13–19 June - Zeme un valsts

13–19 June

Industry

https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-06-19/meza-un-vides-zinatnu-fakultati-absolve-183-jaunie-specialisti
(...) courage was needed to take up the challenge of studying and to find one's place in an academic environment. For many, it was also a bold step to start an independent life away from home and familiar surroundings. Energy was needed too.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8012-pavasara-meza-atjaunosanas-sezona-iestaditi-aptuveni-29-miljoni-jaunu-meza-koku-stadu
Thanks to favourable weather conditions, forest planting work went smoothly, and service providers completed the work on time and to a high standard.

https://www.lasi.lv/saimnieks-uznemejs/lauksaimnieciba/eiropas-mezsaimnieki-pieprasa-uzlabojumus-es-atmezosanas-regula.42984
Although the regulation's original aim is a noble one – to halt global deforestation – its current technical requirements threaten to create a heavy administrative burden and paralyse primary producers in Europe. Industry representatives stress that the regulation's requirements for detailed geolocation data and full product traceability down to a specific forest stand are technically flawed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iSUXKRDvdo
Kurzemnieks speaks. A conversation with lawyer and forester Valdis Kalns

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/meza-un-saistito-nozaru-attistibas-pamatnostadnes-palielinas-meza-nozares-ieguldijumu-latvijas-ekonomika-un-ilgtspejigas-attistibas-merku-sasniegsana
The Forest Advisory Council is an important platform for dialogue between state institutions, the forest sector and other stakeholders, fostering balanced, evidence-based decision-making for the development of the forest sector in Latvia.

https://www.tvnet.lv/8494153/generalprokurors-kokrupnieku-lieta-iezimejas-arvien-vairak-pieradijumu-un-izmeklesanas-virzienu
(...) the Prosecutor's Office's assessment did not confirm that there had been a leak of information about the investigative actions in the case (...)

https://www.finieris.com/lv/uzsakta-jaunas-berzu-seklu-siltumnicas-buvnieciba-latvijas-finiera-kokaudzetava-zabaki/
Investment in birch breeding is investment in the forest of the future. Our goal is not only to grow more seedlings, but to grow better seedlings – ones that deliver higher yields and better-quality timber. The new seed greenhouse will make it possible to significantly improve the precision and efficiency of breeding work (...)

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8013-lvm-ar-lielo-datu-analizi-pilnveido-mezizstrades-planosanas-automatizaciju
For each felling site, so-called “difficulty points” are calculated, describing how complex it is to work the area in question. These are determined by several factors, including skidding distance, the volume of timber harvested, and skidding and harvesting conditions.

Worth knowing! Upcoming and ongoing events

27 June: Malnava College's 105th anniversary
https://www.malnavaskoledza.lv/aktualitates/642-lbtu-malnavas-koledza-aicina-uz-105-gadu-jubilejas-svinibam.html

1 August Hunters' festival “Minhauzens 2026”
https://www.latma.lv/minhauzens-2026-koknese-mednieku-festivals-notiks-augusta-pirmaja-nedelas-nogale/
https://www.latma.lv/nebijis-notikums-minhauzens-2026-lidztekus-festivalam-notiks-ari-lmka-medibu-sunu-izstade/

Until 26 July photo exhibition “My Bird 2026” at the Latvijas Nacionālais dabas muzejs
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/fotoizstade-mans-putns-2026

Until 10 August public consultation on the “stress test” of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/18072-Birds-and-Habitats-Directives-stress-test/public-consultation_lv

Baložu Peat Museum Railway excursions in 2026
https://kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijas

Garden Days and masterclasses at Dārzkopības institūts in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026

All year Nacionālais botaniskais dārzs anniversary events series “Nature in the Garden”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-70-jubilejas-gada-katru-menesi-aicina-uz-aizraujosiem-pasakumiem

Education and science

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/lvmi-silava-zinatnieki-prezente-petijumu-rezultatus-starptautiskaja-konference-biogeomon-2026
Results of research on the impact of forestry on nutrient cycling in coastal forests and on surface water quality were presented to an international audience (...)

https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-06-18/ieva-kraukle-aizstav-petijumu-par-pilsetmezu-ainavas-funkcionalitati-un
On 18 June, Ieva Kraukle defended her doctoral thesis – a thematically unified collection of scientific publications titled “Functionality of Urban Forest Landscapes and Management Approaches” – at the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences of Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitāte (...)

https://kki.lv/aktualitates/jauna-petnieku-paaudze-studenti-lvkki-izstradajusi-bakalaura-un-magistra-darbus
The students' research covered a wide range of topics – from the use of lignin and other biomass resources in developing high-value-added products, to biosorbents, sustainable food packaging, polyurethane foams, mycelium composites and bio-based coatings for packaging materials.

https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-06-17/lbtu-uzsak-dalibu-starptautiska-projekta-nutri2forest-fosfora-atgusanai-no
During the project, modular filtration systems using natural mineral sorbents capable of efficiently capturing dissolved phosphorus in water will be developed and tested.

Environment

https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vaad-uzsak-bakterialas-iedegas-saimniekaugu-parbauzu-aktivo-sezonu
Fire blight is a devastating plant disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, which infects a number of popular fruit trees and ornamental shrubs of the rose family – apple, pear, flowering quince, rowan, cotoneaster, hawthorn, quince and juneberry, as well as shrubs more exotic for Latvian conditions, such as loquat, medlar, firethorn and Photinia davidiana.

https://jauns.lv/raksts/maja-un-darzs/713757-motobrauceju-nedarbi-latvijas-mezos
(...) trouble is caused only by a handful of motorcyclists, while the vast majority of Latvia's motorcyclists follow the rules. But a spoonful of tar can still spoil the whole barrel of honey...

https://zz.lv/vietejas-zinas/jelgavas-novada-izsludinata-publiska-apspriesana-par-176-koku-cirsanu-sidrabes-parka/
The municipality states that the felling of trees is planned in connection with improvement works at Sidrabe Park, as well as the age of the trees, which is said to have reached felling age. Complaints have also been received from residents about the rook population in the park.

Bears

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/lr1-zinamais-nezinamaja-lvmi-silava-aicina-uz-faktiem-balstitu-diskusiju-par-laciem-latvija
Although at least 190 brown bears currently live in Latvia, their presence alone does not mean an increased threat to people. Experts explained that it is important to distinguish between a dangerous animal and a dangerous situation (...)

https://kodols.lv/zinas/vide/zinams-cik-daudz-lacu-sobrid-dzivo-latvija-dap-ludz-sabiedribas-palidzibu-202594
(...) public involvement is important, as it complements the monitoring and genetic analysis carried out by specialists. Individual animals can be identified from samples of hair, droppings and saliva, but information provided by residents helps build a much fuller picture of bear movements in Latvia.

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/redzeji-laci-vai-ta-pedas-dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-aicina-par-noverojumiem-zinot-portala-dabas-dati
According to the latest monitoring data, at least 190 brown bears are present in Latvia. The population is assessed using both systematic monitoring in specially protected nature areas and beyond, and genetic analysis, in which individual animals can be identified from samples of hair, droppings and saliva.

Miscellaneous

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/12.06.2026-ar-ipasu-statusu-dabusanu-dienvidkurzemes-novadam-pagaidam-izdodas-saglabat-mazas-skolas.a651159/
(...) Dienvidkurzeme Municipal Council will also continue to run the school next year, even though its infrastructure is designed for three times its current number of pupils. A similar situation, but with an even smaller number of pupils, also exists in Pāvilosta and Rucava, where the primary schools will be merged with nearby pre-school institutions.

https://diena.lv/raksts/latvija/politika/protesta-balsu-zvejotajiem-jadoma-jauni-lozungi-14353238
(...) for some time now our elite have been lacking one thing – the ability simply to talk to each other (...)

Current affairs in cartoons

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-priecigus-janus.43912

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/ar-milestibu-no-rigas-14353221

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-kur-man-tevi-tadu-savitusu-likt.43697

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-pietiek.43759

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