Trakai National Park planning scheme completed, new territories proposed for inclusion

The planning scheme for Trakai Historical National Park has been completed after years of coordination with the public and state institutions, the Ministry of Culture announced this week.

The document, prepared by the Nature Heritage Fund at the request of the Cultural Heritage Department, is now in its final stage of coordination before being submitted to the government for approval.

The scheme outlines protection, management, and usage solutions aimed at preserving the unique landscape of Lithuania’s historical statehood center, its cultural heritage, and biodiversity, while also creating conditions for sustainable development, educational tourism, and public education.

One of the key proposals is the expansion of the park to include additional territories of significant landscape and biodiversity value. If implemented, the park’s area would increase to 8,240.4 hectares.

Protection measures would be strengthened, with the conservation priority zone expanding by 633.8 hectares to cover 55.9% of the park, and the ecological protection priority zone growing by 738.5 hectares to account for 28.6% of the total area. Agricultural and economic priority zones would be eliminated, while the residential priority zone would increase by 161.1 hectares and the recreational priority zone would decrease by 242 hectares.

The most significant change would be the reclassification of Lake Skaisčio as a conservation priority zone. The plan also includes the establishment of new protected areas: Skaisčio and Šulininkų hydrological reserves, Akies and Alsakių botanical-zoological reserves, and the Varnikų Forest Nature Reserve.

Existing reserve boundaries would be adjusted to ensure more effective protection of valuable natural complexes. The number of functional priority zones would be reduced from 111 to 51, simplifying park management and ensuring more consistent application of protection measures.

Trakai Historical National Park currently covers 8,200 hectares and includes more than 30 lakes.