Nature reserves

Nature reserve – a protected territory intended for the preservation of scientifically and recreationally valuable natural and/or cultural heritage areas, natural and immovable cultural values, landscape and biological diversity. The preservation of the values ​​in this territory is ensured without interrupting the existing farming activities.

Nature reserves are:

1) geological – for protection of underground structures, layered outcrops, rock or fossil complexes;

2) geomorphological – for storing typical and unique landform complexes;

3) hydrographical – for storing typical and unique examples of hydrographic network elements (rivers, lakes, ponds);

4) pedological – to protect natural soils;

5) botanical – to protect rare and endangered species of wild plants and fungis and their communities and habitats;

6) zoological – to protect rare and endangered species of wild animals, their communities and habitats; this group of reserves can include theriological, ornithological, herpetological, ichthyological, entomological and other types of reserves;

7) botanical-zoological – to protect rare and endangered species of wild plants, fungis and animals, their communities or habitats;

8) genetic – to protect populations of wild plant and animal species with genetic value;

9) telmological – for protecting typical and unique wetland complexes;

10) talasological – to protect valuable marine ecosystems.

Žemaitija National Park has 11 nature reserves: 3 geomorphological, 1 hydrographical, 5 telmological, 1 botanical and 1 botanical-zoological. The total area of ​​nature reserves is 1389 ha / 3 432.3 ac (6.4% of the total territory of the Žemaitija National Park).