General restrictions of forest management in NATURA 2000 sites

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3. General restrictions of forest management in NATURA 2000 sites

   The general regulations important for protection territories of habitats and birds, approved by Government of Lithuanian Republic: describes, how conservation regime for each species or habitat must be formed; lays the provision, that protection and management regime should help keep or restore favourable conservation status of natural habitats and species in NATURA 2000 sites; protective provisions for each species and habitats have to be adapted to concrete locality conditions and peculiarities (e.g. composition of species and habitats), the concrete measures should be applied by preparing individual regulations, forest management plans or other planning documents for NATURA 2000 sites.

3.1. Restrictions of forest management in protected for birds areas (SPAs)

   In territories important for conservation of birds (SPAs), it is promoted to use forestry methods as foreseen in the planning documents of protected areas to sustain appropriate condition of habitats. During period of 2004-2005, 26 biosphere polygons were been established and nominated as SPAs for protection of birds. According decisions of the Ministry of Environment special forest use regulations in these areas were set.
   Examples of restrictions in the forest SPAs are: restricted afforestation; limited visiting or transporting during some months; prohibited final felling in certain plots; limited time for other felling; prohibited change of use of forestland; restricted drainage and other change of hydrological regime; prohibited planting of alien species of trees and bushes; set minimum number of biodiversity trees to leave in clear felling areas.

3.2. Restrictions of forest management in forest habitats of European interest

   For the protection of forest habitats, the following (most often) restrictions are foreseen: to destroy forest litter, cover of herbage, moss, lichen or shrub; to remove nascent dead wood, plant forest or mechanically prepare the soil in plots damaged by fire – for 9010 Western taiga; forest cuttings, except in places, where it is needed to prevent spread of pests and in other places determined by protected areas and forest management planning documents; to exploit mineral resources; to change hydrological regime, except measures determined by protected areas planning documents; to use fertilizers. Some promotion measures may be recommended: not to use pesticides; the carry out measures which are necessary to maintain characteristic forest stands species composition and vertical structure; to cut of part of spruces from the main level in 9160 Hornbeam forests.