Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events

From 11 February to 30 April an international exhibition of illustrators' work, "The Magic Forest", in the foyer of the Conference Centre at the National Library of Latvia
km.gov.lv · starptautiska ilustraciju izstade magiskais mezs

On the Līgatne nature trails a new exhibition, "What was that rustling in the forest?", has been on show since December
daba.gov.lv · ligatnes dabas takas atklata jauna ekspozicija kas meza brik…

From 12 April to 27 July, the photography exhibition "My Bird 2025" at the Latvian Museum of Natural History
dabasmuzejs.lv · fotoizstade mans putns 2025

On 18 April an international online conference Modern challenges and actual problems of forestry education, science and productionsilava.lv

On 20 April in Bauska, the 7th Vimba Festivalzemeunvalsts.lv

From 24 to 30 April, Big Clean-Up events in Latvijas valsts meži forestslvm.lv

On 25 April, "The Forest Comes to Jelgava"
lbtu.lv · 25 aprili lielpasakums mezs ienak jelgava
stigarm.lv · aizraujoss piedzivojums mezs ienak jelgava gimenem berniem u…
zz.lv · mezs atkal ienaks jelgava

Encouraging the public to get involved and improve the environment around them, the European Union has launched the "3 Billion More Trees" initiative, which aims to add substantially to the total number of trees across the EU by 2030. zm.gov.lv

Interest in buying forest seedlings is also linked to European Union and state support measures, for example for afforestation, replacement planting or tending.lsm.lv

On hunting

Wolves are one of the most pressing issues in the Vidzeme region too. The chair of the board of the Latvian Hunters' Association, Juris Buškevics, said that "hunters hear and see that wolves affect livestock farmers as well. In Latvia they even kill dogs right by the house, so hunters are not the only ones saying 'wolf'. At the moment wolf numbers have risen considerably".lsm.lv

Environment and events

We invite anyone interested to sign up for the seminar "How to preserve and not diminish biological diversity in the Gauja National Park", which will take place on 30 April 2025 at the premises of the Nature Conservation Agency, Baznīcas iela 7, Sigulda.daba.gov.lv

It is no secret that Latvian science is short of money, that Latvian scientists live hand to mouth, because a Latvian budget suffering from a chronic deficit has created a situation in which there is not enough funding for scientific research, so one has to write European projects and chase European money. If you land a European project, you eat; if you don't, you don't!nra.lv

Fifty-two checkpoints have been set out across the Biķernieki forest, which covers more than 200 ha. The routes start in two places: by the Riga Motor Museum at Sergeja Eizenšteina iela 8 and by the car park at Biķernieku iela 70.rigasmezi.lv

As is known, a draft nature conservation plan has been drawn up for the Stompaku purvi nature reserve with the aim of promoting the breeding and protection of bears, wolves and other predator species. Hunters are outraged by this, because driven hunts will be banned. This nature reserve lies in the centre of our Balvi municipality, in the parishes of Lazduleja, Bērzkalne, Susāji and Medņeva. lasi.lv

Society and government

Although decentralised models work effectively in some countries with a consolidated political culture and a strong capacity for institutional self-organisation (Sweden or New Zealand, for example), in Latvia's case, where sectoral isolation and weak cross-sectoral cooperation have historically dominated, a strong centre of government is an absolutely critical precondition.lvportals.lv

lvportals.lv · 374337 slikta parvaldiba vai korupcija sabiedribas izpratne…

At the same time, the lowest proportion of people to date - 17% - admitted having used unofficial solutions over the past two years. The unofficial solutions people used were most often personal connections, such as friends and acquaintances, and were most frequently used to obtain healthcare services, to settle matters in court or to get someone a job in a state or local government institution.

Roads, bridges, stations, movement

Since the restoration of Latvian statehood and the decline of industry, a number of railway routes have been closed. The rails have been lifted, and the embankment, cleared of trees and shrubs, has become a "green railway" route suitable for walkers and cyclists. In the confusion of the pandemic we walked them with friends and saw the station buildings too. For the most part the buildings had been divided into flats: washing was drying, people were calling to one another, and the platform ramp served as a sort of terrace. lasi.lv

Following the government's decision to reallocate 114 million euros from European Union Recovery Fund funding to complete construction work on the southern part of Riga Central Station, work resumed in April, and the main works are due to be finished by the autumn of next yearlsm.lv

In order to create new tram route connections and develop the public transport network, "Rīgas satiksme" will create new tram routes and make substantial changes to several existing ones.delfi.lv

In Vilce parish, Jelgava municipality, the bridge over the river Svēte on the regional road Dobele-Bauska (P103) near Mūrmuiža will be rebuilt at a cost of 1.5 million euros.zz.lv

In Salacgrīva on Monday the temporary bridge over the Salaca was closed for a time, as several deformations were found during monitoring...db.lv

On 12 April in Apgulde, Dobele municipality, construction of the first phase of the "Apgulde" military base was ceremonially begun.zz.lv

The steep bank of the Mēmele has collapsed, the area has been fenced off and warning signs put up on all sides. The local authority wants to preserve the chance to see the dolomite slabs by the castle and how the passage of time has worn them over the centuries.la.lv

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