Natura 2000 values

Gauja National Park – NATURA 2000 site

NATURA 2000 is the largest coherent network of nature protected areas in all EU member countries. Its goal is to protect wild areas and conserve natural habitats of animals and birds, and halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010.

NATURA 2000 areas are chosen by criteria set forth by two directives – Directive on Birds “On Conservation of Wild Birds” 79/409/EEK and Biotope Directive “On Conservation of Natural Biotope, Wild Fauna and Flora” 92/43/EEK. From 2004, Gauja NP is a part of NATURA 2000 network, as a territory for conservation of protected species and biotopes.

We would like to introduce You to the outstanding features of the Gauja NP biotope, its significance to the Europe, and some important animals and plants species.

Mineral exposures and caves

Sandstone exposures are a visiting card of the Gauja River valley. Rocks of different colours are seen on the banks of tributaries – white, golden and red. Every exposure is different. Each of them has their own story- The formation and existence time of the exposures counts for many hundreds million years.

Rare are round sandstones lime exposures. In such, lime-rich places grow rare and protected ferns – Wall-rue Asplenium ruta-muraria and Limestone Fern Gymnocarpium robertiana.
Many exposures are a habitat for moss and lichen species, which cannot grow elsewhere. Even Eagle Owl Bubo bubo, happened to nest on the earth, has found a home on sandy slopes. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis has settled in the sandstone beside the Sand Martin Riparia riparia colony.

Gauja NP is famous by 2/3 of all Latvian caves. In winter most caves are not disturbed by visiting, and serve as winter shelters for bats. One of the dolomite caves is known as the second biggest hibernating site in Latvia for Pond Bat Myotis dasycneme. Bats are the symbolic animals of the Gauja NP.

Forests

Forests occupy almost a half of the Gauja NP territory. The most typical are slope and ravine forests composed mainly of oaks, lime-trees, elms, and fir-trees, and primary forests in bends and meanders of the river, composed of  willows, elms, bird-cherry and pine-trees. The rest territory of the national park is characterised by small forest-massifs alternating with wide agricultural lands.

Lady’s Slipper Cypripedium calceolus is found in places with lime-rich soil. Particular microclimate reigns in ravine forests. All this diversity ensures rich habitats for rare bird species. Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum, Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus medius, Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus and White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotus live in the Gauja River valley.
Agrimonia pilosa is common  and grows in the bushes of the Gauja River, at the forest edges and along footpaths. Interesting from the view of biology are boreal forests with coniferous trees and birch-trees, which form large  tracts of forest in flat landscapes. In dry pine-trees grow Spreading Pasqueflower Pulsatilla patens.

Rivers

The Gauja tributaries and smaller rivers in Gauja NP territory, as well as pure bubbling springs are the habitats for many wild animals, which are rare in Europe. Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is rare, but Thick Shelled River Mussel Unio crassus is a common mussel everyone can see.

The Gauja and its larger tributaries are inhabited by River Lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, but in smaller rivers – by Brook Lamprey Lampetra planeri. In the Gauja and its tributaries, there are salmonid spawning places of state importance. Salmon Salmo salar is found in four rivers. Grayling Thymallus thymallus is found in the Gauja and the Venta river basins only. On a stony bottom hide Bullhead Sculpin Cottus gobio, Spined Loach Cobitis taenia and the European Crayfish Astacus astacus. In the Gauja meanders, on sandbanks, particularly, in the driest summers, forms the valuable biotope in which live different birds.

Lakes

There are about 50 lakes in Gauja NP. The most sensitive from the view of biology are the waters which are poor in minerals, as in lakes, where rare plant species are found. Isoëtes lacustris, Lobelia dortmanna and Litorella uniflora grows in Ungura, Driškina and Plaužu lakes only.

Saucer-shaped lakes have formed on the Gauja riverside and its larger tributaries. Particularly valuable are rich saucer lakes with sunk aquatic species and floating plant vegetation. It is the world of aquatic invertebrate animals. Typical is Medicinal Leech Hirudo medicinalis, common are Dytiscus latissimus and Graphoderus bilineatus.

Bog and mire areas

There are nine raised bogs in Gauja NP. The most important is Suda Bog. There are smaller lakes, parts of transition mires and quaking bogs. Suda Bog and its surrounding fields is the important rest place for migrant Bean Goose Anser fabalis and Common Crane Grus grus. Crane nest on bog islands.

Typical for ravines are Fennoscandian mineral-rich springs, springmires and springfens. Yellow break-stone Saxifraga hirculus is met only in the Zāļu mire near to Cēsis. Turaida neighbourhood is known for calcareous fens rich in Daval Sedge Carex davalliana. In the fen nearby Pūrica Lake on grass-hillocks grow Fen Orchid Liparis loeselii. 

Meadows

In Latvia, meadows, that are called natural meadows, have been made by farmers. These were formed and are managed in the same way for years. With agriculture becomes more and more intensive, there are preserved meadows of biological importance in river valleys and terraces above the flood-plain.

The Gauja riverside terraces are characterised by Xeric sand calcareous grasslands with Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata, Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides and Trifolium montanum. In the Paslavu meadow inhabits a protected insect – Rattle Grasshoper Psophus stridulus.
Dry calcareous soil of Gaujmala meadow is rich in orchid species. The most common is Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris. However, there are only few lime rocks in the Gauja River valley and they lay quite a deep. Therefore there grow species typical for other meadows.
Lowland hay meadows and wet meadows are important in conservation of biodiversity. The Molīniju meadow at Āraišu Lake is the only meadow of this type. The other meadows are characterised by Tufted-sedge Carex elata.

Human environment

The Gauja River valley has been attended from the ancient times. This resulted in formation of wide open areas. Today, vast agricultural areas are mostly used in their upper and middle part. However, important biological values are found also in the immediate neighbourhood of people.

Corn Crake Crex crex willingly chooses wide field massifs for living. Rare guest is Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, but White Stork Ciconia ciconia willingly settles close to human dwellings. Bats choose for human-made underground cellars for winter sleep.

Alleys, parks and some individual trees add to biodiversity of the inhabited areas. They serve the shelter, feeding and sleeping place for birds, insects, and bats. In Raiskuma alley lives a rare bug – Hermit Beetle Osmoderma eremita.

How the protected biotopes are attended?

Biotopes are attended differently. Meadows – are human-made biotopes. Therefore they need human concern not to grow through with bushes and trees. In turn, slope and ravine forests do not need attendance. Their highest value is the natural growing forest without interference for years. There are old dry stumps, big dead-wood and wind-drawn trees.

Gauja NP Administration ensures mowing of state-owned meadows, cuts bushes to prevent from overgrowing. Wide agricultural lands are also mowed to keep the open landscape. It is allowed to cut in slopes and ravines, including alleys and parks, only trees, which are directly close to the tourism path and threaten safety of visitors.

Every year The Gauja River is cleaned from flow-brought or unwillingly left things by tourists or local people.

Where can be seen values of Natura 2000?

Sigulda. Gauja Riverside slopes here are covered with deciduous forests – this is a biotope of the European importance with many rare wild plants and animals. Salmon spawning can be seen from the bridge across the Gauja Street in November in good circumstances. It is possible to see many rare woodpecker species if going along the Gauja River including other wild birds. Gūtmaņala exposure and other sandstone exposures is one of the protected biotopes. Small springs along the path form small springfens.

Līgatne Nature Trails. It is possible to see almost all Latvian animals in open-air enclosures. It includes such wild animals of the European importance, like Lynx Lynx lynx, Wolf Canis lupus and Brown Bear Ursus arctos, which are rare animals of rare occurrence in wild nature in the territory of the national park. On the trail along the Gauja Riverside, at the Gauja River bank there is a dry calcareous meadow with typical plants of this biotope and the picturesque Gūdu Cliffs.

Cēsis neighbourhood. Many special sandstone exposures appeal to an eye at the Amata River banks, but the Amata River itself has overfalls with rare fishes. Forest Mother trail at the Zvārtes Rock leads to a moderate wet meadow.

Ķūķu Cliffs – allow seeing a Common Kingfisher Alcedo at his hunting a fish, feeding Black Stork Ciconia nigra and bats in evenings. Ērgļu Cliffs are surrounded by an old pine forest. It also continues on the other side of the Gauja River in the direction to Raiskums. There are a lot noble oaks preserved by the Ungurmuiža manor. One can dive into Ungura Lake to see rare aquatic plants.

There is a white sandstone exposure not far from Valmiera – Sietiņiezis. Boreal pine, fir and birch forests are particularly beautiful here. In larger forest tracts of Vaidava one can happen to find Brown Bear Ursus arctos tracks.