National Nature Conservation Legislation

Introduction and the system

One of the environmental policy goals of Latvia is to "maintain and protect the current level of biodiversity and landscape characteristics". It should be added to this statement from the National Environmental Policy Plan (http://www.vdc.lv/NEPP/lot.htm) that the biodiversity in Latvia is of great importance in the international perspective and should be an important issue in relation to EC-law and the approximation process.

In the constitutional law of 1991 of the Republic of Latvia on ”Human and civil rights and duties”, there is the following provision: “The protection of nature, cultural environments, landscapes, historical and architectural monuments and the environment shall be the duty of every individual, the general public and the State”.

The responsibility for nature conservation on the National level belongs to the Ministry for Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD), the Environmental Protection department. The tasks of the Department are to develop policies, establish new legislation, carry out work connected with international conventions, and supervise field conservation projects.