To protect the European roller, the government approved the protection and management regulations for the ''Garkalnes meži'' nature reserve on Tuesday. Other specially protected birds have also been identified within the nature reserve, including the stock dove, the woodlark, the tawny pipit, and others. Furthermore, specially protected habitats have been identified in this reserve, including wooded coastal dunes, grey dunes with herbaceous vegetation, and old or natural boreal forests.

The protected area covers 1,789 hectares, which will be divided into a regulated zone, a nature reserve zone, a nature park zone, and a neutral zone. The majority of the nature reserve's territory is state-owned (63.8%). Forests cover 89.7% of the nature reserve. The Vidzeme highway and a railway line cross the nature reserve.

Across the entire nature reserve territory, it is prohibited to install wind turbines, construct electronic communications network towers (except in the neutral zone), travel by motor vehicle, hold competitions, use mineral fertilisers and chemical plant protection products, regenerate forests by sowing or planting, carry out soil preparation, discharge wastewater into the environment, and perform other activities that may cause changes to habitats. (...)