REGiOn nORDjYllanD

COPENHAGEN

53

The Rold Forest is the biggest and oldest in Denmark and one of the few forests that was not completely destroyed by logging, farming and livestock grazing from 1400 1800 AD. The most valuable parts of the forest are protected by conservation statutes and by Natura 2000. Most of it is also a Ramsar-protected bird area. The forest is known for its magnificent beech trees, shaped by westerly winds and frequent coppicing. These beech trees form a cluster of small forests with oddly shaped trees, locally known as troll forests. Huge reservoirs in the limestone beneath the forest feed a multitude of freshwater springs that are among the biggest in northern Europe. The spring water is 7.5 C all year round and because of this, the springs are home to insects you otherwise would not find in northern Scandinavia. Where the limestone surfaces, the vegetation is very special with many species of orchids, for example the magnificent ladys slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) Among the wildlife it is worth mentioning the population of red deer, as it is the only

one in Denmark that can be traced back to the period just after the ice age. It was saved from extinction because of its high value as a hunting trophy. The forest is home to Lake Madum, the biggest clean lake in Denmark, characterized by the beautiful little flower water lobelia. The spring fed rivers Lindenborg and Willestrup are fine examples of chalk streams. Large areas of the forest used to be covered by bogs. Some very fine raised bogs have escaped the forest industrys dredging efforts and the most important of the dredged bogs are being restored to the natural hydrology. Despite its rich nature the forest is unlikely to be designated a national park, as most of it is owned by private estates. However, stricter Natura 2000 schemes will ensure that the forest gradually becomes more diverse. The state owned part is being turned back to nature and has been divided into zones. Some are reserved for undisturbed wildlife, while others accommodate a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, riding and skiing.

cOnTacT
Naturstyrelsen, himmerland
Mldrupvej 26 9520 Skrping Tel. +45 72 54 30 00 Fax +45 98 39 27 14 him@nst.dk www.naturstyrelsen.dk/ Lokalt/Himmerland www.roldskov.info

(National Forest service)

Photos: 1 - Peter A. Larsen, 2,3 - Uffe Westerberg

GERManY

anciEnT BEEch FORESTS

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BERLIN

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Photos: 1,2 - Betina Meliss, 3 - Freddie Bijkerk

Since 2011 five German beech forests are inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Three of them are located in the northeastern part and two in central Germany. They represent the most valuable relicts of large-scale natural beech woodlands in Germany: Jasmund and Mritz National Parks in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Grumsin Forest in Brandenburg, Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in Hessen and Hainich National Park in Thuringia. Carpathian beech forests (in Slovakia and Ukraine) have been already listed as world heritage since 2007. Now the German areas were added. Together they are known as Primeval Beech Forests. About 6,500 years ago beech woodlands covered 40 % of Europe. Today the German Ancient Beech Forests are essential to understand the spread of the beech in the northern hemisphere. They represent

examples of an ongoing post-glacial biological and ecological evolution of terrestrial ecosystems. The Carpathian forests are in mountain and subalpine altitudes (up to 1940 m), the German woodlands are in lowlands and low highlands up to 626 m only. These lowland beech forests are unique in the world. Together they reflect the broad spectrum of beech forest types in Europe. Beech woodlands host a lot of species (around 10,000 different species of animals, plants and fungi), thus they are indispensable for saving biodiversity. Information about these World Heritage properties: www.unesco.de/ buchenwaelder.html?L=1

cOnTacT
www.mueritz-nationalpark.de

www.nationalpark-jasmund.de

www.schorfheide-chorin.de

www.nationalparkkellerwald-edersee.de

www.nationalparkhainich.de

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jaSMunD naTiOnal PaRk

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Jasmund National Park is Germanys smallest National Park, but very well known due to the so called Knigsstuhl (in English: the kings chair), which is the highest point (118 m) of the impressive white cliffs at Rgen's coastline. The area is mostly covered with beeches. It is the largest contiguous beech forest on the Baltic Sea coast, covering some 2,100 ha. The predominant type is the Baltic wood barley beech forest accompanied by orchid beech forests on steep limestone escarpments. This territory was first placed under protection back in 1929 due to its impressive landscape and the threat of chalk erosion. Other protective legislation followed and finally it was designated as National Park in 1990. Since that date, the woodland has

been left to develop naturally, and since 2011 the beech forest belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The woodlands inhabit a wide range of nutrient-poor to nutrient-rich deposits. Different types of peatland are scattered throughout the forest, and the limestone plain is dotted with a network of streams. This diversity of habitats provides the basis for a wealth of flora and fauna. In 2004 a new visitor center opened it is managed by WWF - and today it is one of the most successful visitor centers in German National Parks with more than 300,000 visitors annually.

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Nationalpark jasmund
Stubbenkammer 2a 18546 Sassnitz GERMANY Tel. +49 38392 350 11 22 Fax: + 49 38392 350 11 20 poststelle@npa-vp.mvnet.de www.nationalpark-jasmund.de

Photos: Betina Meliss

touristic information
More travel information about the countries participating in AGORA 2.0:

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Belarus
Visit Belarus www.belarus.by/en/travel

Finland
The Official Travel Site of Finland www.visitfinland.com Visit Helsinki www.visithelsinki.fi

Denmark
Visit Denmark www.visitdenmark.com Visit Copenhagen www.visitcopenhagen.com

Germany
German National Tourist Board www.germany.travel Official Tourism Portal for Visitors to the German Capital www.visitberlin.com Tourist Board MecklenburgWest Pomerania Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern www.auf-nach-mv.de Tourism Marketing Brandenburg Tourismus Marketing Brandenburg (in German) www.reiseland-brandenburg.de Tourism Agency Schleswig-Holstein Tourismus-Agentur Schleswig-Holstein www.sh-tourismus.de

Estonia
Visit Estonia www.visitestonia.com The Official Website of the Tallinn City Tourist Office www.tourism.tallinn.ee Visit Tartu www.visittartu.com

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Latvia
Official Latvian Tourism Portal www.latvia.travel Visit Riga www.liveriga.com Latvian Rural Tourism Association www.countryholidays.lv

Russia / Kaliningrad Region

Regional Tourism Information Center Kaliningrad www.visit-kaliningrad.ru

Sweden
Sweden's Official Website for Tourism and Travel Information www.visitsweden.com

Lithuania
Visit Lithuania www.visitlithuania.net Visit Vilnius www.vilnius-tourism.lt Stockholms Official Visitors Guide www.visitstockholm.com

Poland
Polands Official Travel Website www.poland.travel Official Tourist Website of Warsaw www.warsawtour.pl

iMPRinT
ISSN 2194 - 8224 All rights reserved 2012 University of Greifswald

SERIES EDITOR Dipl. oec. Betina Meliss Tel. +49 3834 / 864541 agora@uni-greifswald.de ISSUE EDITOR Baiba Strazdia, Latvian Fund for Nature PRODUCED IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE PROJECT AGORA 2.0 Project leader: Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Steingrube Tel. +49 3834 / 864540 baltic21@uni-greifswald.de Project coordinator: Betina Meliss University of Greifswald Institute of Geography and Geology Makarenkostrase 22 17487 Greifswald COVER PICTURE Shutterstock ENVELOPE PICTURES Photos: 1 - Valda Baronia, 2 - 3 - Liene Aunia, 4 - Daiga Brakmane ARTWORK GRAF FISCH DESIGN, Greifswald PRINTING Hoffmann-Druck GmbH, Wolgast

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