Rūja floodplains

Total site surface area (ha): 370

NATURA 2000 Code: LV0535400

Site description

Territory is located in northern Latvia on the floodplains of the Rūja river that discharges into Lake Burtnieks. Historically huge floodplain meadows were present in this territory, however, the area has been drained and a large part of the meadows were destroyed to build fishponds. A large part of the remaining meadows is overgrown with bushes or even transformed into forest. Nowadays floodplain meadows are maintained only in approximately 1/5 of their original area. Nevertheless, the remaining area is still very important for conservation of bird species connected with this habitat. The territory is still affected by regular spring floods although they are not strong enough to prevent bush invasion. The site is currently abandoned (from human activity point of view), except used for seasonal waterfowl and large mammal hunting.

Nature values

The site is important because of high densities of Crex crex* and for conservation of Gallinago media as the meadow hosts one of the 5 leks in northern Latvia and the largest (source) lek in headwaters area of Seda river. Seven nationally protected bird species are found in the area.

Site is a part of an IBA and meets IBA criteria A1 for Crex crex*. Altogether site hosts 7 bird species listed in Annex I of Birds Directive and they all are targeted by the project including 2 priority species – Crex crex* and Aquila pomarina*. Site also qualifies as pSCI containing 3 habitat types listed in Annex I of Habitats Directive and all of them are targeted by the project.