Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events

Baloži peat railway excursions in 2025
https://www.bdklubs.lv/lv/ekskursijas

The exhibition “What was rustling in the forest?” on the Līgatne nature trails
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/ligatnes-dabas-takas-atklata-jauna-ekspozicija-kas-meza-brikskinaja

From 12 April to 27 July, the photography exhibition “My Bird 2025” at the Latvian National Museum of Natural History
https://www.dabasmuzejs.lv/lv/aktualitates/fotoizstade-mans-putns-2025

20-25 May, the European Forestry Students' Professional Skills Competition in Ogre
https://escfs2025.lv/

Industry matters

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-armands-krauze-uzdod-lvm-partraukt-ligumu-slegsanu-par-veja-parku-attistisanu-latvijas-valsts-meza-zemes
In light of views expressed publicly about the auctions held by JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) for the construction of wind farms on state-owned forest land, Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze has instructed LVM to halt the granting of new land development rights to wind farm developers and the signing of new contracts.

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/meza-nozarei-vel-ir-neizmantoto-iespeju-rezerves
Latvia still has a great many untapped opportunities in forestry, because the state has placed unjustifiably tight constraints on forest management; easing or lifting them would create a significant cornerstone for growth across the whole sector.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/1-ceturksni-strauji-audzis-koksnes-un-tas-izstradajumu-imports-521414
In the first three months of this year, forest sector products worth 260.578 million euros were imported into Latvia, which is 14% more than in the corresponding period of 2024, according to information published by the Ministry of Agriculture.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/07.05.2025-iztuksot-mezus-lai-pilditu-valsts-budzetu-apspriez-koku-cirsanas-apjomu-palielinasanu.a598085/
Fell forests to find money for the state budget to solve pressing problems? A proposal to increase the felling volumes of JSC “Latvijas Valsts meži” from 7 to 9 million cubic metres a year is currently being discussed in Latvia's forestry and timber industry, as well as in political circles.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7604-latvijas-meza-dienas-gaidama-plasa-programma-gan-lieliem-gan-maziem
In keeping with the theme of this year's “Latvian Forest Days”, “My Latvia. My responsibility”, which calls for building a thriving, prosperous, happy and secure Latvia, particular attention will be paid to the question of security and to the role of the forest in the military sphere.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/mjl-development-uzstada-piecstavu-koka-karkasa-modularo-eku-jelgava-521421
Assembly work on a modular timber frame structure has been successfully completed in Jelgava — the first building of its kind in Latvia.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/13.05.2025-kuldiga-izposta-dalu-pern-izveidota-valriekstu-darza-aicina-nepirkt-zagtos-stadus.a598894/
When specialists from SIA “Kuldīgas komunālo pakalpojumi” went to see how Latvia's first walnut orchard, planted last November, had come through the winter, they discovered that the young trees were gone from five spots. All that remained were torn ties and supports.

On the Minister of Agriculture's visit to Azerbaijan

https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/azerbaijan/aktualitates/72285-zemkopibas-ministra-a-krauzes-vizite-azerbaidzana
https://report.az/en/aic/minister-latvia-interested-in-direct-supplies-of-agricultural-products-from-azerbaijan/
The working visit of Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze to Azerbaijan is taking place from 12 to 16 May 2025. The visit has a wide-ranging programme – meetings at Azerbaijan's Ministries of Agriculture, of Ecology and Natural Resources, and of Economy, visits to the Caspian Agro 2025 and InterFood Azerbaijan 2025 trade fairs and participation in a panel discussion, as well as a visit to the liberated territories of Karabakh.

Economic matters

https://www.db.lv/zinas/latvijas-armijas-iepirkumos-lidz-2036gadam-vietejas-industrijas-dalibu-plano-palielinat-lidz-30-520449
The Latvian army plans to increase the share of local industry in its procurement to 30% by 2036.

https://www.la.lv/peteris-strautins-inflacija-biede-bet-vismaz-sirdszales-bus-letakas#google_vignette
Annual consumer price inflation reached 3.9% in April, the highest level since August 2023.

https://www.makroekonomika.lv/raksti/ka-panakt-noturigu-latvijas-tautsaimniecibas-izaugsmi-otra-dala-investicijas
Business investment is being held back by geopolitical uncertainty, shortcomings in the institutional environment, insufficient lending and stock market development, and weak performance in science.

https://satori.lv/article/vina-tests-tautai-zimols-latvija
In 2015, when we began researching this, we identified a series of factors affecting the environment for foreign investment in Latvia. There we are talking about market size – that is of interest to every company. They are of course also interested in the availability of labour and the geopolitical situation – is there any uncertainty?

https://retv.lv/sabiedriba/martins-barkans-lai-attistitos-janotiek-krizem/
For some fifteen years now, Mārtiņš Barkāns has been better known as the founder and owner of the Abava winery. Starting a business like that in Latvia was a big risk, possibly a risk he did not fully appreciate at the time, he admits on the programme, and he doubts he would advise anyone to try to repeat it.

https://www.tvnet.lv/8243518/vai-latvijas-meziem-un-daugavas-hesiem-jau-uzglun-paradu-piedzineji
While in many of the so-called “old Europe” countries, including the financially troubled southern eurozone states, national debt levels showed a tendency to fall quite considerably last year, in Latvia precisely the opposite has happened.

Knowledge and education

https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2025-05-13/lbtu-izsludina-atklatu-konkursu-cetru-fakultasu-dekana-amatiem
The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies is announcing an open competition for the posts of dean at four faculties.

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/jauns-riks-macibam-llkc-kratuve
To bring together teaching, informational, research and educational materials on agriculture, forestry and fisheries in one place, the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre will offer a new digital tool from 8 May: www.llkckratuve.lv

Hunting matters

https://www.medibam.lv/cels-maksu-par-atlaujam-un-sezonas-kartem-vai-zm-slepeni-bida-noteikumu-projektus-izsludinati-jauni-grozijumi-noteikumos
Damage caused by red deer is a live issue only in certain regions of Latvia, not across the whole country. Solutions developed earlier are being implemented successfully under the existing legal framework, and wide-ranging changes are therefore considered unwarranted.

19 July, the Hunters' Festival of Dienvidkurzeme municipality
https://www.medibam.lv/34305-2

https://www.lasi.lv/mednieks-makskernieks/pie-dabas/dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-sadarbiba-ar-vmd-plano-aprili-noverota-jenota-kersanu.28095
The Nature Conservation Agency, in cooperation with the State Forest Service, plans to capture the raccoon spotted in Latgale in April, so that it cannot move freely in the wild and threaten Latvia's natural diversity.

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/lvmi-silava-podkasta-jauna-epizode-briezu-dzimtas-parnadzu-radito-bojajumu-monitorings-jaunaudzes
In recent years, populations of certain deer species have increased substantially in Europe and elsewhere in the world. This trend is also evident in Latvia, where elk, red deer and roe deer are causing problems for foresters and other landowners.

https://www.medibam.lv/kad-brisele-sev-iesauj-kaja-vilks-beidzot-vairs-nav-sveta-govs-sauj-garam-283-epizode
How the European Commission shot itself in the foot with its own excessive bureaucracy, and how this will finally open the way for member states to manage the wolf population in practice.

Achievements

https://zz.lv/jelgavnieks-izcina-celazimi-uz-starptautisko-zinatnes-forumu/
The greatest success in the national competition went to Martins Bergšteins, a pupil at Jelgava State Gymnasium, who won the right to represent Latvia at the international student research conference ISEF (Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair), to be held in the United States in the spring of 2026.

Environmental matters

https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/rigas-mezi-uzsak-informativo-kampanu-neatstaj-retas-meza
To draw attention to public safety and unauthorised off-road driving in forests, SIA “Rīgas meži” and the Road Traffic Safety Council are launching an information campaign, “Leave no scars in the forest”.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7605-apkopo-lvm-pokainu-meza-apmekletaju-pieredzi-un-idejas-turisma-vietas-attistibai
The aim of the survey is to gather the various points of view, which will help to shape a balanced vision, based on residents' needs, for the development of Pokaiņi forest as a tourist destination and a cultural space.

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/apmekletajiem-atkal-pieejama-kaniera-ezera-niedraja-laipa
The Nature Conservation Agency has carried out improvement work on the Niedrāja boardwalk at Lake Ķaņieris, which had been temporarily closed because of damage. The boardwalk, a favourite with tourists, is open again and ready to receive visitors.

https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/notiek-publiska-apspriesana-dabas-parka-vecumu-mezi-individualajiem-aizsardzibas-un-izmantosanas-noteikumiem
The draft regulations have been prepared to set out the legal framework for the protection, use and management of the territory, taking into account the proposals included in the nature protection plan for the “Vecumu meži” nature park and the general protection and use rules laid down for specially protected nature territories.

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pirmo-reizi-latvija-notiek-parbaude-zinojumam-parizes-noliguma-ietvaros
From 12 to 16 May, an international review by the United Nations (UN) of the fulfilment of commitments under the Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is taking place in Riga. The UN experts are being hosted by the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

https://www.liepajniekiem.lv/zinas/sabiedriba/liepajnieki-jau-pieradinajusi-jurmalas-parka-vaveres-kas-jazina-par-to-barosanu-un-mazuliem/
When people spot the squirrels in Liepāja's Jūrmala Park, there are plenty of smiles, laughter at the squirrels' movements and behaviour, and admiration too for the natural beauty of the small creature, the little rodent – the tail, the tufted ears, the well-groomed, splendid, sleek coat. Well, just like real models and show stars – born with that kind of talent, as delighted park visitors have been heard to say.

https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/190-brivpratigie-devinas-diennaktis-izglabj-tris-ar-pusi-tukstosus-abinieku
Over nine days and nights, 190 volunteers on 51 roads across Latvia saved three and a half thousand amphibians, most of them toads.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/12.05.2025-atkritumu-liga-latvija-vecas-riepas-pamanas-atnest-pat-uz-kapsetam.a598590/
Another significant problem in cemeteries is incorrect waste sorting, when plastic bags, artificial flowers and glass are thrown into the containers for organic waste. Because of incorrect sorting, the Riga Cemeteries Board overpays as much as half a million euros a year for waste removal.

Roads, bridges, traffic

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/11.05.2025-satiksmes-ministrija-riga-slegta-altonavas-ielas-parvada-apkartne-izbuvet-drosu-parbrauktuvi-nevar.a598534/
The worn-out, 115-year-old Altonavas Street overpass is an important bridge over the Riga–Tukums railway line. It is located in Bieriņi, on the boundary with Torņakalns and Āgenskalns. It has been used mainly by residents of Bieriņi, Torņakalns and Mārupe, who have had to make a long detour for more than five months since cracks were found in the bridge and it was closed.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/14.05.2025-no-20maija-lidz-rudenim-slegs-satiksmi-uz-vidzemes-sosejas-pie-lorupes-gravas-bus-apbraucamais-cels.a598977/
At the Lorupe ravine viaduct, the existing carriageway structure will be demolished and a new one built – service walkways, waterproofing for the safety barriers and expansion joints – and damage to the span and support structures that has arisen during operation will be repaired. The viaduct was built in 1968.

Spring and frosts

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/14.05.2025-pavasara-salnu-del-zemgale-varetu-samazinaties-abolu-un-skabo-kirsu-raza.a598985/
The cool nights pose the greatest risks to fruit trees and berry bushes in blossom. This spell of frosts in May is causing the greatest anxiety for fruit and berry growers, since the temperature swings go on to affect the yields of these flowering plants.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/06.05.2025-kapec-tik-velu-pavasari-vel-ir-salnas.a597766/
In Latvia, frosts arrive in late April or in May almost every year, and sometimes even in June. Wild plants have adapted to them, but in gardens frosts often cause damage.

Buildings and plans

https://rebaltica.lv/2025/05/grimstosa-skanste-un-lukasenko-draugs-ka-rigas-domei-veicas-ar-lielajam-investicijam/
But it is Skanste, along with the plans to revive the oligarch-owned Andrejosta and the proposed stadium on Lucavsala, that could be called the most ambitious urban development schemes of this council's term.

https://bauskasdzive.lv/vietejas-zinas/ceturtdien-parakstis-ligumu-par-mezotnes-pils-parnemsanu-rundales-pils-muzeja-apsaimniekosana/
The palace is still in fairly good condition. Of course, if a property goes unused for a longer period, some minor cosmetic improvements are needed. We initially thought we would open the palace in June, but the process has dragged on, and we still have to find staff.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/kulturtelpa/15.05.2025-mezotnes-pils-apsaimniekosanu-oficiali-parnem-rundales-pils-muzejs.a599179/
On 15 May, an agreement was signed at the Ministry of Culture on the transfer of Mežotne Palace to the management of the Rundāle Palace Museum.

Odds and ends

https://lvportals.lv/viedokli/376090-ulmanis-sapnis-par-vienotu-tautu-un-smagais-imperijas-mantojums-saruna-ar-vesturnieku-karli-silu-2025
I am extremely sceptical of the claim that before the coup there was a crisis of democracy, expressed as an inability of the state administration or of society to govern itself. In my view there was no such crisis. The system laid down in the Constitution worked considerably better, both in the 1920s and today, than many people think.

https://staburags.lv/seces-dzelzcela-stacija-izkrauj-militaro-tehniku-brunotie-speku-macibas-poligona-selija/
Unlike the Ādaži training area, “Sēlija” offers more difficult terrain, suited to a variety of specific tactical tasks. During these particular exercises, the area is being reconnoitred, positions are being prepared for drones, trenches dug for soldiers and equipment, artillery positions prepared and obstacles built.

https://www.latviesi.com/piedavajumi/latvju-pirts-stasti-japana-izstade-expo-2025
The Baltic pavilion will be filled with the scents of plants, and there will be rich storytelling too about our green bathhouse, where people whisk themselves, wash, heal and rest, using the Latvian trees and wild plants that are especially characteristic of the sauna tradition in Latvia.

The news in cartoons

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-turisms-latvija-aug.28388

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-mes-tos-nedrikstam-redzet.28346

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/muitnieki-piever-acis-14335878

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/kadel-neinvestejat-14335952