Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde/Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia

What Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde/Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia does

Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde (Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia) is a direct state administration institution established in 2002 under the Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM). The agency manages Latvia's network of specially protected nature territories, including 4 national parks, 1 biosphere reserve, 42 nature parks, 10 protected landscape areas, 372 nature reserves, 4 nature reserves, and 7 protected marine areas, alongside natural monuments. It serves the general public, landowners, businesses, municipalities, and certified nature experts by issuing permits and authorizations for activities in protected areas, administering CITES permits under the Washington Convention, certifying nature experts, processing compensation claims for economic activity restrictions, and delivering public nature education through five nature centers, the Līgatne Nature Trails, traveling exhibitions, and a mobile tourism application.

The agency's core technology is OZOLS, a centralized nature data management system that aggregates information on protected territories, species, habitats, management measures, tourism infrastructure, and biodiversity monitoring data. This is supplemented by a public-facing mobile application covering more than 500 nature tourism objects across Latvia. The agency also operates the National Botanical Garden in Salaspils as an internal division. Distribution is delivered through a headquarters in Sigulda, four regional administrations (Kurzeme, Latgale, Pierīga, Vidzeme), and integration with the national e-services portal latvija.lv for digital service delivery.

The revenue model combines a publicly disclosed fee schedule (Publisko maksas pakalpojumu cenrādis) for permits, certifications, expert opinions, and CITES documentation with core operational funding allocated through the Latvian state budget via the parent ministry. Go-to-market is sales-led in a regulatory sense: services are provided directly to the public, municipalities, and businesses that require permits or certifications to operate in or near protected areas, and strategic partnerships with municipalities (Jūrmala, Talsi, Valmiera) and other state bodies (VVD, Latvian Post, Latvian Nature Fund) support collaborative conservation initiatives and public outreach.

Name

Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde/Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia

Legal name

Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde

Website

https://daba.gov.lv

Company type

Public

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia is a state administration institution that manages Latvia's protected nature territories, issues CITES and activity permits, certifies nature experts, administers compensation claims, and delivers public nature education through regional offices, nature centers, and the OZOLS data system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Environmental and Nature Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB), National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH), Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Nature conservation services
• Protected area management
• Biodiversity monitoring
• Wildlife permits
• Environmental certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Sigulda

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Fee Services: Revenue generated from publicly priced services including permits, certifications, expert opinions, and administrative services related to nature conservation and protected areas management.
2. Government Budget Allocation: Core operational funding from state budget through the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde manages Latvia's specially protected nature territories, including natural parks, nature reserves, protected landscape areas, and Natura 2000 sites. The agency issues CITES permits for international trade in endangered species, certifies nature experts, conducts biodiversity monitoring and species inventories, and delivers nature education through a network of nature centers and tourism infrastructure such as hiking trails and traveling exhibitions.

Product overview

Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde (Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia) is a government agency that manages Latvia's protected nature areas and biodiversity conservation. The agency's product portfolio centers on its core digital platform OZOLS (Nature Data System) for managing data on protected territories, species, and habitats. Supporting digital offerings include a Mobile App for nature tourism with over 500 sites, the Līgatne Nature Trails facility, five Nature Education Centers in national parks, and CITES permitting services for international wildlife trade. Additional services include expert certification, permits for protected area activities, compensation administration, the Mežtaka long-distance hiking route, and traveling educational exhibitions. The agency also produces publications, methodological materials, and nature interpretation content for public education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OZOLS Nature Data System

Quantifiable outcome

• Every euro invested in nature conservation returns up to 38 euros to society and economy

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jūrmalas valstpilsētas pašvaldība (Jūrmala City Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Collaboration on environmental conservation activities including invasive species (Tatārijas salāts) removal at Ragakāpa nature park beach, joint organization of public nature events and volunteer activities
• Talsu novada pašvaldības Dundagas Tūrisma informācijas centrs (Talsi Municipality Dundaga Tourism Information Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of bat observation night events in Dundaga, nature education cooperation
• Valsts vides dienests (State Environmental Service - VVD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SIVN) service provision - VVD handles the main process while DAP provides specialized opinions on nature conservation aspects including Natura 2000 sites, protected areas, species and habitats. Joint environmental control and monitoring cooperation.
• Valmieras novada pašvaldība (Valmiera Municipality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on LIFE Osmo Baltic project for research experiment to control invasive species (pīlādžlapu sorbārija) at Valtenberģu manor park in Mazsalaca
• Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post)minorOthersJoint publication of commemorative stamps featuring Latvia's rare natural species (pastmarka par bezdelīgactiņa), promoting awareness of protected flora
• Latvijas Dabas fonds (Latvian Nature Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on stamp publication featuring rare plant species (bezdelīgactiņa), joint nature conservation awareness initiatives

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): International membership-based organization that sets standards for protected area management (IUCN protected area categories) and tracks global biodiversity data. Thematically adjacent to the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia's regulatory mandate.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global nonprofit organization operating in protected area management and biodiversity conservation. Adjacent in mission to the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia but operates as a private nonprofit rather than a state agency.

Direct peers

• Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest Service): Finnish state-owned enterprise that manages national parks, nature reserves, and forestry on state land. Directly comparable in scope of protected area management, visitor services, and nature-based tourism operations, with comparable regulatory stewardship mandates.
• Naturvårdsverket (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency): Sweden's national environmental agency with supervisory authority over protected areas, species protection, and EU environmental compliance. Comparable to the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia in mandate, EU framework alignment, and stewardship of protected territories.
• Estonian Environmental Board (Keskonnaamet): Estonia's national environment administration under the Ministry of Climate, with statutory authority over protected areas, species protection, and environmental permitting. Directly comparable to the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia in regulatory scope, scale, and Baltic-region operating context.
• Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet): Norway's national environmental authority with responsibility for protected areas, species management, and biodiversity data systems. Functionally similar to the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia in regulatory authority and operational scope.
• NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage successor): Scottish statutory body responsible for protected areas, biodiversity monitoring, and nature-based visitor services. Comparable in regulatory mandate, public-facing nature education programs, and protected area management model.
• State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment (Lithuania): Lithuanian national agency managing protected areas, Natura 2000 sites, and biodiversity monitoring. Functionally analogous to the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia as a Baltic-region state custodian of protected territory.

Broad incumbents

• European Environment Agency (EEA): EU agency providing environmental data, indicators, and assessments to member states. Operates as a higher-tier umbrella for the kind of national biodiversity reporting that the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia performs under EU directives.

Regional players

• Národní park Šumava / Czech Republic's Protected Landscape Areas Authority: Administrators of Czech national parks and protected landscape areas. Comparable in European protected area management practice, though serving a different national jurisdiction than the Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dabaDAP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDYu8xP76c8bnqYawGZz7Ig
• Facebookfacebook.com/dabasparvalde
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dabas-aizsardz%C4%ABbas-p%C4%81rvalde
• Instagraminstagram.com/dabasparvalde

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde/Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia