NCI 2024
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    Latvia, officially known as the Republic of Latvia, is a country located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and the Baltic Sea to the west. Covering an area of approximately 64,589 km² (24,938 mi²), Latvia boasts a diverse landscape characterized by extensive forests, rivers, and a picturesque coastline.

    The climate in Latvia is temperate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The country’s varied climate supports a rich biodiversity, with numerous species of plants and animals thriving in its different ecosystems. Latvia is known for its pristine natural environment, which includes four national parks, numerous nature reserves, and protected areas that conserve its unique flora and fauna.

    Score Rank Change
    Total Score – NCI 2024 60.5 32 N/A
    Land Management 59 65 N/A
    Protected Areas (Terrestrial) 61 96 N/A
    Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 35 137 N/A
    Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 57 82 N/A
    Protected Areas (Marine) 52 28 N/A
    Pristine Habitat (Converted Land) 100 122 N/A
    Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution) 44 68 N/A
    Sustainable Pesticide Use 62 46 N/A
    Threats to Biodiversity 63 87 N/A
    Threatened Species (Terrestrial) 94 19 N/A
    Threatened Species (Marine) 86 3 N/A
    Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas 88 101 N/A
    Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas 100 1 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial) 32 74 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Marine) 0 10 N/A
    Depleted Fisheries 0 39 N/A
    Fishery Pressure in the High Seas 100 72 N/A
    Invasive Species Pressure 70 157 N/A
    Capacity and Governance 68 43 N/A
    Total Management Cost 84 138 N/A
    Conservation Culturomics 51 54 N/A
    Conservation Legislation 24 162 N/A
    Ratification of CBD 100 1 N/A
    Ratification of CITES 100 1 N/A
    Political Stability and Absence of Violence 70 3 N/A
    Control of Corruption 64 35 N/A
    Government Effectiveness 64 39 N/A
    Future Trends 52 35 N/A
    Climate Change Mitigation 52 35 N/A

    Four pillars elaborated:

    Land Management

     Latvia’s land use is diverse, with 18.6% designated as arable land, 0.1% for permanent crops, 10.5% as permanent pasture, and 54.1% covered by forests. The country also has an extensive network of over 600 protected areas, covering about 19% of its total territory. This network includes 4 Strict Nature Reserves, 4 National Parks, 261 Managed Nature Reserves, 325 Natural Monuments, 6 Ramsar sites, and 9 Protected Landscapes.

    Additionally, Latvia plays a significant role in the Natura 2000 network, a European Union initiative to protect biodiversity, with 333 recognized sites. The protection efforts extend to marine areas as well, with five terrestrial protected areas that include marine territories, focusing on conserving critical habitats for migratory birds. This comprehensive approach underscores Latvia’s commitment to preserving biodiversity in both land and marine environments.

    Threats to Biodiversity

     The primary threats to biodiversity on agricultural lands include the increasing uniformity of agricultural landscapes and overgrowth due to insufficient management and land improvement. In other ecosystems, threats vary: peat extraction and the overgrowth of bogs from land improvement; eutrophication, the impact of small hydro-electric power stations, and poaching in inland waters; and in coastal areas, habitat degradation from tourism and recreational activities, including illegal driving, as well as habitat loss from residential development and poor management practices, along with the spread of invasive species. Additionally, low environmental awareness among the general public and policymakers significantly threatens biodiversity across the country.

    Capacity and Governance

     Latvia has maintained a stable, centralized system for managing environmental and biodiversity issues over the past decade. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) leads the development and execution of biodiversity policies. Within this ministry, the Nature Protection Department is tasked with managing species, habitats, and protected areas. Additionally, the ministry handles water management, pollution control, waste management, and climate change initiatives.

    Like many OECD countries, other ministries in Latvia also have roles in biodiversity policy. The Ministry of Agriculture oversees forestry, fisheries, and agriculture. There is an opportunity for improved collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the MEPRD to better integrate biodiversity considerations and address sometimes conflicting priorities more effectively.

    Future Trends

     The EU Biodiversity Strategy has set a target to have 30% of its land area under protection by 2030 to preserve biodiversity across member states. Latvia is dedicated to achieving this goal and is actively working to increase its own protected areas to align with this ambitious target. This commitment involves enhancing existing conservation measures and designating new protected areas to ensure that Latvia contributes effectively to the broader EU conservation efforts.


    Biodiversity

    Latvia is rich in biodiversity, hosting a diverse range of animal and plant species across various protected habitats. The country’s flora includes several plant species recognized by EU directives for their conservation significance. Latvia’s fauna is equally varied, with numerous protected invertebrate species and a variety of mammals, including iconic species such as the European beaver and the grey wolf.

    The avian population is particularly robust, featuring a wide array of bird species, including the majestic white-tailed eagle and the elusive black stork. Together, these species thrive in Latvia’s numerous protected habitat types, illustrating the country’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage.

    In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Latvia only):


    Species
    (World rank)    		 Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    Mammals 68 (#150) 1 1.5%
    Birds 269 (#144) 13 4.8%
    Reptiles 7 (#193)
    Amphibians 13 (#127) 3 23.1%
    Fishes 113 (#179) 6 5.3%
    Plants 1,634 (#158)

    Go To 2024 National Nature Conservation Index Main Page

    Latvia

    Sustaining harmony between nature and heritage

    Score:

    60.5 / 100

    Rank:

    32 / 180