The Lapis Forest – Protected Natural Area in Sălaj County

Lapis is a natural protected forest, the largest protected area of Sălaj county, with an area of 430,4 Ha. The Lapis Forest was declared natural protected area by the Government Decision 2151 in 2004. The Lapis Forest is a natural reservation of forestry and forest fauna administered by the Şimleu Silvaniei Forestry.

The protected area is located near the village Nuşfalău, which is about 9 km from Simleu Silvaniei.

The Lapis is one of the last areas that preserves the biodiversity of the forest habitats that once covered most of the Sălaj county territory. In terms of forest vegetation, the Lapis forest consists of over 60% oak trees. Others species of trees from the forest are: the Turkey oak flasks, red oak, pendunculate oak, larch, strobe pine, black pine, lime, peanuts.

Through its biodiversity, the Lapis Forest gives shelter to a number of 40 species of birds and 10 species of mammals. It also houses some mammal species which are protected by national and international laws. There is also a reservation where roe deer and deer grow.

Due to its high biodiversity, espescially the birds listed in the EU Birds Directive, the Lapis Forest entered the European ecological network The Natura 2000 as a Special Protected Bird Area. The Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected natural areas, regarding the conservation of natural habitats, of fauna and flora. The aim is to restore a favourable conservation status of specific habitats, designated to protect species of wild migratory birds.

Protected birds

Fâsa de pădure (Anthus trivialis)/Trädpiplärkan/The Tree Pepit, Ciuful de pădure (Asio Otus)/Hornugglan/The Long – eared owl and Şorecarul comun (Buteo buteo)/Ormvråken/The Common Buzzard

Florintele (Carduelis chloris)/Grönfinken/The European Greenfinch, Botgrosul (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)/Stenknäcken/The Hawfinch and Corbul (Corvus corax)/Korpen/The Raven

Ciocănitoarea (Dendrocopos minor)/Mindre hackspetten/The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Presura galbenă (Emberiza citrinella)/Gulsparven/TheYellowhammer and Muscarul gulerat (Ficedula albicollis)/Halsbandsflugsnapparen/The Collared Flycatcher

Cinteza (Fringilla coelebs)/Bofinken/The Chaffinch, Privighetoarea (Luscinia megarhynchos)/Sydnäktergalen/Nightingale and Muscarul sur (Muscicapa striata)/Grå flugsnappare/The Spotted Flycatcher

Protected animals

Mistreţul (Sus scrofa)/Vildsvinet/Wild boar, Vulpea (Vulpes vulpes)/Räven/The Red Fox and Jderul de copac(Martes martes)/Mården/Tree Marder

Veveriţa (Sciurus vulgaris)/Ekorren/Squirrel, Pisica sălbatică (Felis sylvestris)/Vildkatten/Wildcat and Hârciogul (Cricetus cricetus)/Den europeiska hamstern/Dormouse

Cerbul lopatar(Dama dama)/Dovhjorten/The Fallow deer, Cerbul (Cervus elaphus)/Kronhjorten/The Red Deer and Cåpriorul (Capreolus capreolus)/Rådjuret/The European Roe Deer

//Judit Vig and Daniel Bilav