Plinkšiai Forest Biosphere Polygon (Plinkšių miško biosferos poligonas), founded in 2004, occupies more than 6000 hectares. It was established to implement the requirements of the European Union Birds Directive and to preserve the local populations of bird species of European importance – the Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) and the Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus). About 600 plant species and 40 rare bird and mammal species have been found here. Polygon territory is mostly covered by forests, but in some places, there are meadows, bogs and other wetlands, and communities of various anthropogenic origins.