As spring arrives and weather conditions become favourable, Latvijas valsts meži (LVM) is carrying out forest planting and sowing work across the territory of Latvia. In total, plans this year involve renewing and planting forests on 18.3 thousand hectares.

Of the total area, 0.7 thousand hectares will be renewed by sowing, 1.3 thousand hectares by mechanised planting, 11.4 thousand hectares by manual planting, and about 4.9 thousand hectares will be left to renew naturally.

...in recent years, lending has managed to keep its head above water, and if we look year-on-year, the loan portfolio has grown. That is the good news. But the economy has grown much faster, and therefore the volume of loans relative to the economy has continued to shrink. What does this mean? It means that the volume of investment in the Latvian economy has been weak. It means that the growth of the Latvian economy has been weaker than it could have been, and future growth will also not be powerful enough if investments are not made.

 

Based on information published by the State Revenue Service (VID), Lursoft has calculated that in 2022, companies paid 9.86 billion euros in taxes to the national consolidated budget, including 3.29 billion euros in mandatory state social insurance contributions and 1.72 billion euros in personal income tax.

 

 

The announcement by the coalition of political forces forming Estonia's next government regarding raising the standard VAT rate from the current 20% to 22% may resonate in Latvia, both with an influx of shoppers from our northern neighbour and a desire to increase this tax rate here as well, especially if the state treasury lacks funds for services important to society.

 

 

According to the latest data from the Central Statistical Bureau, 69,000 economically active farms were registered in 2020, managing a total of just under two million hectares of utilised agricultural area (UAA) — or ~31% of Latvia's entire territory. Between 2001 and 2010, the number of farms changed significantly, decreasing by nearly 41%, while the managed UAA areas increased by 8%.

 

 

 

The government has approved regulations prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) for granting support for the implementation of area-related and animal-related commitments for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), establishing the procedures for granting, administering, and supervising support for area- or animal-related or agri-environmental measures. 293 million euros, or 36% of the total funding available for rural development in this planning period, has been allocated for the measures mentioned in the regulations.

 

The government has approved the procedure prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) for the granting, administration, and supervision of state and European Union support for beekeeping, establishing the types of support available to beekeeping and the administration procedure in accordance with the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

 

As inaccurate information about the conditions for EU direct payments (TM) to farmers in 2023 has appeared in the media and social networks, which may create doubts among farmers or discourage them from applying for TM support measures, the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) is clarifying these issues to dispel the concerns of applicants.

 

It is not just the bureaucracy that is worrying, but also its lack of logic. At this moment, when there are about 3 months left until harvest, regulations have been approved that govern how this crop must be grown. The crop has already been growing for at least half a year, and neither crops nor herds are bureaucratic documents – you cannot perform agricultural work with a retrospective date. It is shocking how deep into bureaucracy we intend to drive our country's entrepreneurs and farmers.

 

 

In the discussion, ministers will address the progress of implementing European Green Deal activities and the incentives to facilitate the adoption of the EU growth strategy, which is the foundation upon which EU member states will transform the existing linear economic model into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy.

 

From 2021 to April 2023, the LIFE FOR SPECIES project (Endangered species in Latvia: improved knowledge and capacity, information flow and awareness) carried out an assessment of the status of mammal species and determined the risk levels of species extinction. The assessment was based on the methodology and criteria developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

 

At the end of March, Rīgas meži employees of the Riga forestry department, following a routine inspection of the forest near the Varkaļi channel, discovered that illegal activities were taking place. Specifically, a forest road had been “freshly” dug up, and excavations were also found in the forest — stretching about half a kilometre, containing remains of partially excavated cables; the ground cover, tree roots, and protective belt in the vicinity of the excavations were also damaged.

 

As Agnis Šmits points out to ReTV, treating the tree is practically impossible, but the presence of larvae does not kill the tree immediately, so it would not be felled in a forest, but in public places safety is more important, “We see that those trees are becoming increasingly hollow, rotting, we cannot know at what point they will fall. Maybe the slightest gust of wind is decisive, maybe the trunk stands a bit longer, but the branches... In the low branches, the tunnels have already gone far.”

 

 

The Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) has received information that a brown bear has been spotted in Bolderāja, near the Buļļupe river.

Based on its direction of movement, it looks like it has headed further towards the Ķemeri National Park. The exact route of the bear could only be known if it were equipped with a GPS tracker, but so far in Latvia, no such task has been assigned. Bears are capable of covering very long distances in a short time, and they can also, for example, cross rivers.

 

 

Latvijas valsts meži (LVM) – a partner and patron of the “Family-Friendly Workplace” initiative – participated on 19 April in the conference “Let's build a family-friendly society together!” organised by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF), during which the company was presented with a gratitude award in a new category, “Honourable Employer”.

 

The Jelgava Municipality peat extraction and processing company “Laflora” has started the renovation of the Kalnciems sports field this year, behind the future Peat House at 22 Jelgavas Street. Clearing up the degraded area will provide the residents of Kalnciems with a vitally necessary sports facility — the “Laflora” stadium.

 

So maybe it looks the way it looks, but I, for self-defence purposes — for both my own and my family's self-defence — am taking the path that I am taking. I am also prepared to talk to anyone and explain why this is happening. But I am not prepared to be simply told that I must act this way because it is written down. That is a conversation of biorobots; it is not a human conversation.