Sector

As a result of the investment deal, almost 5,000 hectares of productive forest land in Pasiene parish, Ludza municipality, will come under LVM's management, strengthening the sustainability of state forest management and, in the long run, providing additional quality timber resources for Latvia's economy.lvm.lv

I'm somewhat surprised that the theory about AS Latvijas valsts meži's 130 million euros, which de facto does not exist, is still being spun (...)db.lv

The ministers agreed that within a month the two ministries will prepare an informative report and submit it for government approval, clearly setting out the principles for land management: 10% is to be strictly protected; 20% is primarily protected, with limited economic activity permitted; 70% is designated for sustainable economic activity.zm.gov.lv

I don't think of forest merely as real estate. I look at how all these developments align with the goals of foresters, loggers and nature conservationists.zemeunvalsts.lv

Given the challenges facing the forestry sector, the VARAM minister supports sensible, development-oriented solutions that do not worsen Latvia's overall state of nature protection.varam.gov.lv

In Latvia's forests, the timber stock, or total growing stock, currently exceeds 670 million m3, three times what it was 100 years ago. However, the production of all wood products used in the energy sector is directly dependent on the available forest resources. lvm.lv

Storm damage identified so far amounts to around 1,500 cubic metres. Strong gusts of wind have uprooted and snapped trees, in places blocking forest roads and trails.lvm.lv

(...) there are situations where private individuals have protected a forest for generations, and you simply cannot tell them that, in the name of the state and society, they are forbidden from doing anything at all on their own property.edruva.lv

The existing rail infrastructure, regional hubs, access roads and loading yards provide a practical foundation for developing not only international transit traffic in Latvia, but also local and Baltic regional freight transport. sam.gov.lv

Worth knowing! Upcoming and ongoing events

1 August Hunters' festival “Munchausen 2026”
latma.lv · minhauzens 2026 koknese mednieku festivals notiks augusta pi…
latma.lv · nebijis notikums minhauzens 2026 lidztekus festivalam notiks…

Until 26 July photo exhibition “My Bird 2026” at the Latvian National Museum of Natural Historyvaram.gov.lv

Until 10 August public consultation on the “stress test” of the EU Birds and Habitats Directivesec.europa.eu

Until 15 September we are looking for Latvia's European Tree of the Year (a tree with a story)zemeunvalsts.lv

Until 30 September we invite you to vote in the first European timber architecture award, “WoodPoP Dara Award 2026”zemeunvalsts.lv

Baloži peat railway museum excursions in 2026kudrasbanitis.lv

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

All year round the National Botanical Garden's anniversary event series “Nature in the Garden”daba.gov.lv

Official

In future, a person proposing the establishment of a micro-reserve will also have to submit, together with the application, an opinion from a species and habitat protection expert. mk.gov.lv

The programme's aim was to promote the sustainable and rational use of local natural resources, increasing their added value amid changing environmental and market conditions.zm.gov.lv

To assess a solution's readiness for practical use, project applications will in future have to state the initial technology-readiness level and describe how it will be raised over the course of the project. By the project's completion, a high level of readiness must be reached – the development must be finished, tested and ready for use in a real or commercial setting. zm.gov.lv

Economy

(...) as the prime minister of our northern neighbour, Michal, notes, no official proposal has yet been received in Tallinn (...)delfi.lv

"Total crisis" and "survival mode". Such are the stark comparisons being made about the situation in Latvia's transit sector, and it cannot be ruled out that train ticket prices may have to rise to fund railway upkeep.tv3.lv

(...) Grīva prison in Daugavpils is being closed. Some 400 staff have worked there until now. They are being offered a transfer to Liepāja, but that does not sound like a serious offer (...)nra.lv

Hunting

The State Forest Service has set the total allowable wolf cull at 400 animals, split between two wolf-management units. Once that quota is reached, a further 10 wolves may be permitted for culling, subject to case-by-case approval, to prevent damage.vmd.gov.lv

This is an important signal for hunters. Wolves are present across the territory, and they can be hunted even before a stable snow cover forms.medibam.lv

(...) the right to hunt and fish set the Curonian Kings apart from most of the surrounding farmers and confirmed their status as free landholders.medibam.lv

Environment

The work is helping restore the river's natural flow and creating more favourable habitat conditions for the plant and animal species typical of fast-flowing-water biotopes.daba.gov.lv

An environmental expert estimates that when the young eagle was found in the nest on 10 July, it was around seven days old, meaning it most likely hatched on 3 July. Young eagles usually hatch much earlier than that.lvm.lv

Miscellaneous

(...) could our mutual bickering, which at times takes on utterly irrational proportions, be connected to the fact that we gained independence at a comparatively lower cost in sacrifice?kodols.lv

They spent a year living in New Zealand, then a few months in Bali, Thailand and Sri Lanka.lsm.lv

The week in cartoons

lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka nevalstiskas vai valstiskas

diena.lv · sedesanas maksa

diena.lv · airbaltic budzetportfelu dzineji

lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka izlidzesies ar siguldas gaisa tramvaju

diena.lv · apokalipses jatnieki 2026