Western taiga

Western taiga. Photo: Ieva Mardega.

Western taiga - a habitat protected in the European Union – is found in the protected landscape area "Adazi". Existence and regeneration of this type of the pine forest is related to forest fires, which prevent formation of thick undergrowth, allow self-seeding of new pine trees and create different age tree stands. In the commercial forests clear-cuts can be partially likened to the impact of fires. Forests in the project site are currently not being used in forestry and only tactical military exercise, which does not create fires, takes place in them. Therefore, there is no natural forest regeneration. During the project controlled burning will be carried out to replace natural disturbance. It will contribute to the creation of mixed age pine stands in the long-term and provide better feeding conditions for the European Roller in the short term.

The project will restore 20 hectares of old or natural Western taiga by a controlled burning of the undergrowth. These works will be performed in accordance with the specially developed plan of action. Burning will carried out by the National Armed Forces and the JSC "Latvian State Forests" in collaboration with specialists from the State Forest Service.  Support for the air will be provided by the National Armed Forces helicopter, which will ensure surveillance and firefighting if necessary.