Latvia - Overview

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

The biodiversity of Latvia is determined by its geographical location in the western part of the East-European plain and on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, thereby placing it in the temperate zone with a mixed forest of the boreonemoral province. The unique brackish water communities of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga significantly enrich the country’s biodiversity... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Protected areas, including Natura 2000 territories, cover 11.9% of Latvia’s territory.

Percentage of Forest Cover

Forests cover 44.6% of the country.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The National Biodiversity Strategy is divided into three sections. The first section is on nature protection and it is divided into habitat types and features. Each subsection includes a short description of the current status and a list of targets such as the development of criteria for assessment of biological diversity in rivers and the prohibition of sport and training events on valuable dolomite exposures... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Outside of designated protected areas, threatened species are protected from activities such as unsustainable forestry, intensification of agriculture, and chaotic housing developments through the Law on Protection of Species and Habitats. Sectoral programmes for forestry and agriculture also encourage the maintenance of complex biological diversity, thereby enabling species protection... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Following the accession of Latvia to the European Union, 336 Natura 2000 territories were designated, including 4 Strict Nature Reserves and 4 National Parks, increasing the total protected area from 8.9% to 11.9%. Marine territories are included in 7 terrestrial protected areas. According to the national legislation, all Natura 2000 territories have legal protection status... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Ms. Daiga Vilkaste	CBD Primary NFP
H.E. Mr. Jānis Mažeiks	CBD Secondary NFP
Mr. Gatis Eriņš	SBSTTA NFP
Ms. Vija Buša	Protected Areas NFP
Mr. Andris Soms	CHM NFP
Ms. Valda Baronina	GSPC NFP
Mr. Valdimārts Šlaukstinš	ICNP ABS NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mrs. Inese Aleksejeva

Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP, BCH NFP