What Does the Administration of the Curonian Spit National Park Do?
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What Does the Administration of the Curonian Spit National Park Do?
To preserve the natural environment, the landscape, the distinctive local culture and to present all these values to visitors - this is a brief description of the aim of the Curonian Spit National Park Administration.
The Curonian Spit is a small space cut off from the rest of the world by water - a microcosm of its own, accommodating both highly sensitive nature and a resort with visitors thirsty for entertainment. The history of this region has already proven how reckless exploitation of its natural resources can turn it into a horrible wasteland. The centuries-long and enormously demanding restoration of the Green Spit obliges us all to be responsible.
Protecting the Landscape and Cultural Heritage
The greatest asset of the Curonian Spit is the cultural landscape, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Administration's specialists are constantly monitoring its developments, carrying out studies, surveys, participating in planning, design and construction processes. By coordinating construction, reconstruction and renovation works, the Park Administration takes care of preserving the architectural character of the area. By providing recommendations for the environmental management of fishermen's homesteads, conducting thematic educations, publishing cultural publications and contributing to the organisation of traditional festivals, we take care of the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.
Opening Up the National Park's Most Beautiful Places to Visitors
Curonian Spit receives more than one million visitors every year. To show them the beauty and treasures of the Curonian Spit, and to protect the sensitive nature and the habitats of rare plants and animals, we are building and renovating nature trails, viewpoints, information stands, stairs to the highest dunes and paths leading through the foredune ridge to the seashore.
Working on Prevention
It is very important to us that visitors to the Curonian Spit know that they have entered a highly sensitive area. Although most visitors are understanding, sometimes we have to remind them of the rules of the National Park - especially in the warm season. Therefore, we regularly provide information at the Administration office and visitor centres, publications published by the Administration and the resort, in events, on information boards, through tourism service providers, and in the summer, uniformed dune rangers can be spotted all over the park.
Protecting Diversity of Species
To preserve the biodiversity of the Curonian Spit, we regularly monitor and count protected animals, plants and habitats, and document the changes. Based on the information gathered, we undertake nature management works. The aim is to ensure the existence of the species that are characteristic of these sands, and to preserve or restore an environment that is favourable to the protected species.
Protecting Open Dunes and Removing Invasive Plants
The existence of such wind-blown sand dunes like the ones we see in the Curonian Spit is a completely unusual phenomenon in our latitudes. Here, all open spaces quickly become forested. In order to preserve the habitat of Gray Dunes, which is important on a European scale, human intervention is essential. Every year, we weed out pine saplings in the Grobštas and Nagliai Strict Nature Reserves, thus preserving the current forest line and preventing trees from spreading into the dunes.
When the Curonian Spit was afforested, plants typical of the deserts of the south, with powerful roots, were planted in the sands. These include the beach rose, the baby's breath, and the common broom. As they spread rapidly, they conquer vast areas and outcompete native species, which is why we weed and mow these invasive plants every year.
Maintaining the Foredune Ridge and Lagoon Shoreline
Formed over a hundred years, the protective Foredune Ridge is just a collection of loose sand that can easily be damaged by powerful sea waves. Staircases near the settlements help holidaymakers reach the seaside. There are over 70 of them! Every year, after severe storms, damaged areas of the ridge are covered with pine branches, and the stairs as well as paths leading through the ridge are renewed.
The shore of the lagoon is constantly exposed to waves and currents, resulting in shorter shoreline, scouring of headlands, and silting of bays. In the 1980s, reeds were planted to protect the shoreline, which spread, forming thickets unfavourable to the habitats of protected species. That's why we are now regulating the reedbeds, opening up the flow of fresh water and leaving the islands needed to protect the shores.
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You can also find more information for visitors in English here.
Last updated: 14-05-2024