Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Scots pine occupies the biggest share — 720,300 ha — in Lithuanian forests. Protected areas in 2009 reached 1,026,100 ha or 15.7 per cent of the total national territory in 2014 [ ] 145 A pilot ecological network through nature frame areas in South Lithuania Between 2010–2014, a project — the Development of a Pilot Ecological Network through Nature Frame areas in South Lithuania — funded by the LIFE+ programme and the Ministry of Environment of Lithuania, was cre- ated for the conservation of rare and endangered species and their habitats, and to improve their conservation status. The project was implemented in the south of the country, in territo- ries adjacent to the sites of construc- tion of the OHL, and implemented by the Lithuanian Fund for Nature. The project encompasses three major types of activity: protection of target species and restoration of their habitats, creation of an ecological network, and education of local com- munities. The targets of the project are the reptilian and amphibian spe- cies: pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), European tree frog (Hyla arborea), fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), natterjack toad (Bufo calamita), Euro- pean green toad (B. viridis), common spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus), moor frog (Rana arvalis), pool frog (R. lessonae), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), and a significant number of birds and invertebrate species requiring small ponds of still water, small meadows and non-overgrown sandy slopes. A range of conservation actions were implemented for the target species, including digging of ponds, preparation and surveillance of sites for turtles to lay eggs, collection of eggs laid in sites considered unsafe, raising juveniles, releasing them back to the natural environment, breeding tree frogs or collecting their eggs and raising of their juveniles, and strengthening sustainable and nature-friendly farming. These ac- tions have been carried out in order to create ecological corridors for the target species between the protected territories. During the project, 164 ponds were dug with a total area of 151,130m 2 , and 40 places suitable for pond tur- tles to lay eggs, were arranged. Also, 52 habitats for the project’s target species were restored. In addition, employees of the Lithuanian Fund for Nature, the Regional Parks of Mete- liai and Veisiejai, and the National Park of Dzūkija collected eggs from unsafe places (mostly from road- sides), hatched 128 offspring turtles in the Lithuanian Zoo and set them free into suitable habitats in south- ern Lithuania. Measures were taken to protect the turtles’ eggs against predators such as foxes and raccoon dogs that have a significant adverse effect on the pond turtles in that they eat their eggs. 88 egg hatches were preserved during the project. Into the woods Lithuania L ithuania is home to about 20,500 fauna, 1,800 flora and 6,100 fungi species, of which 771 species are entered in the country’s list of protected fauna, flora and fungi species. 53 plant communities are included in the Red Data Book, and the sea territory has 54 natural habitat types of community importance along with 101 flora and fauna species of community interest. In 2014, the national network of protected areas covered 1,026,100ha or 15.7 per cent of national territory. Protected areas had increased slightly compared to 2013. Ugne Vasyliute on Unsplash