Worth knowing! Upcoming events
Until 10.00 on 11 July it is possible to apply for the open tender “Management of habitats of protected species and biotopes of European Union importance in 2024 and 2025”
Until 26 July it is possible to apply for the open tender “Provision of forest regeneration, tending and protection services in 2025-2027”
Sēlija Rose Festival on 6 July
An opportunity and an invitation to take part in an LBTU study on food waste
The “Ziedu ceļos” campaign runs from 1 February to 30 October
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
From 29 June – the Baloži peat railway excursion timetable for this summer, together with more detailed information.
https://www.kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijasHikes in the Krustkalni Nature Reserve on 31 August, 21 September and 12 October
From 18 May the exhibition “From birch seed to betulin” at the Pharmacy Museum
From 21 May the campaign “Natura 2000 – Latvia’s outstanding natural sites”
27-29 March 2025, 12th Baltic Theriological Conference “Baltic mammals in the turbulence of anthropogenic tensions”
On industry matters
In line with the development plan for the “Sēlija” military training ground, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” has begun the first deforestation works on state-owned land, covering an area of 450 hectares. The first stage of the project to create the new military training ground is due to be completed by 2025.
On 14 June a new veneer plant, “Kuldīgas fabrika”, opened in Kuldīga, equipped with technology that is unique worldwide and makes it possible to obtain the maximum possible veneer yield from every birch log. Around 16 million euros have been invested in the production building, equipment, technology and landscaping of the site.
The largest solar power plant to date built for a company’s own consumption has opened in Lizums, Gulbene municipality; it was developed by the woodworking company “AVOTI” and the local business group “AJ Power”.
The general meeting of the European Panel Federation will discuss the role of the North-Eastern European region in plywood production.
On 20 June, 136 graduates of the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies received their higher education diplomas, of whom 111 completed bachelor’s programmes and 25 master’s programmes.
On official matters
On 17 June 2024 the European Union Environment Council met in Luxembourg, approving the proposal for a regulation on nature restoration, as well as Council conclusions on the mid-term review of the 8th Environment Action Programme and the Council’s general approach on amendments to the Waste Framework Directive.
Latvia supports the aim of the planned directive – to introduce clear rules that would protect consumers from greenwashing, strengthen their rights and promote sustainable consumption and the green circular economy in the European Union. At the same time, however, Latvia considers that the solution proposed in the directive would place too great an administrative burden both on businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises, and on supervisory authorities.
On 18 June the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development’s amendments to the law “On Subterranean Depths”, thereby improving the subsoil management system and encouraging the sustainable and efficient use and control of subsoil resources.
The Council meeting is intended to agree on the key principles for the work of the EU agricultural sector in the next EU programming period, 2028-2034, even though on many issues there is still no consensus among the member states.
This year the “Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia” competition received a total of 43 entries, of which the largest number – 32 – are competing for the title in the category “Most Energy-Efficient Renovated Apartment Building in Latvia 2024”.
On the Tree of the Year – the Kaņepju Oak
On the economy
The change of brand will take place gradually, because the pharmaceutical industry is strictly regulated and changes will also have to be made to the registration certificates of all medicines, which takes time owing to the procedures at the supervisory authorities.
The European Commission has not identified an excessive budget deficit or macroeconomic imbalance in Latvia.
On 19 June the Golden Field Factory LV protein plant, located in the Karosta Industrial Park, was officially opened. With the building of the Golden Field Factory LV plant, the processing of agricultural products has returned to Liepāja and the first investment from the United Arab Emirates and the USA has arrived.
Take care on the roads, along the roads and when choosing your route!
When planning weekend trips, drivers should expect traffic restrictions on stretches of road undergoing repairs. In the Riga area, meanwhile, traffic may be slow from the middle of the day onwards.
On some stretches under construction the number of temporary traffic lights has been reduced over the holiday weekend, but most of them will remain, and in heavy traffic drivers should expect longer journey times. Please observe the road traffic regulations on stretches under construction and do not drive through a red light!
The reconstruction of the bridge over the Abava on the local road Dziļkalni–Pūre (V1464) has begun in Pūre parish, Tukums municipality. A one-kilometre stretch of road V1464 on either side of the bridge will also be rebuilt. The works will last until the spring of next year.
The bridge, built in 1978, will be demolished and a new reinforced concrete bridge built in its place. Dismantling work has already begun and traffic over the old bridge is closed
...the stretches from Zemīte to the boundary of Saldus municipality will be rebuilt, as will the bridge over the River Vēdzele. The works, which local people have waited 45 years for, will last until the end of this year’s construction season.
On environmental matters
Twenty years have passed since Latvia joined the European Union and became part of the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. How Latvia has fared over those years, how we look on the overall Natura 2000 map, and what still remains to be done.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/lauksaimnieki-mazak-piesakas-atlaujam-zosu-letalajai-atbaidisanai
According to the information available to the Agency there are several reasons for this, but the main ones are farmers’ attempts to use other methods of deterring migratory birds first, as well as the fact that the use of firearms is permitted for hunters, and not all farmers are also hunters.
Textile collectors promise to give the items a second life and to donate them to charity. The conditions are the same everywhere — the clothing must be clean and undamaged. Even so, it is only a matter of time before these clothes and shoes end up back in the retail chain.
On the urban environment
There are several thousand buildings in the centre of Riga whose condition is getting steadily worse. To keep them in the same condition as they are now, half a billion euros would have to be invested every year.
Jelgava has considered a residents’ submission calling for a halt to the drafting of a detailed plan for the meadow opposite Jelgava Palace. The submission has been signed by more than 300 Jelgava residents, and a small protest was already held this week; residents are protesting against the landowner’s plan to build a shopping centre there.
On beer
Alcohol-free beer is offered both by small craft breweries and by large producers. Over the past four years the range in this segment has only grown and buyers have ever more choice. Another important trend – demand for kvass is also rising.
...since 2016 more imported beer than local beer has been drunk in Latvia, which is completely at odds with the interests of small brewers and of the country as a whole.
Topical matters in cartoons
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