The only island in Lake Ciecere has a more or less virgin forest of oak, linden and elm. Some of the oaks are huge. This is an important habitat for woodpecker-type birds. The island has not been improved.

This territory was established to protect the rare tree specie in Latvia - common hornbeam, which covers approximately 4% of the territory, but the most visually interesting part of the area is the Tīrspurvs swamp, also known as the Dunika heath. This is where the visitor will find Latvia’s longest and most impressive swamp footpaths, which crosses the area from the North to the South. Visitors will be fascinated by the unique landscape of the central part of the swamp, where in some places there are not even small swamp pine trees. Various habitats will be found – small swamp lakes, mineral islands, marsh pools, etc., and that is to say nothing of all the birds in the area.

This territory covers the shoreline between the Ventspils-Liepāja highway and the Baltic Sea on both sides of the Užava River. The territory was established to protect shoreline biotopes such as the grey dunes, as well as a number of endangered plants. To the South of the mouth of the Užava River we find one of the most romantic lighthouses in Latvia – the Užava lighthouse, which is at the top of a steep dune.

Near the Lielauce manor house start of a wooden pathway which crosses the transition-type swamp that is on the shore of Lake Lielauce to a boating facility near the open part of the lake. Boating and fishing are possible – here, too, the population of fish is regularly restored. The area is a part of the Vīķi swamp restricted zone.

The Grey Dune of Pāvilosta nature reserve covers 42 hectares of land and has been designated to protect Latvia’s widest dune (1.5 km parallel the seacoast, and 812m in the direction from the sea to inland) and the biotopes and species found there. A two-storied watching platform is built to savour the scenery.

 In Soviet time, local fishermen used to dry seaweed in dunes for production of agar, and thus rich vegetation developed in the dune. The Gray Dune is part of a unique landscape with the sea view, the traditional architecture of Pāvilosta fishing town, and biotopes, including protected, which border the nature reserve: pine forest, embryonic dunes, white dunes, and wet beech where once can find springs. Biotope 2130, “Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)” is found here. At present, pines are taking over the biotope, therefore some maintenance activities are required. The Grey Dune is most beautiful in the second half of July and in August when the blossoming Breckland Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Narrowleaf Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) colour the dune in shades of yellow and violet. The most typical species here are Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pretense), Grey Hair-grass(Corynephorus canescens), Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca), Sand Pink (Dianthus arenarius).

The Gray Dune earned wide recognition when a group of enthusiasts actively campaigned for six years to achieve the status of the nature reserve. Guna Grimsta, a group representative remembers that they organised events and activities throughout Latvia involving large part of the society, prominent personalities, church parishes, NGOs, school youth and university students. The activists were writing letters, making videos, doing research articles, composing music, collecting signatures and submitting proposals to achieve official status of the Grey Dune as an especially protected nature site. They organised seminars, concerts, art plenaires and exhibitions, educational excursions, joint-work, musical church services, meetings with high officials and their on-site visits to the Gray Dune.

In 2006 the group received the title „Proudness of Latvia” awarded by the national TV3 broadcasting company and daily paper „Diena”.
The nature reserve „Gray Dune of Pāvilosta” was established in October 30, 2007. It is the most recent Natura2000 site in Latvia.

This is an uncommon landscape for the Kurzeme region with a protected biotope – open inland dunes with meadows of silver grass and forests of deciduous trees, including the common hornbeam. Tourists can visit the Muiža (Lejas) sacred stream on the right bank of the Sventāja valley, above which they will find Latvia’s most noble bird-cherry trees. A nice reed pergola has been installed above the stream. Wide are of Sventāja River valley can be overseen from the road before the stream.

Sedas purva kājnieku maršruts atrodas dabas liegumā Sedas purvs, pārgājienu pa maršrutu iespējams apvienot ar Sedas pilsētas apskati, kas ir unikāls 20.gs. 50.–60. gadu pilsētbūvniecības un arhitektūras paraugs -  kūdras purva strādnieku pilsēta. Maršrutam ir divi apļi - Jērcēnu aplis - 5,5 km un Sedas aplis - 4,2 km. Tajos apakatāms izstrādātais kūdras purvs, šaursliežu dzelzceļš, ritošais sastāvs, divi skatu toņi. Rudenī un pavasarī - putnu migrācijas lāikā -  interesanta vieta putnu vērošanai.

GPS koordinātes: Jērcēnu puses aplim: 57.7055987, 25.7001324; Sedas puses aplim: 57.6699587, 25.7514815.