P1253814449UncvG

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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

Management of Natural Heritage Ruta Gruzdyte
Chief desk officer of Planning and cadastre
division Web site www.vstt.lt E-mai.
r.gruzdyte_at_vstt.lt
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

• STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION
• Natural heritage/protected areas in the BSR
• System of protected areas, different levels and
  status of protection
• Transboundary cooperation
• Administration of the system of PA
• Nature conservation in legislative system
• Nature conservation in planning
• Planning of PA
• Instruments of dealing with problems
• Priorities

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION
VASAB promotes the concept of green
networks. Basic idea is to develop the continuum
of landscapes which provide the basis for
economic prosperity in harmony with nature. Idea
integrates Natura 2000 areas into a broader
context. In the absence of such approach,
conflicts are common between protection and
development for which mutual adjustment is
required. Spatial planning can play the role of
integrating sector administrations.
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

The goals of the systems of Protected Areas are
to conserve - nature and culture heritage, -
landscape and biological diversity, - landscape
ecological stability, - natural resources. It
creates conditions for the development
cognitive tourism (eco-tourism), scientific
research and monitoring, promotion of natural
and cultural heritage protection, etc.
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

The system of Protected Areas Heritage sites are
a source of pride, wonder and inspiration. The
scope of the national system of Lithuanias
protected areas is broader than is approved by
the IUCN. It consists of four protected areas
types - Conservation areas - strict nature or
culture reserves, reserves, nature and culture
heritage objects (nature or culture monuments), -
Preservation areas - protective zones of various
purpose, - Recuperation areas - sites where
natural resources are protected or/and
restored, - Integrated areas - national and
regional parks, as well as biosphere monitoring
areas.
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

The system of Lithuanian Protected Areas
Priority is given to protected areas of
conservation and integrated type, which cover 15
of the country, and are called Especially
Protected Areas.
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

Comparison of the main features of the Nature
Frame and ECONET
Nature Frame Ecological Network (ECONET)
Universal (geo-ecological) approach Specialized (ecological) approach
Overal goal - ecological compensation Overall goal - biodiversity protection
Concept based on catchment area and biostructure analyses of migration processes in natural landscape evaluation of gravigenuous structure of natural complexes conservation and enrichment of bio- and geo-ecological stabilisers in geosystems. Concept based on biostructure analyses of biodiversity evaluation of the most important ecosystems minimum areas required to sustain them conservation of biodiversity.
Consists of geo-ecological watersheds geosystem stabilization centers migration corridors. Consists of core areas nature development areas ecological corridors.
All natural and semi-natural areas included Areas significant from national and international significance included
Covers 60 of Lithuania
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

• INTERNATIONALY IMPORTANT PA (Unesco, Ramsar
  sites, HELCOM)
• PA OF EUROPEAN IMPORTANCE (Network of Natura
  2000)
• PA OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE (National parks, State
  strict reserves)
• PA OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE (Regional parks, Strict
  reserves)
• PA OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE (reserves, protected
  nature heritage objects)

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

• Partnerships are needed
• Achieving the goals of international conventions
  requires partnership
• At the international level it could involve
  enhanced cooperation
• with the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Natural heritage sites between two or more
  countries need to be explored and expanded.
• Exchange schemes between countries which aim to
  improve PA site management, need to be developed.
• At national levels better partnerships are
  required between agencies managing PA and other
  relevant organisations, agencies including NGOs.
• At local levels more efective working
  relationships with local people need to be
  established. Planning for natural heritage sites
  needs to be considered in the context of regional
  land use and innovative planning schemes

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

Transboundary cooperation General
activities International Commitments in field of
Nature Protection
NAME OF CONVENTION
Convention on Protection of Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention, Helsinki, 1974)
UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention, Paris, 1972)
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention, Ramsar, 1971)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio de Janeiro, 1992)
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention, Bern, 1979)
Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of wild Animals (Bonn Convention, Bonn, 1979)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES, Washington, 1973)
Convention on European Landscape (Florence, 2000)
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

International Commitments of Lithuania related to
the Management of Protected Areas Intergovernmen
tal Agreements on Cooperation in field of
Environmental Protection Bilateral Agreement
with Government of Sweden, 1992 Trilateral
Agreement with Governments of Estonia and Latvia,
1995 Bilateral Agreement with the Government of
Flanders /Belgium/, 1996 Bilateral Agreement
with the Government of Latvia, 1999 Bilateral
Agreement with the Government of Russian
Federation, 1999 Interministerial
Agreements Agreement with Denmark on Cooperation
in the field of Environmental protection,
1991 Agreement with Finland on Cooperation in
the field of Environmental protection,
1992 Agreement with Poland on Cooperation in the
field of Environmental protection,1992 Agreement
with Germany on Cooperation in Environmental
protection, 1993 Agreement with Byelorussia on
Cooperation in the field of Forest conservation,
2000 Agreement with Latvia on Nature
Concervation in Transboundary Context, 2001
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

Administration of the System of Protected Areas
STATE LEVEL STATE LEVEL STATE LEVEL    
The Ministry of Environment (Division of Protected Areas Strategy) The Ministry of Culture
State Service for Protected Areas

LOCAL LEVEL LOCAL LEVEL LOCAL LEVEL LOCAL LEVEL LOCAL LEVEL
Vilnius municipality
3 State Strict Nature Reserves 2 State Strict Culture Reserves 2 Regional Parks
4 National Parks 1 Historic National Park
28 Regional Parks
1 Biosphere Reserve
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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STATE SERVICE FOR PROTECTED AREAS OF LITHUANIA

• Administration of the system of protected areas
• Other institutions involved in protected areas
  management
• Regional Environmental Protection Departments
• Forests Enterprises
• Cultural Heritage Authorities
• Regional Authorities (Counties Administrations)
• Municipalities.

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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The main financial instrumentsused to manage
values of the protected areas

• State budgets of different countries
• EU funds (ERDF, INTERREG)
• Projects, coordinated by State level
  institutions, responsible for management of
  Protected Areas
• Projects, coordinated by Protected Areas
  Administrations.

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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List of main financial sourcesProtected Areas
Administrations apply to

• Phare programs (SPF Credo)
• Nordic Council of Ministries
• Swedish EPA
• UNDP GEF SGP (the Small Grants Program)
• Other financial sources
• Fund of Darvin
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
• Netherlands PIN-Matra program
• Local authorities

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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Projects applied to EU Structure Funds.

• Preparation of PAs establishment and planning
  documents
• Strengthening of state institutions responsible
  for monitoring and management of NATURA 2000 PAs
• Maintenance and management of PAs
• Takedown of ownerless buildings, recuperation of
  violated territories, rehabilitation of objects

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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Planning of Protected Areas
Territory planning
Strategic planning
General planning
Detailed planning

• Special planning
• For a part of or the whole system of the PA, for
  values of natural and cultural heritage

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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Nature Management Plan

• Nature management plan (NM Plan) strategic
  planning document.
• There are evaluated and described ecological
  condition of protected area (a part of the
  protected area), problems and possibilities of
  conservation and management of landscape,
  protected endangered animals, plants and
  mushrooms species, their habitats and natural
  habitats in this document.

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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• NM Plan sets the measures for management and
  protection of the area, funds for these measures
  and hands.

Preparation of NM plans Ministry of Environment,
Ministry of Culture and other institutions, which
have a right implement strategic planning, can
organize preparation of NM Plans.
LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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• The main aims of NM plan
• To define the main problems and activities, which
  influence on the NM Plans objects, to analyze,
  what information is required and to analyze
  possibilities to get this information
• To appoint protection and management measures of
  the managed objects, set priorities of these
  measures
• To appoint physical and legal persons, who will
  implement measures indicated in NM Plans
• To calculate funds required for implementation of
  protection and management measures
• To establish an order for assessment of
  implemented management and protection measures
  and for monitoring.

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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INSTRUMENTS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS

• Establishment and improvement of a legal
  framework (collaborative management)
• Creation of the system of territorial planning
  documents
• integration of planning of PA into the general
  national system of planning
• preparation and approval of management plans,
  zoning schemes
• preparation of special plans for recreational
  zones, etc.
• implementation of these plans.
• Repurchase of the land, establishment of
  compensations

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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INSTRUMENTS OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS

• Implementation of specific measures of protection
  and management
• measures aimed at conservation of objects of
  natural and cultural heritage
• measures aimed at establishing and maintaining
  paths for education and cognitive purposes
• measures aimed at developing and monitoring a
  visual information system
• measures aimed at establishing recreational
  infrastructure (recreational paths, bicycle
  trails)
• Establishment of the system of information of PA,
  environmental education and training
• development of the system of ecological education
  (visitor centers, nature schools)
• preparation and printing of publications,
  preparation of educational films, websites
• training courses for decision makers, protected
  areas staff training etc.

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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PRIORITIES IN THE FORTHCOMING YEARS

• CONSERVATION OF LANDSCAPE AND BIOLOGICAL
  DIVERSITY, NATURE AND CULTURE HERITAGE AND
  ESTABLISHEMENT OF CONDITIONS FOR VISITORS
• INTEGRATION OF NATURA 2000 NETWORK INTO THE
  NATIONAL SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREAS
• CREATION OF AN INFORMATIONAL SYSTEM FOR PROTECTED
  AREAS

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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PRIORITIES OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN
ENVIRONMENT FORMATION AND PROTECTION IN 2005-2007

• TO STRENGTHEN DIRECT COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA AND
  BELARUS IN DEALING WITH COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL
  ISSUES
• TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL
  COOPERATION WITH THE BALTIC SEA STATES REGION AND
  TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES OF THE EU
  INSTITUTIONS IN DEALING WITH COMMON ENVIRONMENTAL
  ISSUES WITH NON-EU COUNTRIES
• WITHIN ITS COMPETENCE TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS
  WITH INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005
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WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING PRIORITIES

• Participation of civil servants of the
  ministries, responsible for nature protection,
  its subordinate institutions and the ones
  attributed to its regulatory field in
  international forums, meetings, sittings of
  different committees and working groups,
  workshops, conferences and other international
  events, international projects
• Development and harmonisation of draft legal acts
  related to international cooperation in
  environment formation and protection
• The development of draft bilateral and
  multilateral agreements and cooperation plans for
  environment formation and protection with foreign
  countries, their institutions and international
  organisations
• Exchange and presentation of information to
  foreign institutions, international
  organisations, environmental NGOs and to the
  public regarding the issues of international
  cooperation in environment formation and
  protection
• Organisation of workshops, conferences, forums
  and other international events related to
  environment formation and protection in BSR

LITHUANIA 23-24 May, 2005