11-17 April - Zeme un valsts

11th LMSP International Conference in 18 days, 29 October. Learn more ›

Weekly review

26 September – 2 October

19–25 September

12-18 September

29 August – 4 September

27 June – 3 July

30 May – 5 June

Poll

In recent weeks, both in the Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers, the thesis has been heard once again: “We must act this way, otherwise there will be penalties, infringement procedures, etc.” Often, such a pseudo-argument completely excludes reasonable disputes, discussions, or alternatives, forcing those responsible to make decisions hastily and not always in the interests of Latvia. Why is that?

Old habits are hardening - someone somewhere knows better, let us rely on them

Lack of sufficient capacity or laziness to defend a different point of view

A generation of cabinet officials has been created who are accustomed to accepting rather than delving into matters

This is a serious problem for Latvia for which no solution is being sought. It will probably be all right somehow...

A lighter note

“Why are the trees here so big?”

VIDEO

Collector coin “Chestnut”

Trees on agricultural land – perennial plantations, short-rotation coppice or agroforestry?!

The Baltics in the Kremlin's sights. How serious is the threat?

11-17 April

Zemeunvalsts.lv | 17.04.2026

Industry

The stability and reputation of the sector are a shared responsibility, and I therefore expect the board of Latvijas valsts mezi to act professionally and promptly, and in a manner consistent with the public interest, in assessing whether its board members are fit for the posts they hold. I call on the company's board to act swiftly, transparently and in accordance with the principles of good governance. zm.gov.lv

Forestry contractors providing services to Latvijas valsts mezi warned back in March about the sharp rise in fuel prices and its direct effect on the costs of logging, timber haulage and wood chip production. Fuel accounts for between 25% and 45% of production costs in these segments.lmsp.lv

Demonstrating Latvijas Finieris' more than 20 years of experience in using wood in modern industrial architecture and in the construction of industrial buildings, the expanded VEREMS plant is one of the largest production buildings in the Baltics to have been built using timber.finieris.com

The development of the new further-processing plant is an important step in the company's long-term strategy, deliberately expanding its activities in the high value-added product segment. zemeunvalsts.lv

(...) the foresters surveyed acknowledged that it was too early to draw conclusions, since 2025 was essentially a period of stagnation of sorts, and it is therefore important to see the volumes of timber actually harvested last year, broken down by tree species. db.lv

Growing volumes increase steadily with each season. While 13,000 birch seedlings were grown in 2023, the aim this year is to reach 200,000 seedlings, substantially improving the availability of high-quality planting stock.lvm.lv

The board of Latvijas valsts mezi (LVM) today approved and signed a social dialogue agreement with the LVM Employees' Independent Trade Union Organisation, an autonomous unit of the Latvian Forest Sector Trade Union. The Latvian Forest Sector Trade Union represents employees of a range of companies working in the industry.lvm.lv

The proposal to allow pines, birches and spruces to be felled 20 or even 30 years earlier than at present was the subject of wide-ranging debate last autumn, when the Ministry of Agriculture tried to push the changes onto the government's agenda at speed. It was halted after extensive objections and calls to first put in place a long-term umbrella document for the sector, that is, development guidelines.lsm.lv

Forest News #29youtube.com

(...) woodworking specialist, disc jockey and musician Davids Locs explains why he does not call himself a joiner, talks about how his products compete in Latvia and worldwide, and names the finest gems in his record collection (...)zz.lv

A valuable contribution

(...) in April and May the Kurzeme Planning Region is continuing the public engagement campaign "Become an avenue detective!", part of the Green Guardians project, inviting members of the public to help survey and document the tree avenues of Kurzeme.kurzemesregions.lv

Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events

22 April: seminar "How to protect spruce forests from bark beetle"zemeunvalsts.lv

25 April: Spring Garden and Seedling Festival and an open day at Bulduri Technical Collegezm.gov.lv

13-15 May: international conference "Education, Innovation and Cooperation for the Future of the Regions" at Malnava Collegelbtu.lv

22 and 23 May: Latvian Forest Dayslvm.lv

Until 26 April: orienteering game at the manors of Valmiera municipality, "Catch the Hare at the Manor"valmierasnovads.lv

Until 31 May: public engagement campaign "Become an avenue detective!"kurzemesregions.lv

Until 26 July: photography exhibition "My Bird 2026" at the Latvian National Museum of Natural Historyvaram.gov.lv

Balozi peat museum railway excursions in 2026kudrasbanitis.lv

Garden days and masterclasses at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026fruittechcentre.eu

Official

In meetings with senior Azerbaijani officials, the Latvian side is discussing matters relating to expanded cooperation in the economy, including agriculture, food production, forestry and the timber industry, as well as in science, technology and culture. zm.gov.lv

To allow the cleaning and deepening of water bodies and port waters to begin more smoothly, and to enable more effective action, bureaucratic obstacles have been reduced while clear environmental protection requirements have been set. This will make it possible to clear rivers of sediment, water plants and fallen trees more quickly, ensuring freer water flow and reducing flood risks in future. kem.gov.lv

Economy

Cutting excise duty on diesel for three months is a logical step towards at least partly easing, in the short term, the impact of rapidly rising diesel prices on the economy and on the public.makroekonomika.lv

Edgars Bisenieks, head of the Methodology Unit of the Value Added Tax Division of the Tax Board of the State Revenue Service, was invited to the general meeting of the Latvian Forest Owners' Association to explain how the situation might develop and what changes might follow in relation to reverse-charge VAT, which could take effect if the relevant amendments are adopted.youtube.com

The most significant challenge is that it was younger people and lower-income groups who cut their future savings the most. While this makes it possible to address immediate financial difficulties in the short term, in the long run it increases the risk of inadequate pensions and greater inequality for these people in future.zemeunvalsts.lv

Science

The forum discussed how the forest sector can balance the achievement of climate and sustainability goals with the need for economic growth, as well as the use of the latest technologies in meeting green targets and improving efficiency.silava.lv

The forest dormouse is one of the least studied dormouse species in Europe, yet one of the most thoroughly studied in Latvia. In Latvia it is found in a very limited area, in the south-eastern part of the country (...)silava.lv

Hunting

(...) on topical subjects: public attitudes towards hunters, the future of the hunting sector, the role of hunters and the challenges they face, as well as amendments to the Hunting Law and other important matters.medibam.lv

(...) the informative and educational film Hunting Weapons, made by the programme Uz Meza takas with support from the hunting management and development fund.medibam.lv

(...) the hunting trophy exhibition Ventspils 2026 opened in Ventspils on a grand scale and with a special atmosphere.medibam.lv

Environment

The active spring season is here, and forecasting specialists at the State Plant Protection Service have resumed monitoring the emergence and spread of harmful plant organisms across Latvia.vaad.gov.lv

In mid-April, in Saldus municipality, not far from Zalenieki cemetery near Kudras road, a brown bear was captured on a hunter's trail camera. medibam.lv

In summer, hundreds of people take one of the park's paths to the nearby Sigulda bathing area, with no idea that the dead trees mean they are risking their lives in doing so.apollo.lv

The middle spotted woodpecker looks somewhat like the great spotted woodpecker, but its vocal repertoire is different and its way of life differs slightly too. lsm.lv

(...) people cannot predict exactly how their actions will affect the environment, but that does not mean there are no consequences. These may take the form of climate change or of various natural disasters, whose causes are often many-layered and opaque.kodols.lv

Miscellaneous

The government has backed the merger of five psychoneurological hospitals into the National Mental Health Centre in order to ensure unified and effective management of psychiatric care. lsm.lv

The conflict in the Middle East has driven the price of pistachios, widely consumed around the world, to an eight-year high, Bloomberg reports. Iran is the world's second-largest pistachio producer, and the conflict is currently reducing stocks at a time when consumer appetite is rising sharply.delfi.lv

Topical issues in cartoons

lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka tramp aizveries hormuz atveries

diena.lv · orbana glabejs 14350424

lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka viens briesmigaks par otru

lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka kulas dedzinasanas kursi

lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka tas tocna ir latvisks treks

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