The sector

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/meza-ipasniekiem-bus-javeic-mazak-atkartotu-merijumu-vienkarsos-meza-apsaimniekosanas-kartibu
On 18 August the government approved amendments to several forest sector regulations in order to reduce the administrative burden, simplify existing procedures and make more effective use of the data available in the State Forest Register and of the possibilities offered by modern technology.

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vienkarsos-koku-cirsanas-kartibu-arpus-meza-un-mazinas-administrativo-slogu
(...) on 18 August the government approved amendments to the regulations on felling trees outside the forest. They will reduce the number of cases in which a local government permit is needed, while retaining protection for especially valuable trees and for the habitats of protected species.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8076-valsts-meza-zeme-ka-kompensacija-sabiedribai-nozimigu-projektu-istenosana
(...) whether a land unit that may be used as a form of compensation is equivalent to the property being expropriated is decided by the ministry implementing the project of public importance, together with a fair compensation commission set up for the purpose.

https://jauns.lv/raksts/bizness/722761-video-vai-nakotne-latvija-bus-plika-un-nabaga-kas-tev-jazina-par-mezu-apsaimniekosanu
To ensure that forest resources are preserved for future generations, sector specialists draw attention to the decisive importance of a long-term strategy.

https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/37264250/biznesa_vide/120130722/stiga-rm-plano-iegadaties-meza-ipasumus-2000-hektaru-platiba
The total area managed by Stiga RM currently amounts to 13,500 hectares. With the planned purchase of forest properties, the company will manage properties covering almost 15,500 hectares (...)

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/17.08.2026-kiberuzbrukums-latvijas-valsts-meziem-parprotot-zimi-uznemums-divus-gadus-nenoversa-ievainojamibu.a659082/
From now on we speak not of four eyes but of six and eight. We treat with far greater care any emails, any information that contains anything about a vulnerability (...)

Worth knowing! On coming and current events

On 5 September the central event of the National Botanic Garden’s anniversary year, “Joy grows in the garden!”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-ieludz-uz-70-jubilejas-svinibam

On 6 September a themed trip to experience the hydrangea flowering festival in Kalsnava
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8074-lvm-un-vivi-aicina-doties-tematiska-brauciena-uz-hortenziju-ziedesanas-svetkiem-kalsnava

On 8 October, Forest Sector Industry Day
https://inovacijas.lu.lv/par-mums/zinas/zina/t/110507/

On 29 October the LMSP 11th international conference “The environment and sustainable forest and land management: the most topical solutions”. At the LBTU Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences

On 3 December, a conference on innovative science-based solutions for improving soil in agriculture, crop growing and horticulture
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/konference-kas-2026-gada-izskana-pulces-lauku-atbalsta-dienesta-administretos-petijumus

Until 15 September we are looking for the European Tree of the Year in Latvia (a tree with a story)
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/eiropas-gada-koks-latvija-2026-meklejam-koku-ar-stastu

Until 30 September we invite you to take part in the vote for the first European wooden architecture award, the “WoodPoP Dara Award 2026”
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/kokaudzetava-zabaki-pretende-uz-eiropas-meroga-atzinibu-nobalso

Baloži peat museum railway excursions in 2026
https://kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijas

Garden days and master classes at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026

All year the National Botanic Garden’s cycle of anniversary events “Nature in the garden”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-70-jubilejas-gada-katru-menesi-aicina-uz-aizraujosiem-pasakumiem

Official

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/iepakojuma-regulas-piemerosana-latvija-japilda-es-atbilstibas-deklaracija-jauna-razotaju-registracijas-kartiba-stasies-speka-2028-gada
From 12 August 2026 the first requirements of the European Union Packaging Regulation begin to apply in the European Union and in Latvia.

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valdiba-apstiprina-zemkopibas-ministrijas-izvirzitos-tris-lbtu-padomes-loceklus
On 18 August the Cabinet of Ministers approved three members of the council of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU): Signe Bāliņa, Arnis Muižnieks and Juris Zīvarts. The composition of the new council will strengthen LBTU’s strategic development, the quality of study and science, and the university’s competitiveness.

https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/varam-ministrs-edgars-tavars-uzsak-patstavigas-iestades-statusa-atjaunosanu-nacionalajam-botaniskajam-darzam
Attaching the Latvian National Botanic Garden to the Nature Conservation Agency was a mistaken decision, and we are now correcting that mistake. Experience so far has shown that, contrary to what was promised, the reorganisation has increased bureaucracy and slowed decision-making, and agreeing particular documents sometimes takes months.

The economy

https://db.lv/zinas/csp-publice-krievijas-un-baltkrievijas-importetaju-un-eksportetaju-sarakstu-ieklauts-171-uznemums
the discussion about publishing the lists resumed after the Saeima had called on the government to make such information available. Implementation of the idea was held back by a lack of legal framework, including restrictions on the confidentiality of information held by the tax administration.

https://www.tvnet.lv/8528358/noskaties-ar-valdibas-piekrisanu-rigas-autoosta-nonak-privatas-rokas
The privatisation of the bus station began back in the last century. In 2000 the government of Andris Šķēle decided to transfer half of the bus station’s shares to Rīga City Council and to offer the rest to private shareholders.

https://tv3.lv/dzivesstils/darzs-un-maja/saldakie-arbuzi-nav-meklejami-dienvidos-bet-gan-tepat-latvija-ka-tos-audze-pie-mums/
Although watermelons grow in large quantities in Latvia and are genuinely sweet, they are still not recognised as a crop traditional to Latvia. Insurers, too, are unwilling to insure watermelons.

Science

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/mezs-ekstremalos-apstaklos-ka-vetras-un-klimata-parmainas-ietekme-latvijas-mezus
A conversation about the forest in extreme conditions matters not only to forest owners and sector professionals. Storms and other natural disturbances affect the landscape, infrastructure, biological diversity and people’s safety.

Hunting

https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/22-augusta-sakas-udensputnu-medibu-sezona
Under the changes to the Hunting Regulations the waterfowl hunting season begins on 20 August and continues until 15 December. Since 20 August is a Thursday, the waterfowl hunting season begins on 22 August, which is a Saturday.

The environment

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8079-lvm-revitalize-derigo-izraktenu-ieguves-vietu-jauns-mezs-un-pludmales-zona
(...) an area of 1.7 hectares has been prepared for establishing a new forest, with part of the territory set aside for recreation, for creating a beach.

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/drizuma-saksies-liela-kemeru-tirela-atjaunosanas-darbi
The aim of the planned work is to improve the condition of protected bog habitats of EU importance, to reduce the effect of drainage and to restore the hydrological regime characteristic of a bog, benefiting 98 ha of bog territory.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/20.08.2026-dabas-aizsardzibas-vieta-koksnes-ieguve-ornitologijas-biedriba-satraukta-par-mezu-nakotni.a659591/
The public consultation on the guidelines runs for barely another week. People can express their view on what forest management should be like (...)

https://satori.lv/article/temas-kuras-politikiem-nepatik
We may not argue about the causes of climate change, but we should at least establish whether our own firefighting and rescue structures are ready for forests to burn more often and more aggressively. That means additional equipment, skills and funding have to be planned in good time.

https://www.jelgavniekiem.lv/zinas/novadu-zinas/uzsakti-elejas-muizas-parka-mezaparka-labiekartosanas-darbi/
The aim of the project is to restore the historic composition of the park landscape and the walking route, preserving the historic plantings as far as possible.

Topical matters in cartoons

https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-granulu-nav.46360

https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/bulgaru-radio-latvija

https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/rail-baltica-cirpejs

https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-romans-vitkovskis-risinajums-atrasts.46557