Weekly review
Poll
Concern about gaps in the skills and knowledge of our pupils is voiced quite widely from time to time. Unfortunately, only when someone from outside Latvia has concluded as much. Why is that?
There is a political tendency to be busy, to invest, to make promises, but not to think about the results
If you have little knowledge yourself, you do not even know how or what you do not know...
A smart society is not always desirable or welcome
Many interests swirl around education. A "good result" is rarely mentioned among them
14-20 January
On industry issues
The State Forest Service reminds forest owners who carried out economic activities in their forests in 2022 that they must submit a report to the service by 1 February.
In accordance with Article 29, part two of the Forest Law, it is the duty of a forest owner or legal possessor to inform the State Forest Service every year by 1 February about forest management activities carried out in the previous calendar year. The report on tree felling, tending of young stands, forest regeneration or afforestation can be submitted either electronically or in paper format.
Latvijas Finieris has its roots in a fairly long history of economic activity – we take 1873 as our first reference point. A long value chain has formed over this time, involving many people across several generations. Looking back at the last 30 years since the joint-stock company was founded, we can see that the branched ecosystem of Latvijas Finieris has essentially acted as a development platform not only for the company's team, but also for many involved processes and cooperation partners.
...by stripping wood of its status as renewable energy, it could have negative consequences for the local energy market in the long term and puts forest owners at a disadvantage compared to other types of wood in biomass markets.
It also reduces the possibilities for making targeted investments in forestry. In the regions, it will affect the general supply of energy from renewable resources and will hinder the ability of forest owners to diversify forest stands with tree species better suited to climate change...
Bark beetles!!!!
The work at “Mežaparks” is also important because a large part of the XXVII General Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival events will take place here in July. Therefore, it is essential that the areas where participants and visitors will stay are as free as possible from dangerous trees, safe, and aesthetically appealing.
The programme 4. studija received a letter from a viewer, Gundars: “In order for a private forest owner to be able to cut firewood in their forest, a felling certificate or permit must be obtained. For 20 years, this service cost 4 euros, but this year it has been increased to 70 euros, which is about a 1700% price hike! Even the prices of Latvenergo and Sadales tīkls pale in comparison. I was surprised by the new Cabinet of Ministers regulations regarding the very high fee for this service. Last year, when I wanted to cut a small clearing slightly larger than a hectare, I had to pay four euros to get this certificate, but this year it is 70 euros. Such a jump – 17 times!”
Last year, there was great interest in the digital forest awareness game for 8th–9th grade students, “Mežotājs”, in which 722 students from 189 classes took part in competitions last year. In turn, a new school forest was opened at Kandava Kārlis Mīlenbahs Secondary School, where hundreds of children will now learn about the diversity of the forest every month.
The Paulis Lejiņš Award in agricultural sciences was awarded to Dr. Biol. Laila Ikase, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Horticulture, for outstanding achievements in apple breeding in Latvia.
“Baloži” achieved its set goals in the field of milled peat extraction, as well as newly extracted cut peat. In the last financial year, 114,000 cubic metres of milled peat were extracted, and 66,000 cubic metres of new cut peat were harvested.
On the economy
The year 2023 has brought new challenges not only for the Latvian economy and business environment, but also for the European Union (EU) and the global economy as a whole. To mitigate the negative consequences of the economic crisis, improve the business environment and promote the competitiveness of European entrepreneurs, the EU has set several priorities for this year to stimulate economic and business development through well-considered decisions and appropriate support measures. A certain buzz in everyday European life will also be brought about by the upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections.
It would be useful for the state to conduct an audit of various policies and budget expenditures in order to abandon unnecessary or ineffective measures.
In the view of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LTRK), the largest association of entrepreneurs in Latvia, the rules developed by the government to increase energy efficiency in business will not achieve the set goal.
Latvia has set itself the goal of being a Baltic economic hub that more and more companies choose as their home and which allows local businesses to develop successfully. And the key to this is tax reform. Specifically for improving the business environment, it is essential to continue reducing labour taxes much more purposefully and at a faster pace.
On the industry's opponents
Until the moment Aiga Grasmane was invited to be an advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, this article, it seems, did not bother anyone...
On environmental matters
Last year, nature conservation in Latvia celebrated its 110th anniversary. The foundations for this field were laid in June 1912, when Moricsala was granted the status of the first specially protected nature territory. Many significant natural values in Latvia have been preserved thanks to the introduction of nature conservation practices, including the establishment of 658 specially protected nature territories covering ~18% of the country's area, where the natural values found are rare not only on a Baltic scale, but also on a European one.
Fish kills in natural waters have been observed before, both in Latvia and elsewhere in the world. To better understand last year's situation and prevent such a situation from recurring in the future, it is important to obtain current information on the ecological quality of Lake Rāzna more frequently than at present [once every two years], which is why we have approached the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) with a request to ensure annual water quality monitoring of Lake Rāzna and to carry out sample collection every three months.
“Zaļā brīvība” believes that this is the right moment to invest every available euro in local renewable energy – both in the production of electricity and heat. Various technological solutions are already available in Latvia to store and balance energy produced in this way. A recently published study, developed by experts from the “Future Energy Leaders in Latvia” programme, concludes that there is a high probability that natural gas consumption by 2030 will be half that of the 2021 level. Experts predict that with the development of green hydrogen, an even greater reduction in natural gas consumption is possible.
On achievements in science in 2022
On floods. Various
He emphasised that protective structures in municipalities must be managed in such a way that cities do not suffer even in major floods. In Latvia, it is usually the same municipalities that suffer from floods, and they are already known, the politician added.
What on earth was the large army of hydrology and dam-building specialists doing before the flooding in Jēkabpils, who are now busily educating the public on social media about the causes of the disaster and suggesting various options for controlling the waters?
She explained that there have been thaws in winter before, even in the 60s and 70s, but not thaws intense enough for the ice to break up on the big rivers as early as winter. Krūmiņa confirmed that frazil ice in the middle of winter is becoming an increasingly frequent phenomenon.
The expert also said that this is one real example of climate change: “Those that have already happened, and these are real consequences that we are currently experiencing. It is a very vivid example.”
Nothing indicated that catastrophic floods were to be expected in mid-January, in which the water level would come close to that which the Daugava reached near Jēkabpils during the catastrophic floods on 31 March 1981.
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