An expert from the Nature Conservation Agency has discovered a new habitat for the green shield-moss Buxbaumia viridis, a very rare and specially protected moss species in Latvia, in Ugāle Parish, Ventspils Municipality. The discovery of this rare species has also been confirmed by the Bryophyte Research Group of the Latvian Botanical Society. Furthermore, this habitat in old spruce and birch forests is the largest (with more than 70 individual sites recorded in one area) and most significant known habitat of this species in our country to date.

The green shield-moss is a tiny moss, only a couple of millimetres in size. It becomes visible when, under suitable conditions, a sporogonium up to 2 cm long develops at the tip of the stalk. The species is rare and threatened throughout Europe. Therefore, it is included in Annex II of the European Habitats Directive, which stipulates that specially protected nature areas must be established for the protection of such habitats.

The species is found on heavily decayed wood. It is just one of the rare species for which preserving deadwood in forests is essential for survival. In total, about 100 habitats of this species have been identified in Latvia, the majority of which have so far been found in Gauja National Park.