A protected nature area has been established to ensure the conservation of barbastelle bat habitats, protected habitats of national and EU importance, and other specially protected species, as well as to provide opportunities for public education and recreation that do not conflict with the protection of natural values.

“According to expert opinion, this specific area between Odziena, Koknese, and Klintaine is the most significant in Latvia for ensuring the protection of the barbastelle bat species. Therefore, following the recommendations of the species protection plan and working in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) and species experts, LVM has been working to find the best solutions within state forest land and has also prepared the draft individual protection and management regulations for the new protected nature area.”

“The LVM Vidusdaugava region is one of the areas where swamp forest structures are relatively well-represented. One important aspect for the protection of these structures is the non-fragmentation of larger areas, which is why in 2021 and 2022 we worked to identify areas that could potentially be included in the Natura 2000 network. In the LVM Vidusdaugava region, this expansion amounts to more than 19 thousand hectares, which represents an increase of more than 40% over the current area. A significant part of the potential expansion of the Natura 2000 network in the LVM Vidusdaugava region will be formed precisely by the barbastelle bat protection area,” explains Jānis Belickis, Forest Management Planning Manager for the LVM Vidusdaugava region.