Industry

The internal investigation commission will be chaired by Aivars Puriņš, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, and will also include Edvīns Balševics, State Secretary of the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, Baiba Bāne, State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Raivis Bremšmits, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics, Ieva Šmite, Chair of the Competition Council, and Pēteris Vilks, Deputy Director of the State Chancellery for national development and cross-sectoral governance.delfi.lv

What is happening with state aid to timber producers, its assessment and competition in logging?lsm.lv

This transaction not only strengthened the company's position in the Nordic wood processing market, but has also become valuable experience for the new generation of the company's management.db.lv

The State Forest Service has received submissions from residents and non-governmental organisations regarding possible violations in the logging process in the forests of Jūrmala municipality. In response, the State Forest Service is carrying out additional inspections in the forest compartments where felling permits were issued for clearing storm damage and tidying the forest.vmd.gov.lv

In total, 520 hectares across 262 forest compartments were surveyed. It was established that in 40 stands the ruts left by tractors exceed the permitted length per hectare.lsm.lv

Continuing to develop the use of birch bark extracts in a new and innovative form – oleogel – the experimental birch extractives plant “Betulin Lab”, part of the “Latvijas Finieris” group, has begun testing production of the substance on a larger scale. finieris.com

At the end of the year the spruce attracts undivided attention – some people want to know where and how they may cut one in the state forest for the festive season, while others are interested in the options for regenerating forest with spruce seedlings. lvm.lv

For many decades the view was that birch is a pioneer species that establishes itself wherever nothing is done. Until, with the development of plywood production, birch became a commercially significant species.retalsi.lv

The main conclusion drawn by the researchers is that cultivating poplar plantations in Italy resembles agricultural production more than forestry. To grow perennial woody plantations, agricultural land does not have to be converted into forest land, and the owner is free to decide at any moment what to grow on their land – timber or one of the agricultural crops.jauns.lv

The initiative is one of the most significant EU environmental goals and part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy. Its aim is to plant at least 3 billion trees across Europe by 2030...daba.gov.lv

Knowledge

The conditions of the Deforestation Regulation – what does it mean for forest owners?youtube.com

Forest science

The aim of the scholarship is to encourage forest science doctoral students to engage in research and to strengthen the scientific capacity of the Latvian forest sector in the field of climate-smart and environmentally friendly forestry. Three scholarships of 12,000 euros each will be awarded under the competition, paid out over a 12-month period.lbtu.lv

Official

On 18 December, the Ministry of Agriculture and representatives of the Latvian Peat Association signed a memorandum of cooperation, undertaking to strengthen the peat sector, ensure predictable availability of peat resources and promote sustainable management of natural resources.zm.gov.lv

...provides that all natural and legal persons engaged in agricultural or fisheries activities, as well as cooperative societies, will be allowed to build the buildings needed for agricultural or fisheries activities themselves up to 800 m², and to build industrially manufactured buildings with no area restriction.zm.gov.lv

During the meeting there was an exchange of views on the EU bioeconomy strategy, and the Council conclusions “Europe's environment in 2030 – building a more climate-resilient and circular economy in Europe” were approved.kem.gov.lv

Reporting

So that visitors to nature tourism sites can report damage to infrastructure, destruction caused by vandals and natural forces, or other problems they notice more easily and quickly, the Nature Conservation Agency has created a problem reporting function in the “Dabas tūrisms” mobile app.daba.gov.lv

Research

Mass outbreaks of the pest have been observed in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, which creates risks and calls for preventive action to stop the pest spreading further in Europe.vaad.gov.lv

The project is a joint initiative of Latvian scientists and the peat industry, aimed at making this transition realistic and grounded in research and innovation, while taking into account biodiversity conservation goals and socio-economic factors, particularly in regions where the peat industry plays a significant role.lbtu.lv

Coastal fishing

We call for a data-based, publicly available analysis and an assessment of officials' accountability, in line with the principles of good governance!amati-ripos.vercel.app

Europe indicates that the existing coastal protected areas are sufficient, but that their objectives and management need to be defined more clearly. Europe's recommendation is to establish one new offshore area. dap-stasts.vercel.app

Protests

Farmers have chosen to protest at the moment when EU leaders are debating the next multiannual budget for 2028-2034 in the European Council for the first time. Farmers across Europe are dissatisfied with the proposal, as their funding is cut by 20%, and on top of that farmers' money is being merged with cohesion money and handed to the member states to distribute themselves.lsm.lv

Transport

sam.gov.lv · rail baltica projekta istenosanai 2026 gada planots apgut 26…
lsm.lv · 16.12.2025 kas notiek ar rail baltica simtiem miljonu eiro g…
In early December, when adopting next year's state budget in its final reading, the Saeima also supported the government's proposal, submitted for the second reading, on an additional allocation of 8 million euros for the redesign of Rail Baltica's Southern section.

In the politician's view, a ferry service between Vecmīlgrāvis and Bolderāja would solve the transport problems of the residents of two large Riga neighbourhoods.db.lv

When the cart is still far behind, or forgetting to think ahead again

According to information provided by the ministry, custodial sentences for criminal offences committed in the environmental field are set to be increased substantially.delfi.lv

Hunting

On 14 December 2025, the State Forest Service received information that 328 wolves had been hunted in management unit A and 30 wolves in management unit B. Consequently, for the remainder of this hunting season wolf hunting is permitted only with registration on each occasion, agreed with the hunting affairs engineer of the relevant State Forest Service regional forestry office.vmd.gov.lv

Environment

Last year the largest volume of work involved tending ancient trees and opening up scenic views. This year, meanwhile, tending has taken place in two areas of the park: “XXI Old Tree Nursery” and “IV Eastern European floristic area”.lvm.lv

The Nature Conservation Agency is announcing a design competition, “The educational exhibition ‘On the banks and in the depths of the Salaca'”, inviting professionals in exhibition, display and design to create a new, modern and scientifically grounded exhibition at the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve nature centre in Salacgrīva.varam.gov.lv

The two groups are not at odds, yet neither is changing its view. The source of the smell in Kalnciems has not been found so far.zz.lv

Urban environment

Some council members base their objections to the artist Krišs Salmanis's work “Pūtiens”, named the winner of last year's “Pavējā pretvējā” design competition, on the unsuitable location and the fact that the theme has no connection with Liepāja's history and its Art Nouveau architecture.liepajniekiem.lv

While “Gors” continues its professional work, the municipality is already deciding another question – local government funding for the concert hall must be reduced and its form of governance changed. And one of the models under discussion in the council is transferring the concert hall's lease rights to a private business.lsm.lv

The Āgenskalns neighbourhood association, together with businesses and well-known public figures, has sent an open letter to Riga City Council calling on it not to build on this area and for the city to take it into its own ownership.lsm.lv

We act solely within the framework of the mandate agreement with the Ministry of Economics, and it stipulates that we must preserve this Daugavgrīva fortress complex. If some development is possible, we can carry it out. The most important thing at present is preservation.lsm.lv

Miscellaneous

Our country looks good on indicators measuring the burden of housing costs, as well as quality of life in the neighbourhood around the home – that is, on the aspect of quality of life not directly linked to income, even though income levels undoubtedly affect the ability to choose a good environment.investoruklubs.lv

Surely he is not a neutral journalist? This criminal case began with his complaint to the police!zz.lv

The Latvian craft gin distillery ŌBDO, being built in Riga by two brothers, has unveiled a new brand identity, a precisely formulated direction for the future and a new range of products.db.lv

Current affairs in cartoons

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