STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA Management of Natural Heritage Rūta Gruzdyte Chief desk officer of Planning and cadastre division Web site:

STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

Management of Natural HeritageRūta Gruzdyte Chief desk officer of Planning and cadastre divisionWeb site: www.vstt.ltE-mai:. [email protected]

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005



STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION

•Natural heritage/Natural heritage/protected areas in the BSRprotected areas in the BSR•System of protected areas, different levels and

status of protection•Transboundary cooperation•Administration of the system of PAAdministration of the system of PA •Nature conservation in legislative systemNature conservation in legislative system•Nature conservation in planningNature conservation in planning•Planning of PAPlanning of PA•Instruments of dealing with problemsInstruments of dealing with problems•Priorities Priorities

PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION

VASAB promotes the VASAB promotes the concept of green concept of green networks.networks.Basic idea is to develop Basic idea is to develop the continuum of the continuum of landscapes which landscapes which provide the basis for provide the basis for economic prosperity in economic prosperity in harmony with nature.harmony with nature.Idea integrates Natura Idea integrates Natura 2000 areas into a 2000 areas into a broader context.broader context.In the absence of such In the absence of such approach, conflicts are approach, conflicts are common between common between protection and protection and development for which development for which mutual adjustment is mutual adjustment is required.required.Spatial planning can Spatial planning can play the role of play the role of integrating sector integrating sector administrations.administrations.



The goals of the systems of Protected Areas are to conserve:

- nature and culture heritage,- landscape and biological diversity,- landscape ecological stability,- natural resources.It creates conditions for the development:

cognitive tourism (eco-tourism), scientific research and monitoring, promotion of natural and cultural heritage

protection, etc.


The system of Protected AreasHeritage sites are a source of pride, wonder and

inspiration.The scope of the national system of Lithuania’s protected

areas is broader than is approved by the IUCN. It consists of four protected areas types:

- Conservation areas - strict nature or culture reserves, reserves, nature and culture heritage objects (nature or culture monuments),- Preservation areas - protective zones of various purpose,- Recuperation areas - sites where natural resources are protected or/and restored,- Integrated areas - national and regional parks, as well as biosphere monitoring areas.


Priority is given to protected areas of conservation and integrated type, which cover 15 % of the country, and are called Especially Protected Areas.

Distribution (%) of Protected Areas subject to the categories

Regional Parks57%

National Parks19% State Strict Reserves

2% Biosphere Reserve2%

Municipal Reserves1%

State Reserves19%

The system of Lithuanian Protected Areas



Comparison of the main features of the Nature Frame and ECONET

Nature Frame Ecological Network (ECONET)Universal (geo-ecological) approach Specialized (ecological) approach

Overal goal - ecological compensation Overall goal - biodiversity protection

Concept based on:1.catchment area and biostructure2.analyses of migration processes in natural landscape3.evaluation of gravigenuous structure of natural complexes4.conservation and enrichment of bio- and geo-ecological stabilisers in geosystems.

Concept based on:1.biostructure2.analyses of biodiversity3.evaluation of the most important ecosystems4.minimum areas required to sustain them5.conservation of biodiversity.

Consists of:1.geo-ecological watersheds2.geosystem stabilization centers3.migration corridors.

Consists of:1.core areas2.nature development areas3.ecological corridors.

All natural and semi-natural areas included Areas significant from national and international significance included

Covers 60% of Lithuania




• INTERNATIONALY IMPORTANT PA (Unesco, Ramsar sites, HELCOM)

• PA OF EUROPEAN IMPORTANCE (Network of Natura 2000)

• PA OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE (National parks, State strict reserves)

• PA OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE (Regional parks, Strict reserves)

• PA OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE (reserves, protected nature heritage objects)


Partnerships are neededAchieving the goals of international conventions requires partnership:•At the international level it could involve enhanced cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity.•Natural heritage sites between two or more countries need to be explored and expanded.•Exchange schemes between countries which aim to improve PA site management, need to be developed.•At national levels – better partnerships are required between agencies managing PA and other relevant organisations, agencies including NGOs.•At local levels – more efective working relationships with local people need to be established. Planning for natural heritage sites needs to be considered in the context of regional land use and innovative planning schemes



Transboundary cooperation: General activities

International Commitments in field of Nature ProtectionNAME OF CONVENTION

Convention on Protection of Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention, Helsinki, 1974)

UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention, Paris, 1972)

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention, Ramsar, 1971)

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio de Janeiro, 1992)

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention, Bern, 1979)

Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of wild Animals (Bonn Convention, Bonn, 1979)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES, Washington, 1973)

Convention on European Landscape (Florence, 2000)


STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA International Commitments of Lithuania related

to the Management of Protected Areas:

Intergovernmental Agreements on Cooperation in field of Environmental Protection:Bilateral Agreement with Government of Sweden, 1992; Trilateral Agreement with Governments of Estonia and Latvia, 1995;Bilateral Agreement with the Government of Flanders /Belgium/, 1996;Bilateral Agreement with the Government of Latvia, 1999;Bilateral Agreement with the Government of Russian Federation, 1999;

Interministerial Agreements:Agreement with Denmark on Cooperation in the field of Environmental protection, 1991;Agreement with Finland on Cooperation in the field of Environmental protection, 1992;Agreement with Poland on Cooperation in the field of Environmental protection,1992;Agreement with Germany on Cooperation in Environmental protection, 1993;Agreement with Byelorussia on Cooperation in the field of Forest conservation, 2000;Agreement with Latvia on Nature Concervation in Transboundary Context, 2001



STATE LEVEL

The Ministry of Environment

(Division of Protected Areas Strategy)

The Ministry of Culture

State Service for Protected Areas

LOCAL LEVEL

Vilnius municipality

3 State Strict Nature Reserves 2 State Strict Culture Reserves

2 Regional Parks

4 National Parks 1 Historic National Park

28 Regional Parks

1 Biosphere Reserve

Administration of the System of Protected Areas


STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREASSTATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA OF LITHUANIA

Administration of the system of Administration of the system of protected areasprotected areas

Other institutions involved in protected areas Other institutions involved in protected areas management:management:

• Regional Environmental Protection Departments;Regional Environmental Protection Departments;• Forests Enterprises;Forests Enterprises;• Cultural Heritage Authorities;Cultural Heritage Authorities;• Regional Authorities (Counties Administrations);Regional Authorities (Counties Administrations);• MunicipalitiesMunicipalities..


The main financial instrumentsThe main financial instrumentsused to manage values of the protected areas:used to manage values of the protected areas:

• State budgets of different countries;State budgets of different countries;• EU funds (ERDF, INTERREG)EU funds (ERDF, INTERREG)• Projects, coordinated by State level institutions, Projects, coordinated by State level institutions,

responsible for management of Protected Areas;responsible for management of Protected Areas;• Projects, coordinated by Protected Areas Projects, coordinated by Protected Areas

Administrations. Administrations.


List of main financial sourcesList of main financial sourcesProtected Areas Administrations Protected Areas Administrations

apply toapply to1.1. Phare programs (SPF; Credo)Phare programs (SPF; Credo) 2.2. Nordic Council of MinistriesNordic Council of Ministries

3.3. Swedish EPASwedish EPA 4.4. UNDP GEF SGP (the Small Grants UNDP GEF SGP (the Small Grants

Program)Program) Other financial sources:Other financial sources:1.1. Fund of DarvinFund of Darvin2.2. WWF (World Wildlife Fund)WWF (World Wildlife Fund)3.3. Netherlands PIN-Matra programNetherlands PIN-Matra program4.4. Local authoritiesLocal authorities


Share of project groups by themes (%)

30,1

17,813,75,5

5,5

5,5

5,516,4

Nature management

Inventory

Tourism (eco-tourism)developmentEducational

Institutional strengthenning

Transboundary cooperation

Planning / Techn. Proj.

Other


Projects applied to EU Projects applied to EU Structure Funds.Structure Funds.

• Preparation of PA’s establishment and Preparation of PA’s establishment and planning documents;planning documents;

• Strengthening of state institutions Strengthening of state institutions responsible for monitoring and responsible for monitoring and management of NATURA 2000 PA’smanagement of NATURA 2000 PA’s

• Maintenance and management of PA’s;Maintenance and management of PA’s;

• Takedown of ownerless buildings, Takedown of ownerless buildings, recuperation of violated territories, recuperation of violated territories, rehabilitation of objectsrehabilitation of objects


Territory planning

Special planning:

•For a part of or the whole system of the PA, for values of natural and cultural heritage

Strategic planning

General plannin

g

Detailed planning

Planning of Protected Areas

Network schemes of the PASchemes of the nature frame and/or ecological network formationSchemes of the ecological protection zones network

Management plansNature management and/or heritage management projects

Objective programsHeritage

management plans

Action plansMonitoring programsNature management plans


Nature Management PlanNature Management Plan

Nature management plan (NM Plan) – strategic planning document.

There are evaluated and described ecological condition of protected area (a part of the protected area), problems and possibilities of conservation and management of landscape, protected endangered animals, plants and mushrooms species, their habitats and natural habitats in this document.


NM Plan sets the measures for management and

protection of the area, funds for these measures and

hands.


Preparation of NM Preparation of NM plansplans

Ministry of Ministry of Environment, Ministry Environment, Ministry of Culture and other of Culture and other institutions, which institutions, which have a right have a right implement strategic implement strategic planning, can organize planning, can organize preparation of NM preparation of NM Plans.Plans.

The main aims of NM plan:The main aims of NM plan:

• To define the main problems and activities, which To define the main problems and activities, which influence on the NM Plans objectsinfluence on the NM Plans objects,, to analyze, what to analyze, what information is required and to analyze possibilities to information is required and to analyze possibilities to get this informationget this information;;

• To appoint protection and management measures of To appoint protection and management measures of the managed objects, set priorities of these measuresthe managed objects, set priorities of these measures;;

• To appoint physical and legal persons, who will To appoint physical and legal persons, who will implement measures indicated in NM Plans;implement measures indicated in NM Plans;

• To calculate funds required for implementation of To calculate funds required for implementation of protection and management measuresprotection and management measures;;

• To establish an order for assessment of implemented To establish an order for assessment of implemented management and protection measures and for management and protection measures and for monitoring.monitoring.


INSTRUMENTS OF DEALING WITH INSTRUMENTS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

• Establishment and improvement of a legal Establishment and improvement of a legal frameworkframework ( (collaborative managementcollaborative management););

• Creation of the system of territorial Creation of the system of territorial planning documents:planning documents:• integration of planning of PA into the general national system of planning;integration of planning of PA into the general national system of planning;

• preparation and approval of management plans, zoning schemes;preparation and approval of management plans, zoning schemes;

• preparation of special plans for recreational zones, etc.preparation of special plans for recreational zones, etc. ;;

• implementation of these plans.implementation of these plans.

• Repurchase of the landRepurchase of the land, , establishment of establishment of compensationscompensations;;


INSTRUMENTS OF DEALING WITH INSTRUMENTS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

• Implementation of specific measures of Implementation of specific measures of protection and management:protection and management:• measures aimed at conservation of objects of natural and cultural heritage;measures aimed at conservation of objects of natural and cultural heritage;• measures aimed at establishing and maintaining paths for education and measures aimed at establishing and maintaining paths for education and

cognitive purposes;cognitive purposes;• measures aimed at developing and monitoring a visual information system;measures aimed at developing and monitoring a visual information system;• measures aimed at establishing recreational infrastructure (recreational measures aimed at establishing recreational infrastructure (recreational

paths, bicycle trails)paths, bicycle trails)

• Establishment of the system of information of Establishment of the system of information of PAPA, , environmental education and training:environmental education and training:• development of the system of ecological education (visitor centers, nature development of the system of ecological education (visitor centers, nature

schools);schools);• preparation and printing of publications, preparation of educational films, preparation and printing of publications, preparation of educational films,

websites;websites;• training courses for decision makers, protected areas staff training etc.training courses for decision makers, protected areas staff training etc.


PRIORITIES IN THE PRIORITIES IN THE FORTHCOMING YEARSFORTHCOMING YEARS

• CONSERVATION OF LANDSCAPE AND CONSERVATION OF LANDSCAPE AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, NATURE AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, NATURE AND CULTURE HERITAGE AND CULTURE HERITAGE AND ESTABLISHEMENT OF CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHEMENT OF CONDITIONS FOR VISITORSVISITORS

• INTEGRATION OF NATURA 2000 NETWORK INTEGRATION OF NATURA 2000 NETWORK INTO THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF INTO THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREASPROTECTED AREAS

• CREATION OF AN INFORMATIONAL CREATION OF AN INFORMATIONAL SYSTEM FOR PROTECTED AREASSYSTEM FOR PROTECTED AREAS


PRIORITIES PRIORITIES OF INTERNATIONAL OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION IN ENVIRONMENT

FORMATION AND PROTECTION IN 2005-2007FORMATION AND PROTECTION IN 2005-2007

• TO STRENGTHEN DIRECT COOPERATION WITH TO STRENGTHEN DIRECT COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA AND BELARUS IN DEALING WITH COMMON RUSSIA AND BELARUS IN DEALING WITH COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

• TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL COOPERATION WITH THE BALTIC SEA STATES COOPERATION WITH THE BALTIC SEA STATES REGION AND TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN REGION AND TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES OF THE EU INSTITUTIONS IN DEALING ACTIVITIES OF THE EU INSTITUTIONS IN DEALING WITH COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH WITH COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH NON-EU COUNTRIESNON-EU COUNTRIES

• WITHIN ITS COMPETENCE TO STRENGTHEN WITHIN ITS COMPETENCE TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONSENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS


WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING PRIORITIESWAYS OF IMPLEMENTING PRIORITIES

• Participation of civil servantsParticipation of civil servants of the ministries of the ministries,, responsible for responsible for nature protection,nature protection, its subordinate institutions and the ones its subordinate institutions and the ones attributed to its regulatory field in international forums, meetings, attributed to its regulatory field in international forums, meetings, sittings of different committees and working groups, workshops, sittings of different committees and working groups, workshops, conferences and other international eventsconferences and other international events, international projects;, international projects;

• Development and harmonisation of draft legal acts related to Development and harmonisation of draft legal acts related to international cooperation in environment formation and protection; international cooperation in environment formation and protection;

• TThe development of draft bilateral and multilateral agreements and he development of draft bilateral and multilateral agreements and cooperation plans for environment formation and protection with cooperation plans for environment formation and protection with foreign countries, their institutions and international organisations; foreign countries, their institutions and international organisations;

• Exchange and presentation of information to foreign institutions, Exchange and presentation of information to foreign institutions, international organisations, environmental NGOs and to the public international organisations, environmental NGOs and to the public regarding the issues of international cooperation in environment regarding the issues of international cooperation in environment formation and protection; formation and protection;

• Organisation of workshops, conferences, forums and other Organisation of workshops, conferences, forums and other international events related to environment formation and international events related to environment formation and protection in protection in BSRBSR;;


Documents

STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA Management of Natural Heritage Rūta Gruzdyte Chief desk officer of Planning and cadastre division Web site: