Nīcgale forest is Latvia protected landscape area in Augšdaugava Municipality, in Nīcgale Parish, east of Nīcgale. At the eastern point of the territory is Nicgale Great Stone.
| Nīcgale Forest Protected Landscape | |
|---|---|
| Nīcgales meži | |
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 Nicgale Great Stone | |
  | |
| Location | Latvia, Latgalia |
| Coordinates | 56°09′19″N 26°25′50″E / 56.15528°N 26.43056°E |
| Area | 9.15 km2 (3.53 sq mi) [1][2] |
| Established | 2004 |
The site contains EU Habitats Directive habitats - old or natural boreal forests, old mixed broadleaf forests, walking forests. This is the Natura 2000 area.[3][1]
Flora
editA large number of protected plant species are found here, including ramsons (Allium ursinum), clustered bur-reed (Sparganium glomeratum), downy buttercup (Ranunculus lanuginosus),[4] Lyon's notchwort (Tritomaria quinquedentata).[5]
One of the species of flowering plants - hairy agrimony (Agrimonia pilosa) is protected under EU Nature directives.[2]
Fauna
editNīcgales forest is home to a significant number of butterfly species, including marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Scarce fritillary (Euphydryas maturna, (Lycaena dispar), scarce heath (Coenonympha hero), woodland brown (Lopinga achine), blue underwing ( Catocala fraxini), Pericallia (Pericallia matronula). Protected fauna species include white-backed woodpecker (Picoides leucotos), middle spotted woodpecker (Leiopicus medius), Ural owl ( Strix uralensis), Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum).[5]
In total :
- 17 species of birds are protected under EU Nature directives.
- 3 species of invertebrates are protected under EU Nature directives.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Nīcgales Meži Protected Planet
- ^ a b c Nicgales mezi European Environment Agency
- ^ (in Latvian) Nīcgales meži daba.gov.lv
- ^ Ranunculus lanuginosus (Downy Buttercup)
- ^ a b Nature Protection Board. Nicgale Forests
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