Protection of Rare Species and Habitats in the Armed Forces of Lithuania

Conclusions

The pilot project in the Central Training Area as well as experience from military territories of other countries shows that military training areas maintain a great biological diversity primarily because of specific military training activities, relative inaccessibility by the public as well as because fertilizers and pesticides are not used. Thus military utilisation can be maintained in order to preserve rare natural objects unique to military training areas and rare in the countries of Europe. But the continued presence of rare fauna and flora in military training areas requires very well balanced and careful use of military land with proper conservation measures and regular observations and evaluations.

The vital moment in nature management planning is continuity of this process. One-time management “injections” do not principally improve conditions for rare species and habitats.