eestoniastonia llatviaatvia llithuaniaithuania bbelaruselarus © Text: Liene Auniņa, Sandra Bērziņa, Lelde Eņģele, Andris Junkurs, Jānis Ķuze, Diāna Meiere, Natālija Jurgensone, Vilnis Skuja, Juris Smaļinskis, Baiba Strazdiņa, Kristaps Vilks, Dmitrijs Duboviks, Arkadijs Skuratovičs © Editing: Juris Smaļinskis, Baiba Strazdiņa The Latvian Country Tourism Association ‘Country Traveller’, Latvian Fund for Nature, Belarusian Association of Rural and Ecotourism ‘Country Escape’, 2012 Language Edited by: Inese Bernsone, Ivars Kabucis Designed by: „Dripe dizains”, www.dripe.lv Photos: Liene Auniņa, Maija Ārente, Vladimirs Baičarovs, Valda Baroniņa, Natālija Borisenko, Daiga Brakmane, Dmitrijs Duboviks, Lelde Eņģele, Anatolijs Galabovičs, Natālija Jurgensone, Pjotrs Loba- noks, Diāna Meiere, Valdis Pilāts, Agnese Priede, Vilnis Skuja, Arkadijs Skuratovičs, Juris Smaļinskis, Rūta Sniedze-Kretalova, Baiba Strazdiņa, Uvis Suško, Ilze Vilks, Boriss Vlasovs, Svetoslavs Volosjuks Photos in the Field Guide to Species: Trees, shrubs, clubmosses, horsetails, ferns and vascular plants: Liene Auniņa, Valda Baroniņa, Daiga Brakmane, Dmitrijs Duboviks, Lelde Enģele, Vija Kreile, Deniss Kretalovs, Agnese Priede, Nora Rustanoviča, Arkādijs Skuratovičs, Juris Smaļinskis, Uvis Suško Mosses: Ligita Liepiņa, Māra Pakalne, Agnese Priede, Juris Smaļinskis, Uvis Suško Lichens: Sandra Bērziņa Fungi: Inita Dāniele, Diāna Meiere, Juris Smaļinskis, Līga Turjanska Snails and slugs: Uģis Piterāns, Juris Smaļinskis, Voldemārs Spunģis Insects: Uģis Piterāns, Juris Smaļinskis, Voldemārs Spunģis Amphibians and reptiles: Vilnis Skuja Birds: Ainars Auniņš, Andris Klepers, Deniss Kretalovs, Jānis Ķuze, Aivars Petriņš Mammals: Dāvis Drazdovskis, Jānis Jansons, Vilnis Skuja, Aija Stašula, Viesturs Vintulis Acknowledgments: Thanks to Valda Baroniņa, Ivars Kabucis and Uvis Suško for advice rendered as this guide was prepared. Co-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument). Part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) FORESTS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION PROGRAMME AREA 2007–2013 The Baltic Sea region is the most wooded territory in Europe. Unlike other parts of the continent, this region saw the emergence of forests over the course of 12,000 years after the last so-called Baltic Ice Age. Since the region covers a fairly large part of Europe, it is rather diverse. Boreal coniferous forests dominate in the northern stretches, while temperate broadleaf forests are found in the central and southern parts. The Baltic States and Belarus are located in the transition zone between these two types of forests. This is one of the reasons why great biological diversity is observed in the territory. The swamp forests that are found there are often known as ‘the Northern rainforests’. The forest is an integral component of the Northern European landscape and cultural environment. Over Finland the course of ages, forests and trees have served as sources of Norway Helsinki inspiration, leading to countless legends, stories, fairy tales and Oslo Stockholm Tallinn Russian riddles as a very important Estonia Federation part of the intangible folklore Sweden heritage of Northern European Moscow peoples. The forest has always Riga Latvia The Baltic Sea Copenhagen been an important source of tim- Lithuania ber and non-timber (mushrooms, Denmark Vilnius berries) resources in the economies Minsk of the Baltic countries. Berlin Warsaw Belarus This guide will help you to learn more about the unique Germany Poland aspects of our forest and its nature values. Tallinn ESTONIA ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA BELARUS Riga LATVIA LITHUANIA Vilnius Minsk BELARUS CONTENTS What Will You Find in This Guide? 6 The History of Forests 8 Why Are Our Forests Interesting? 10 The Fforest and the Four Seasons 20 Frequently Encountered and More Unique Types of Forests 22 Dry forests 22 Pine forests 22 Spruce and mixed spruce-deciduous forests 25 Broadleaf forests 27 Aspen forests 30 Birch forests 32 Grey Alder forests 34 Wet forests 35 Bog forests 35 Swamp forests 37 A Field Guide to Species73 Forests related to the terrain 38 Trees, shrubs74 Slope and ravine forests 38 Clubmosses, horsetails, ferns, Coniferous forests on eskers 40 vascular plants82 Alluvial forests 42 Mosses 99 Neither forest nor grassland 44 Lichens 104 Wooded meadows and pastures 44 Fungi 114 Stands of juniper 46 Snails and Slugs136 Worth Seeing 49 Insects 138 Amphibians, reptiles148 Birds 150 Mammals 158 Please Remember!164 Green Advice165 Bibliography 167 Alphabetic Index of Species 168 What will you find in this guide? 6 The history of forests 8 Why are our forests interesting? 10 The forest and the four seasons 20 The Baltic States, Belarus and the Scandinavian countries are situated in the part of Europe most affl uent in forests. Forests have played an essential role in the environmen- tal, economic and social aspects of these countries. It is no accident that the forest is known as ‘green gold’. The emphasis is often put on the value of timber resources, but there is another no less important and not yet fully appreciated economic treasure – wild berries, nuts, mushrooms, medicinal plants and other gifts from the forest. The woods are not just an important resource for tourism and culture, but also a very important element in satisfying the emotional, aesthetic and informational needs of local residents. We do not head off to a clearing to spend our holidays! We cannot overvalue the role of the forest in producing oxygen, in stabilising the climate and the water regime and in preserving biological diversity. The woods improve air quality, tamp down noise around cities, pro- tect populated areas against excessive wind, and reduce risks of fl oods and soil erosion. It offers habitats for many plant and animal species, which could not survive anywhere else. If you learn about these species, every visit to the forest will become an exciting and very informative adventure. We want every one of you to learn about the forest and the diversity of its plants and animals, and so the Latvian Country Tourism Association ‘Country Traveller’ has joined together with the Latvian Fund for Nature and the Belarusian Association of Rural and Ecotourism ‘Country Escape’ to implement a project co-fi nanced by the European Union, AGORA 2.0. This informational and educational guidebook about the forests of the Baltic States and Belarus has been prepared under the auspices of that project. WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN THIS GUIDEBOOK? The History of the Forest: The development of the forest since the last Ice Age. Why are Our Forests Interesting?: Things to focus on when you’re in the forest. 6 The Forest and the Four Seasons: The forest is great not just during the summer. Frequently Encountered and More Unique Forests: Descriptions and photos of the most interesting and easy-to-identify types of forests. For your convenience, every type of forest is marked with a symbol. In the next chapter, according to the symbol, you will be able to fi nd the places, where this type of forest grows, and in the Field Guide to Spe- cies – descriptions and photos of the most characteristic species of fungi, lichens, plants and mammals. Worth Seeing!: The most interesting national parks, nature parks and other territories where we can go on educational tours to learn about forests described in the previous chapter . A Field Guide Species: Some 400 frequently seen fungi, plants and mammals, with photos and descriptions that will allow you to recognise them out in the wild. The type of the forest (its symbol) is indicated next to every description, where the species can be found most often. Please remember!: Take this into account when setting off on your trip! Green Advice: How to be friendly toward the environment and local residents while you travel. SYMBOLS THE FOREST TYPES A NATURA 2000 territory Pine forests Spruce and mixed A nature pathway for hikers spruce-deciduous forests A route for car travel Broadleaf forests A route for boating Aspen forests Birch forests Wildlife watching: plants and Grey Alder forests animals Bog forests A poisonous species Swamp forests Slope and ravine forests A protected species Coniferous forests on eskers Alluvial forests Wooded meadows and pastures Stands of juniper 7 A spruce forest unaffected THE HISTORY OF THE by forestry work FOREST Our forests evolved through close interaction between environmental processes and the economic activities of human beings. Plant cover in the Baltic region fi rst evolved between 13,000 and 14,000 years ago. As ice melted, it left behind large lakes, rapid rivers and bare outcrops of sediment. Eventually plants typical of tundra began to appear – lichens, mosses, dwarf birches, dwarf willows, etc. The vegetation was poor, the climate was fi erce, and the Ice Age had destroyed the any fertile soil layer. The climate was still cold and dry, but pine and birch trees slowly colonised the southern and south-eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. The tundra plants, which require more light, moved north. As the climate became warmer, the fi rst forests began to expand. They were mostly forests of birch, pine, or mixed species – birch, aspen, pine and other spe- cies typical of the tundra. Once the plants were there, birds, reindeers, elks, hares, foxes, wolves, lynxes and other animals followed. Some 7,500 years ago, the climate became considerably warmer and damper. The ave- rage air temperature was 2 to 2.5 degree Celsius higher than nowadays, and precipitation volumes were nearly one-third higher. Swamps evolved because of this large humidity. Water Chestnut colonised lakes, and Bog Myrtle appeared in wetlands. The proportion of pine trees in the forests declined in favour of hazels and alder trees, along with broadleaf trees such as oaks, limes and elms. The warm climate also allowed yews and hornbeams 8 to migrate into the region, though today they are more common in Central and Western Europe. The climate began to dry up again 4,700 years ago.