The Nature Conservation Agency reminds the public that from 15 March until 31 July a ban on forestry activity is in force in specially protected nature areas (ĪADT) throughout Latvia. During this period only forest fire prevention and firefighting measures are permitted, along with the felling and removal of hazardous trees. One exception, subject to written permission from the agency, is the hauling of timber while the ground is frozen. To ensure that birds can nest undisturbed, the agency's state environmental inspectors will step up their supervision of forestry work in ĪADT during this period.

The ban on forestry activity applies to all ĪADT for which individual protection and use regulations have not been drawn up. Where different dates have been set for restrictions on forestry activity in a particular ĪADT, these are stated in that area's individual protection and use regulations. All information about ĪADT is available on the agency's website www.daba.gov.lv under Dabas daudzveidība -> Dabas teritoriju pārvaldība -> Par ĪADT.

"The period of the ban coincides with the time when animals are hatching and rearing their young in the wild. Logging work at this time can directly destroy nests, clutches and chicks that are not yet able to flee from danger. On top of that, logging generates a great deal of noise, which frightens nesting birds. As a result they abandon their nests, and the eggs go cold and are lost. That is precisely why this regulatory requirement applies in specially protected nature areas, which were established to preserve the rich concentration of natural values found in those particular places, birds among them. It should be borne in mind that this year, under the influence of climate change, birds have begun nesting earlier," explains Anda Zeize, Director of the agency's Latgale Regional Administration.

Breaching the general protection and use regulations for ĪADT can result in a fine – 30-1000 euro for a natural person and as much as 2400 euro for a legal person. Although the ban applies to ĪADT, any forest owner can protect birds during the nesting season by scheduling logging and management work to finish before 15 March or to resume from August, even if the forest lies outside an ĪADT.

ĪADT in Latvia are geographically defined areas placed under special state protection in order to protect and preserve the diversity of nature within them. This means rare and typical natural ecosystems, the habitats of protected species, distinctive and beautiful landscapes characteristic of Latvia, geological and geomorphological formations, dendrological plantings and veteran trees, as well as areas of importance for public recreation, education and upbringing. At present 723 ĪADT have been established in Latvia, and depending on the purpose for which they were created they fall into eight groups: national parks, the biosphere reserve, nature parks, protected landscape areas, nature reserves, strict nature reserves, natural monuments or avenues, dendrological plantings, geological or geomorphological features, and protected marine areas.