Initially it was founded as a complex nature reserve in 1977 in order to preserve the most characteristic territory of the Daugava Valley, which remained unspoilt after the construction of Plavinas HEP plant, occupying an area of 1091 ha. Since 1987 it has been stated a nature park, and is included in the list of protected areas in the project of European scale “Natura 2000”.
The park includes the Fat Dormouse Micro Reserve as fat dormice only dwell in two sites in Latvia- Gauja National Park and here, in Skriveri.