Kursiu Nerija National Park was established on April 23rd, 1991 by the Act of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania No.I-1244 (on Establishment of Dzukija, Kursiu Nerija and Zemaitija National Parks, Trakai Historical National Park and Viesvile State Nature Reserve): "to preserve the most valuable complex of Lithuanian seaside with its unique landscape and the dune ridge, natural and ethnocultural heritage, for sustainable use and its care".

According to the Law of Protected Areas in the Republic of Lithuania, Kursiu Nerija National Park is protected by the state. In the classification of IUCN (The World Conservation Union), KNNP has been recognised as Category II. Kursiu Nerija National Park has been a member of EUROPARC federation since 1997.

The most important environmental dates for the Curonian Spit:

1960 - established Kursiu Nerija Landscape Reserve.
1961 - Neringa City got its legal status.
1966 - Regime in the Landscape Reserve was restricted.
1968 - first General Management Plan for Neringa was drawn.
1976 - Management guidelines in Curonian Spit were approved.
1976 - Curonian Spit was designated as a State Forest Park.
1979 - corrections for the General Management Plan for Neringa were made.
1986 - Kurshskaja Kosa National Park was established in The Kaliningrad
            Region (Russian Federation).
1991 - Kursiu Nerija National Park in Lithuania was founded.
1992 - Provisional Statute of Kursiu Nerija National Park was approved.
1994 - Government of Lithuania endorsed KNNP Planning Scheme
            (management plan).
1995 - Government of Lithuania approved the Statute of KNNP.
1996 - The Administration of KNNP was set up.
2000 - The Kursiu Nerija National Park was included into UNESCO World
             Heritage List as valuable cultural landscape.

Kursiu Nerija National Park is divided into four forestries: Smiltyne, Juodkrante, Preila and Nida. Foresters continue the work which S.Bjorn, S.Liliethal, Gotlib D. and George D. Kuwerts, F. Epf, L.G.Hagen, P.Gerhardt, C.J.Wutzk, V.Markel, M.Daujotas, V.Lukosius, J.Stanius, R.Kristapavicius and others have started. This work is to strengthen foredunes, to plant and take care of the forest. Foresters also clean up the shore of the lagoon and work as nature watchers.
Storms bring the most damage to the forest. The greatest storms came in 1497, 1630, 1680, 1706, 1714, 1790-1792. Since World War II, the spit has been devastated by seven major storms, which uprooted pine stands totalling an estimated 80 thousand cubic metres. In 1967 alone, a storm uprooted pine stands of 30 thousand cubic metres near Nida. Another one in 1999 damaged 20 thousand m? of timber.

The second big issue foresters are faced with is forest fires. It is especially dangerous for the mountain pine stands, which very often appear as a source for larger forest fires. After World War II, the most tragic fires were in 1957 - 150 ha of forest had burned, in 1967 - 30 ha burned, 1971 - 15 ha burned and 1995 - 60 ha burned. The number of fires in 1966 reached 84. Although forest fires occur very often, in most cases foresters are able to control the fire at an early stage. Up to 70 per cent of all fires appear in the area between Kopgalis and Alksnyne, which is in the Klaipeda City recreation zone.

The most common forest pest in the Curonian Spit is the gypsy moth - Lymantria dispar. It attacks birch stands and feeds on its leaves. 900 ha of birch forest were devastated during this pest attack in 1948-1950 and another 350 ha in 1971-1973. An especially big invasion has been recorded in 1992-1994, when the gypsy moth desolated 1000 ha of birch forest. The estimated loss of timber reached 10 thousand cubic metres. No other pest brings so much harm to the forest in the spit.

There is very little area left that could be planted with a forest. Foresters in the Kursiu Nerija National Park are faced with new tasks: to preserve natural components in the spit and to increase the recreational value of forests at the same time. It could be done through forest reconstruction and establishment of recreational facilities.

This process started in 1973: many view points, rest places with sheds, wooden walking paths, stairs, benches, wattle fences appeared since then. It is often combined with installation of artificial foredunes.

After the World War II, forest composition in the spit has changed. Area covered by mountain pine decreased from 44% to 27%, birch stands decreased from 17% to 15% and scotch pine forest area increased from 17% to 53%. This happened due to several reasons. Burned mountain pine areas and open spaces were aforested with scotch pine.

Seeking to improve appearance and composition of forest stands, tending, sanitary and landscape felling methods are used.

Every spring in the Curonian Spit is forest planting time. Four tree nurseries produce saplings two (1+1) and three (1+2) years old. For this they use seeds collected right there in the spit. Reeds planted on shelves of the Curonian Lagoon help to protect shores from erosion caused by waves and ice-breaks.

Since 1956, foresters have planted about 2000 ha of forest in the spit. They also strengthened and secured about 1100 ha of sand dunes. Thanks to them, the Curonian Spit keeps its green cover .