Protected areas and their land use in Lithuania

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the current situation of protected areas and areas of Natura 2000, the opportunities for expanding these areas; it identifies the main problems that may have a negative impact on the protected areas and points out the arising threats to biodiversity and the measures to avoid them. It explores main goals in preservation of landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage. The measures implementing the countryside policy of the Republic of Lithuania pertaining to protected areas are analysed and expected results are presented. The paper makes an analysis of the legal acts regulating the conservation of protected areas. The national network of protected areas in Lithuania covers 992359 ha and makes 15.2 % of the total area of the country. In comparison to 2004, the area of protected areas has increased by about 6 %. After the implementation of the EU directives on habitats and birds in Lithuania the area of protected areas should cover about 1/5 of the total national territory.