Forests cover more than half (54%) of Žemaitija National Park territory. Coniferous forests are predominant. Spruce (Picea abies) forests account for 42 % of the total area of stands, pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests for 21 %. Of the deciduous stands, birch (Betula spp.) forests account for the largest share (16 %), oak (Quercus robur) forests for 5 %, and grey alder (Alnus incana) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa) forests for 4 % each. Aspen (Populus tremula) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) woods account for only 1 % each. There are even fewer stands formed by Norway maple (Acer platanoides), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), European larch (Larix decidua) and other tree species. Mature (38%) and semi-mature (36%) forests dominate. Around 52 % of the forests are of national importance, the rest are private.
The forests in the National Park are classified into four forest groups according to their management objectives and farming regime. The first group, strict nature reserve forests, accounts for 10% of the total forest area, the second group, ecosystem protection and recreational forests, 31%, the third group, protective forests, 51% and the fourth group, farm forests, 8%.
Forestry activities are excluded in the Rukundžiai and Plokštinė strict nature reserves, and restricted in forest habitats of European importance and core forest habitats.
The largest forest mass is located in the central part of the National Park. It comprises the forests of Plokštinė, Paplatelė, Miežlaukis, Liepkalnis and Paburgė. Deciduous trees are most abundant in the Liepijos Forest. In addition to oaks, common hornbeams are quite abundant here.
Zemaitija National Park Directorate
Didžioji str. 10, Plateliai, LT-90420, Plungės dstr., Lithuania
Company code: 191440964
VAT code: LT914409610
The founder is the State Service of Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment.
Website part-financed by the European Union 2014-2020. Interreg V-A South Baltic Cross Border Cooperation Program.
