Worth knowing! On upcoming events
19-21 June, the annual general meeting of the European Panel Federation (European Panel Federation – EPF)
Until 30 October, the “Flower Roads” campaign
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
From 29 June, this summer's excursion timetable for the Baloži peat narrow-gauge train, along with more detailed information
https://www.kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijasFrom 18 May, the exhibition “From the Birch Seed to Betulin” at the Pharmacy Museum
From 21 May, the campaign “Natura 2000 – Latvia's Great Natural Sites”
On 31 August, 21 September and 12 October, hikes in the Krustkalni Nature Reserve
On official matters
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvija-strikti-iebilst-eiropas-komisijas-peksnajai-velmei-ierobezot-tradicionalo-kupinajumu-razosanu
The Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) does not support the European Commission's (EC) sudden wish to review the currently applicable derogations granted to EU member states for traditionally smoked meat and fish products intended to be placed on the market within the territory of those member states. Likewise, the ZM does not support a review of the maximum permitted levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for smoked products intended for distribution in other EU member states.
The Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM) will henceforth oversee environmental protection policy. The government's commitment to achieving climate, energy and environmental protection targets is enshrined in the government declaration, which provides for the field of environmental protection policy (with the exception of the field of nature conservation) to be transferred to the KEM's oversight as of 1 July this year.
The Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) has prepared and, on 31 May, submitted to the European Commission (EC) for consideration and approval amendments to Latvia's Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CAP SP) for 2023-2027. The amendments provide for a review and simplification of the conditions of the existing CAP SP measures.
The government has considered the Cabinet of Ministers' (MK) opinion, prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM), on the proposals submitted in relation to the draft law “Amendments to the Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas”. Several of the submitted proposals essentially offer a change to the criteria for establishing administrative territories and are not sufficiently substantiated or discussed.
On industry matters
The turnover of the Latvijas Finieris group reached 404.8 million euros in 2023, which is 15% more than a year earlier, while EBITDA grew by 40%, reaching 78 million euros. In terms of volume, the majority (80.5%) of the birch plywood products manufactured went to industrial customers in European Economic Area countries.
Over time it is not only the forest that has changed, but also public attitudes: from a place of refuge and subsistence, the forest has become one of the most significant resources contributing to the country's wealth and a popular place for recreation.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/foto-latvijas-finieris-uzsak-unikala-koka-eku-kompleksa-buvniecibu-516525
The new complex of wooden buildings represents a five-million-euro “green investment” in Sigulda municipality and the Gauja National Park.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7487-lvm-davina-stadus-cernihivas-regiona-parku-atjaunosanai-ukraina
In response to a request from the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia to provide support to Ukrainian society by donating tree saplings for the restoration of Ukraine's forest areas, AS Latvijas valsts meži is donating high-quality pine and spruce saplings for the restoration of parks and green space in the Chernihiv region.
Which trees does Latvijas valsts meži most often choose to plant when filling in forest stands?
...this year too, AS Latvijas valsts meži ran its environmental education programme “Forest Master Class”, which reached a new participant record – almost 12,000 participants from 220 Latvian schools.
On environmental matters
...the State Environmental Service congratulated ten winners of the “Green Excellence” award from all over Latvia – companies and cooperation partners that have stood out for their ability to meet environmental requirements to the highest standard and that have acted on their own initiative to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment.
At the same time, the project has contributed to preserving the ecosystem services provided by five ecosystems characteristic of Latvia – grasslands, forests, freshwaters, bogs and the sea coast – as suitable conditions have been created for the existence and development of various species, including several protected species. For example, the pasqueflower, the hermit beetle, the capercaillie, the Siberian iris and salmonid fish.
During the project, LVM improved the condition of six different EU-important habitats at national level. All of these habitats are dependent on natural disturbance, which means that their existence requires disturbance caused by wind, fire or human management, once provided by livestock grazing, fishing or other forms of resource management, including forestry.
On the green course, nature conservation and various decisions that are not always understandable or logical.
Green wisps of cut water plants bobbing in the ripples along the bank of the Lielupe bore witness on Wednesday to the mowing of water plants and reeds on Jelgava's beaches, commissioned by the municipality. The work was carried out precisely in the swimming zone between the shore and the buoys on the right bank of the Lielupe and on Pasta Island.
This spring a lawn was created on the grounds of Višķi Vocational School, but it is by no means an ordinary one. Previously, an area of almost 4 hectares there was once one of the most polluted sites in the Latgale region.
On the Latvian Academy of Sciences prize competition
The LZA prize competition for 2025.
Still the railway...
...Several informative reports on the Rail Baltica railway project that had previously been designated “Restricted access” have been declassified, according to information on the Legal Acts portal.
Rail Baltica, whose aim is to integrate the Baltic states into the European rail network, may already have turned from the loudly announced project of the century in the Baltics, implemented in line with the European Union's best governance practices, into the problem of the century as far as financing the planned works is concerned. In Latvia's case at least – most definitely.
On Jelgava Palace
The project provides for creating a connection to the city's district heating networks, building a link beneath the River Driksa and carrying out the necessary utility works on Pilssala.
On emptiness
I have been to around 100 abandoned places in Riga over the course of a few years. But now very few decent places remain – maybe five or ten places, and getting into them is very difficult or even impossible.
On this and that. Miscellaneous
When the export of air conditioners from Lithuania to supposedly Kyrgyzstan by the family of a Lithuanian presidential candidate came to an end amid suspicions of sanctions breaches, they moved it to Latvia – and carried on without any trouble. Nobody can really answer why that is possible.
...it is not in line with the rules of good growing practice, but for the stork, which turns out to be partial to strawberries too, they are easy to find.
Fabriciuss was a political commissar whose main duty was to keep an eye on the riflemen and their commanders. He had neither military education nor combat experience. Fabriciuss's greatest “achievements” were linked to later battles on the fronts of the Russian civil war and to climbing the political and military career ladder in the USSR.
...companies still have plenty of homework ahead of them to introduce a more transparent and unified pay system and to eliminate unjustified disparities.
Latvia as a whole, and Saeima deputies among others, really would have more pressing matters to attend to, but they very, very much want to draw something, or draw attention to themselves, on the map of the Latvian state.
https://satori.lv/article/novelu-nenodzivoties-lidz-amerikanu-situacijai
In Trump's case, a court ruling that goes against him changes nothing at all, because a large proportion of Americans reject the court system anyway if it rules differently from what they consider right. And that – regardless of political sympathies and antipathies – is truly appalling.
Topical matters in cartoons
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