Lithuania signs agreement to protect biodiversity in military training areas

The Lithuanian ministries of Environment and National Defence, along with the State Service for Protected Areas, have signed an agreement to safeguard biodiversity in the country’s military training grounds, the Environment Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The deal outlines measures to reduce the environmental impact of military exercises, expand protected areas, and conserve endangered species. Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas said the plan includes expanding existing protected zones and establishing new ones, reforesting 1,000 hectares of land outside the future Kapčiamiestis training ground, and protecting rare bird habitats.

“Strengthening national defence must go hand in hand with preserving Lithuania’s unique nature,” Žuromskas said, adding that the agreement would help balance military needs with conservation goals. He noted that “millions of euros” would be allocated to biodiversity protection efforts.

Agnė Jasinavičiūtė-Trakimienė, director of the State Service for Protected Areas, said the agency would assess risks during training ground planning and ensure mitigation measures are applied. Defence Vice-Minister Robertas Kaunas emphasised that all activities in training areas follow strict environmental rules, including waste collection and forest floor protection, with dedicated personnel overseeing compliance during large-scale exercises.

Under the agreement, protected zones will be expanded in Dzūkija National Park, Čepkeliai State Nature Reserve, and Labanoras Regional Park, while new reserves will be established. Additional measures include peatland restoration to act as counter-mobility barriers, purchasing private forests near black stork nesting sites, setting up a stork breeding facility, and acquiring monitoring equipment.

The deal follows collaboration between environmentalists, the Defence Ministry, and the Lithuanian military to minimise ecological harm during the development of the Kapčiamiestis training ground, which will cover approximately 14,600 hectares, including nearly 2,000 private plots—most designated as forest land.