A note by way of introduction, concerning the cover image for this week's review. While we appreciate the press representative's irony, everything experienced so far suggests the opposite — namely, that he is confirming (and doing so in all seriousness) the well-founded suspicions about the aim and intent of the message put out yesterday.
Hardly the first time!
Worth knowing! On upcoming events
The "Ziedu ceļos" campaign runs from 1 February to 30 October
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
From 11 April to 2 June, the environmental campaign "Dod riepām otru dzīvi" (Give tyres a second life)
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/sopavasar-11-latvijas-pilsetas-atgriezas-vides-akcija-dod-riepam-otru
On 20 April, the 6th Vimba Festival in Bauska
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/sestajos-vimbu-svetkos-bauska-aktualizes-udens-piesarnojuma-problemu-1
Voting for the Natura 2000 Award is open until 25 April, including for a Latvian project
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvianature-ieklust-eiropas-komisijas-prestiza-apbalvojuma-natura-2000-award-finala
On 26 April, "The Forest Comes to Jelgava"
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/jelgava-un-latvijas-meza-nozare-gimenes-bernus-un-jauniesus-aicina-uz
On 26 and 30 April, the seminar "Sustainability in the Peat Industry", parts I and II
The 20th Latvian Plant Parade on 4 and 5 May in Sigulda
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/20-latvijas-stadu-parade-sogad-notiks-4-un-5-maija
Until 12 May, candidates may be nominated for the European Commission's "EU Organic Awards" competition for organic producers who have developed outstanding, innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects that create real added value for organic production and consumption.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zm-aicina-latvijas-lauksaimniekus-un-partikas-razotajus-lidz-12-maijam-izvirzit-savu-kandidaturu-es-balvai-biologiskaja-razosana
Latvian Forest Days – 24 and 25 May
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7345-latvijas-meza-dienas-aicina-pieteikties-sadarbibas-partnerus
Following the Constitutional Court's ruling
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrijas-skaidrojums-meza-ipasniekiem-un-koksnes-pircejiem-pec-satversmes-tiesas-sprieduma
The State Forest Service will carefully assess each case individually. There are no plans to revoke the certificates as of a single specific date. Each case will be assessed separately, a decision will be taken on each felling certificate to be revoked, and the forest owner will be notified of it. Information on revoked certificates will also be available in the public register of issued certificates on the State Forest Service website.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valsts-meza-dienests-veiks-parbaudes-5874-mezaudzes-0
The State Forest Service has begun implementing the Constitutional Court's judgment, which requires the revocation of those tree-felling certificates for cutting areas in which the mean diameter values have been declared invalid. According to the State Forest Register, checks are to be carried out in 5,874 forest stands. They are due to be completed by 15 May 2024.
Official announcements
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pieskir-34-miljonus-eiro-atbalstu-lauksaimniecibas-attistibai-2024-gada
Support of 23.5 million euros is earmarked for the partial repayment of loan interest for primary agricultural producers, agricultural and forestry cooperative societies, businesses engaged in processing agricultural products, and those engaged in fisheries, aquaculture or the processing of such products.
Data on contaminated and potentially contaminated sites in Latvia has until now been kept in paper form in several archives and storage facilities; digitising this data is a significant step that will make information about these sites conveniently and quickly available to everyone online.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/18.04.2024-kapec-valsts-mezu-izmantosana-toni-nosaka-koku-cirteji-nevis-zinatnieki.a550770/
Industry matters (as usual in the sector)
A strong, well-tended forest underpins the vitality and prosperity of society, both in Latvia's rural regions and in the capital. A public that is knowledgeable about and engaged in what happens in the forest, in turn, fosters the balanced development and growth of this important sector of the national economy. To improve public understanding of forest matters, a series of educational public events will once again be held in Latvia this year, as is traditional.
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/2023-gads-rigas-mezos-turpinajums-stabilai-un-ilgtspejigai-izaugsmei
In 2023, SIA "Rīgas meži" successfully delivered on its budget and met the financial targets set by its owner, Riga City Council, ensuring the company's financial stability and sustainable development – so states the company's annual report, approved at the shareholders' meeting on 15 April.
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/vai-pastav-viduscels-starp-zalo-kursu-un-meza-ipasnieku-prasibam
An unfair compensation system, the risk of job losses and bureaucratic regulatory requirements – these are just some of the problems that have prompted widespread protests in Latvia's forest sector and dissatisfaction with the existing arrangements. While decision-makers are still searching for a happy medium between the European Union's Green Deal and the demands of forest owners, the private sector has already found a proportionate solution that provides for both nature protection and the opportunity to make a profit, while allowing the true value of forests to be recognised.
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/602186-kas-notiek-ar-smerla-mezu-skaidro-apsaimniekotajs#google_vignette
Given public interest in the tending of Šmerlis Forest, Rīgas meži has provided an update on the work completed and planned across an area of roughly 70 hectares.
On the economy and money
The initiative group Kuram tas rūp? has decided to get back to basics – to ask some very simple questions and try to find answers to them, because when these simple things are forgotten, values get turned on their head and what matters is left behind what does not.
On environmental matters
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvija-ir-apmeram-1-miljons-tonnu-azbestu-saturosa-sifera
Although the manufacture, marketing and use of asbestos-containing materials has been banned in the European Union (EU) for several decades, and asbestos-containing waste is classified as hazardous waste, such materials are still widely found in Latvian households.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/16.04.2024-petnieks-jebkura-suga-kurai-vajadzigi-lieli-mezu-masivi-ar-lieliem-kokiem-latvija-ir-apdraudeta.a550021/
Six owl species nest regularly in Latvia. The most common is the tawny owl, followed by the long-eared owl, while Ural owls, pygmy owls, Tengmalm's owls and eagle owls are considerably rarer sights.
On various buildings and streets
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/601620-lielais-jautajums-ko-iesakt-ar-stura-maju
http://jvmm.lv/lasitava/egas-ielas-stasts/
Jelgava's streets have been renamed many times over the course of history. There is one street whose name was of unclear origin for a long time – the small Egas Street, which contains only private houses and not a single public building.
The news in cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-pieteikumu-rinda-uz-satversmes-tiesu.13933
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-romans-vitkovskis-pats-galvenais-neparspilet.13997
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/arpus-etera/komiksi/13.04.2024-karikaturista-skats-atbildigo-meklejumi.a550193/
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/lena-piegade-pret-alkoholismu-14316009
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/putnu-verotaji-kremli-14316211
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/degvielas-uzpildes-stacijas-turpinas-tirgot-alkoholu-14316270
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-romans-vitkovskis-pats-galvenais-neparspilet.13997
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-bistama-vidusslana-taka.14061
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