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Biological Significance
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Various species show the relatively pristine state of Latvia's wetlands and forests. For example, perhaps as many as 4,000 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) can still be found in Latvian rivers. And while less fortunate European countries struggle to re-establish their beavers (Castor fiber), Latvia boasts a population of 45,000-50,000 which were reintroduced in 1952 from Russia. There are 200-400 wolves (Canis lupus), as well as 300-400 lynx (Lynx lynx). Latvia has more than 200 breeding species of birds, some of which are rare elsewhere, among them the white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), lesser-spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), and black stork (Ciconia nigra). From steep shores and sandstone outcrops to long sandy beaches, dunes, river estuaries, lagoons, and coastal forests, Latvia's coasts are important for migratory waterfowl. In the shallow Gulf of Riga alone, more than a million long-tailed duck (Clangula hyernalis) and 300,000 velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) have been counted during the winter months. This 12,000 km2 "inland sea" also supports hundreds of thousands of wintering divers, swans, diving ducks, mergansers, and auks. More than two thousand lakes, covering 1,000 km2, provide feeding and breeding areas for numerous other waterfowl. Among the most biologically valuable are the shallow coastal lagoons situated along the Baltic coast. In other Baltic States, some of these lagoons are separated from the sea only by sandspits and barrier islands and are brackish. In Latvia, the large lagoons Lakes Pape, Liepajas, Engure, Babites, and Kaniera were cut off from the sea long ago and are fresh water. Some of these lakes have wide floodlands covered in reed beds, wet meadows, fens, and swamp forests. The Lake Engure floodlands in western Latvia are home to birds such as the Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus), white-tailed sea-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), and greylag goose (Anser anser).
Forests occupy more than 40 per cent of Latvia's territory. Most are mixed coniferous and broadleaf, with pine, spruce,
birch, aspen, and black alder being the most common species. Almost a quarter of Latvian forests occur on wet soils and 12
per cent are officially classified as "swamp forests". Composed of black alder (Alnus sp.), birch (Betula sp.), and conifers,
swamp forests cover large areas of low-lying ground which are permanently or seasonally flooded. Home to more than 1,000
pairs of black stork, 500 pairs of lesser spotted eagle, and dense populations of woodpeckers, Latvia's forests are a bird
watcher's paradise and are rich in rare wetland plants such as lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) and pale
coralroot (Corallorhiza odontorhiza).
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