Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve

In the foreground a Eurasian bittern attempting to snap up a yellow-bellied toad floating on the water. Among the reeds to the right a sedge warbler is depicted; above, a flock of common cranes and the mute swan — the reserve's heraldic bird. The issuing state "LIETUVA" appears above; along the lower edge the reserve name "Žuvintas" and "UNESCO", the mint mark, and the year "2021" to the right.

In southwestern Lithuania, near the town of Alytus, lies the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve — one of the most important wetland landscapes in the Baltics. Lake Žuvintas, which gives the reserve its name, is Lithuania's oldest state-protected natural lake; it has been under protection since 1937, and since 2011 the entire reserve has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Across an area of around 58,000 hectares, shallow lakes, extensive reed belts, raised bogs and alder swamp forests alternate. This diversity of habitats makes Žuvintas a regionally significant stopover for migratory birds and one of the most species-rich breeding grounds in northern Europe. During the spring migration alone, tens of thousands of cranes regularly rest here before continuing north.

The reserve's ornithological diversity is extraordinary: more than 250 bird species have been recorded to date, including species threatened across Europe such as the aquatic warbler, which depends on intact wet meadows with sparse vegetation. The mute swan serves as the reserve's heraldic animal, with particularly dense populations found here. Alongside its birdlife, Žuvintas is home to rare amphibian species and a rich underwater flora that gives its shallow lakes their distinctive character. Lithuania honoured this natural heritage in 2021 with a 2-euro commemorative coin that brings the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve to a European audience and underscores the national commitment to protecting this unique landscape.