Successful dispute regarding the expansion of Punia pinewood reserve

Attorney at law Giedrius Murauskas and associate lawyer Arnas Bareika have successfully represented a non-profit organization Baltic Environmental Forum (the Client) at Vilnius administrative court claiming that State Service for Protected Areas (the STPA) unlawfully suspended the expansion of Punia pinewood reserve (a territory of one of the most unique protected woods in Lithuania). Court of the first instance awarded the Client’s claim and determined that the disputed injunction of the STPA is illegal and unjustified, and that the STPA had no factual nor legal background to suspend the expansion of Punia pinewood reserve. This court decision is not yet final and might be appealed. This case is important to the case law of Lithuania as a private organization (the Client) was recognized as a suitable subject to defend a public interest at court in environmental protection matters according to provisions of Aarhus Convention.

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