Information regarding the project of the nature conservation plan of the natural reserve “Lubana wetlands” after public consultations
The Nature Protection Board has prepared explanatory material in specially protected areas of nature, Natura 2000 sites, natural reserve “Lubana wetlands” (hereinafter – natural reserve) for land owners, operators and residents of the surrounding area regarding the main objections and proposals received during public consultations (hereinafter – plan) of the nature conservation plan (9 January to 8 February 2035), as well as the changes made in the drawn up document.
The procedures for drawing up and public consultation of the plan shall be determined by Cabinet Regulation No. 686 of 9 October 2007, Regulations regarding the Procedures for the Conservation and Development of Specially Protected Natural Areas. Therefore, the plan includes proposals for management measures which are necessary to promote the conservation of natural values, as well as proposals for changes in the individual protection and use regulations of nature reserve (hereinafter – CABINET regulations), the functional zoning of the natural reserve and the change of borders necessary to promote the protection of species and habitats.
Although very controversial proposals were received on individual issues during the public consultation, the draftsman has assessed the proposals submitted and, as far as possible, clarified the plan according to the results of the public consultation and the opinions of the municipalities, trying to strike a balance between the different interests. Following the public consultation, the updated plan has been submitted to municipalities for opinions.
The table summarises the main proposals, comments and objections received during the public consultation, as well as the proposals contained in the Plan:
| Proposals contained in the Plan and proposals by citizens and municipalities | Version of the plan after public consultation |
| The original plan version included a proposal to include additional land units in the area of forest and grassland habitats, including the land unit of private land owners in Lazdukalna and Berzpils parish, which received a large number of objections from the land owners. | In assessing the views expressed by local governments and land owners, the updated version of the plan is not intended to extend the natural reserve, including the land units of Lazdukalna and Berzpils parish, located in the ownership of private persons. The Plan reviews and maintains proposals regarding the extension of natural reserve and refers to forest lands under the management of “Latvian State Forests” (mainly affecting existing micro-reserve territories). |
| The original version of the plan included a proposal to lower the water level of Luban Lake to improve conditions for waterbirds. As a second proposal, which was opposed by a large part of society, the plan included a proposal not to maintain the eastern dam of Lake Luban | The revised version of the plan is not intended to change the water level of Luban Lake, but it is necessary to improve co-operation between local governments, the management of nature protection and State SIA “Ministry of Agriculture's real estate” so that the regulation of water level is considered and no conflict situations exist. The plan does not provide for the demolition or abandonment of the eastern dam. |
| The original version of the plan proposed changes in the provisions of the Nature Prohibition MK, imposing a ban on hunting shots containing lead, as well as hunting sites with lead-containing shots. During the public consultation, objections were received from residents and hunters regarding the suggestion to make changes in the provisions OF the Nature Prohibition MK, by prohibiting the hunting of the propulsion and the hunting of the wolf and white hares in the controlled regime zone. At the same time, other proposals were received from non-governmental organisations and individual individuals, including encouraging the ban on hunting and bird hunting. | In the final version of the plan, the proposal for the use of lead ammunition has been clarified in accordance with the European Union legislation on the use of lead ammunition, which entered into force on 15 February 2023, providing that the use of lead-containing scrotis as well as hunting sites should be encouraged in the area of natural reserve. On the other hand, as regards hunting, the proposal has been clarified by providing that hunting with engines or hunting with disturbance may be permitted in the zone of natural reserve in the zone, not more than twice per mast calendar month, except in cases where significant damage caused by wild animals has been detected, as well as the hunting of white hares. |
| The original version of the plan also provided for changes in functional zoning, including seasonal foreclosure. During the public consultation, there are various comments, questions and reservations about the seasonal ban, both existing and newly proposed, including Maltas in the grand. | The plan is specified, including a cartographic specification of the proposed Old-ground floor area. Other changes TO THE CABINET regulations are also proposed, taking into account the existing restrictions imposed by other laws and regulations. For example, CABINET Regulation No 295 of 2 May 2007 “Regulations on industrial fishing in inland waters” already prohibits fishing and the acquisition of any species of fish in all bodies of water, except for scientific research and other special purposes with fish networks from 1 March to 15 June. In addition to these provisions, it is prohibited to fish in Luban Lake from 15 March to 15 April, as well as from 1 October to 15 March at the northern dam of Luban Lake north of the Rēzekne River to the dam of the dam at 1 400 m along the coast and 600 m from the shore in the lake. On the other hand, in accordance with CABINET Regulation No. 800 of 22 December 2015, “fishing, blasting and underwater hunting regulations”, from 1 March to 30 April, any fishing of any kind from boats and other floating vehicles in all waters, except fishing in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, is prohibited. Accordingly, in order to align the rules, it is proposed to specify the time limits for limiting the restrictions on residence and fishing and fishing in Luban Lake, by encouraging THE BOM rules to provide that fishing from the boat is prohibited from 1 March to 30 June. However, since the breeding sites of gully colonies are variable and the restrictions laid down in other laws and regulations are already partially eliminated for the use of nets and pots, the restrictions on which fishing and fishing in the vicinity of them are prohibited within a distance and within a time period should be deleted. Restrictions on the protection of the feeding period of specially protected predatory birds should also not be maintained in Cavana ponds because the observations of ornitho-fauna data do not indicate the need for such a restriction. The plan also includes a proposal to make changes TO THE regulations OF THE CABINET of MINISTERS, providing that it is prohibited to be in Lake Luban from 1 March to 30 April and move in it with any means of navigation, with the exception of movement for the management of the area, monitoring and control of compliance with the protection regime, the rescue and search of persons (the current rules provide that the limitation is from 1 March to 15 June). As regards the seasonal barring, proposals are offered for the following seasonal barring: to ensure the smooth breeding of rare day predatory birds and marshes, the seasonal barring area No 1 (the island of the island) is to be determined from 1 February to 31 July (the current regulation until 30 June); in order to ensure the smooth breeding of waterbirds and the hunting of feathers, preserve the existing area and the time-limit - the seasonal barring area No 2 (Gomelis) is set from 1 April to 30 June; in order to ensure the smooth breeding of the rare day predatory birds and marshes, the seasonal reserve area No 3 (Berzpils marsh) is encouraged to re-establish the seasonal barring area No. 4 (Vecminta griva and the Earna swamp), in order to ensure the smooth breeding of the rare day predatory birds and marshes, the seasonal barring area No 4 (Vecminta griva and the Earna swamp) is established between 1 February and 31 July. The proposed limits for the barring of Old Maltese estuary are cartographically specified in order to maintain the possibility of entering the Luban Lake from the boat at the place of arrival of the dam; it is encouraged to cancel the seasonal ban on the severe seed, because of the current level of water level, it has lost its importance as an important site for birds. |
| During the public consultation, citizens' proposals have been received to abolish existing restrictions on motorised water vehicles and restrictions on motor horses in the Lake Lake and Nature Construction, or to assess and to allow fishermen to move with 5 turbines for internal combustion engines. | In the revised version OF the plan, THE CABINET of MINISTERS is encouraged to make changes, providing that the nature reserve in the natural park zone is prohibited from moving through watercourses and bodies of water by any means of navigation using an internal combustion engine, except from 1 May to 1 March in the Luban Lake and the Rēzekne river, using internal combustion engines with a capacity not exceeding 7,46 kW and, from 16 May to 1 March, movement in Aiviekste and Icha using internal combustion engines with a capacity not exceeding 3,73 kW (the current regulation allows an exemption period from 16 June to 1 March, allowing movement in Luban Lake and Rēzekne river, and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034), and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034), and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034), and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034), and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034), and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034), and from 21 June to 15 March in Aiviekste (Cadastre No 70580060034). The seasonal limit for navigation with internal combustion engines in Aiviekste and Icha is determined only during the sowing of waterbirds. On the other hand, as regards Luban Lakes, the term is intended to be in accordance with the laws and regulations governing fishing and fishing. |
| A number of proposals have been made during the public consultation on the need to address the issues related to the movement of ice to Lake Luban. | Calls on THE CABINET of MINISTERS to include a new point in order to arrange the safe use of vehicles on ice. The proposal foresees that the Luban Lake should be allowed to move through the ice period from 1 December to 1 March, unless the municipalities have laid down an exception with the binding regulations. The movement of fishermen and tourists through ice is provided by a service provider who has acquired the rental rights of public waters and uses environmentally friendly vehicles registered in the Road Traffic Safety Directorate for the provision of services. |
| From several land owners, questions have been raised regarding the problem of the management of biologically valuable grassland and calls for the development of individual management plans for grassland in areas of natural reserve. | The plan provides recommendations for the management of biologically valuable grassland and includes a measure which could lead to the further use of the harvested medicinal product. For land owners wishing to develop individual grassland management plans, the call for contact with nature protection management. |
| Proposals have been made to foresee actions to combat the octopus of spruce trees in areas where no economic activity is permitted. | Based on scientific research, the largest risk of spruce of spruce octopus is the mono-dominated spruce. The plan shall encourage the felling of such generations along with the restoration of the hydrological regime in the Peat Island, where these stands are in the largest areas within the framework of the natural reserve. In turn, THE CABINET regulations are encouraged to make changes, providing that after receipt of a health opinion of the State Forest Service, which has been issued after receipt of a positive opinion of the Nature Protection Administration, it is permissible to felling and harvesting from the forest stands of forest diseases, pests, animals or otherwise damaged, wind and broken spruce with a diameter of more than 70 cm, leaving not less than 10 such trees per 1 ha. |
| Proposals, comments and objections to the various issues related to the maintenance, elimination or renewal of melioration systems have been received. | The plan assesses and identifies the melioration systems that need to be maintained and restored, as well as the recalculation systems for which maintenance would not be necessary from the point of view of nature protection. If the owner of the land chose to remove one of the melioration systems in order to promote the protection of nature, the plan provides an explanation that the creation of any reclamation structures or the liquidation of the melioration systems shall be implemented in accordance with the regulatory framework in force in the field of construction, as well as the projects shall be co-ordinated with the local government in the territory of which the creation of the structures of melioration or the liquidation of the melioration systems is planned. The implementation of the hydrological control measures is permissible only if it does not affect the economic forests outside the natural reserve area and is preceded by an appropriate research and modelling that justifies it. |
| The proposal to put in Lake Luban a large amount of amour that would solve problems with the lake of Luban Lake and the swamp. | The proposal is not supported and included in the plan because it is not in line with modern scientifically proven knowledge, as in fact a alien species (in some of THE EU countries has been recognised as invasive) would be distributed in this way. The amura does not eat the plants of all species, and the quality of the water and the populations of local fish species may be affected. |
| Various proposals on the necessary improvements in infrastructure and recreational facilities. | Most of the proposals are taken into account, evaluated and included in the plan as necessary. For example, towers, recreational areas, view towers, informative stands, camps, boats, etc., except for the creation of separate new tourist infrastructure objects in swamps. |
| Comments, objections and proposals on the fight against invasive species, particularly the fight against Sosnowski (the initial version of the plan allowed fogging in the protection zones in the immediate vicinity of water), as well as concerns expressed by bee growers, as the use of herbicides could affect bio-beekeeping. | The plan clarifies the management measure by offering different methods for the containment of invasive species, including specifying that chemical plant protection products are not allowed to be used in water bodies. As regards the safety of chemical plant protection products, the plan is supplemented by an explanation from the plant protection service, addressing concerns. |
The Board draws attention to the fact that the submissions and information received during public meetings have been instrumental in trying to find compromises between nature protection and socio-economic interests, as well as to better justify the necessary amendments within the boundaries and zoning of the area, which would serve as a basis for reviewing the laws and regulations.
The approval of a plan does not imply changes to the regulatory framework. As soon as the amendments to the Nature Prohibition CABINET regulations are channelled, both local government and land owners will be informed in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 13 of the Law on Special Protected Areas.
Details of the plan and all proposals received can be found in the link: http://www.enviro.lv/dati/Publiski%20pieejamie%20dati%20Lub%C4%81na%20mitr%C4%81js/LUB_DA_pl%C4%81na_aktu%C4%81l%C4%81_redakcija/
Information was prepared by the Nature Protection Board
The development of the Nature Protection Plan is carried out in the framework of the natural census or THE EU Cohesion Fund project “establishing the preconditions for better preservation of biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems in Latvia” within the 5.4.2.1/16/I/001 of Regulation.
For the period 2023-2035, the “Enviroproject” SIA “Enviroproject” (small camp street 31, Riga, LV-1002, telephone 25641455, www.enviro.lv) is developed on behalf of the dabas Protection Board.
