Sector
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valainis-uzdod-istenot-tulitejus-pasakumus-lvm-parvaldibas-pilnveidei
Based on the findings of the audit, the acting Minister of Agriculture has issued an order to the Ministry of Agriculture to implement specific measures, setting clear deadlines for their completion.
https://www.lrvk.gov.lv/lv/jaunumi/nepilnibas-as-latvijas-valsts-mezi-parvaldiba-liecina-par-zemkopibas-ministrijas-atbildiguma-trukumu
https://www.lrvk.gov.lv/lv/revizijas/revizijas/noslegtas-revizijas/as-latvijas-valsts-mezi-parraudzibas-efektivitate
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/21.05.2026-generalprokurors-valsts-kontroles-revizija-bus-pamata-pieradijums-kokrupnieku-lieta-tas-secinajumi-ir-iznicinosi.a648134/
Significant shortcomings have been found in the management of AS “Latvijas valsts meži”, including in strategic and dividend planning, the handling of free financial resources, and in oversight by the Ministry of Agriculture as the holder of the state's capital shares.
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/latvija/zinas/krauze-atbildiba-par-atbalstu-kokrupniekiem-jauznemas-tm-fm-un-silinai-14352133
(...) the state must have a mechanism to help sectors of the national economy, and they cannot simply be left to their fate. He disagrees that the state should not intervene and should leave the sector to the mercy of the free market, which, according to Krauze, could lead to hundreds of workers in the wood-processing sector being laid off.
https://tv3.lv/zinas/ekonomika/pikis-un-gevelis/kokrupnieku-krimikis-un-kangaru-koalicija-pikis-un-gevelis-ciemos-andris-ramolins/
(...) discusses with Andris Ramoliņš, head of the wood-processing company “Stiga RM”, both the so-called wood-processors' scandal and how the sector has changed and developed over the years.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/lidz-20-maijam-dzesti-169-meza-ugunsgreki
This year the State Forest Service has already recorded and extinguished 169 forest fires covering a total area of 170 hectares, of which 40.6 hectares were young stands that had burned.
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/rigas-mezi-si-gada-vasaras-puku-dobes-velta-galvaspilsetas-vesturei-kulturai-un-cilvekiem
This year themed flower beds will be created in eight Riga parks and squares (...)
Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
22 and 23 May: “Latvijas Meža dienas” (Latvia Forest Days)
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7854-latvijas-meza-dienas-tervete-notiks-22-un-23-maija
23 May: Whitsun plant parade in Ropaži
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/pirmo-reizi-ropazos-notiks-vasarsvetku-stadu-parade
5 June: conference “Science and Industry for National Security: From Food Systems to High Technology”
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-05-12/lbtu-notiks-augsta-limena-ekspertu-konference-zinatne-un-industrija-valsts
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 24 May: in Rēzekne, the exhibition “From Latvian Roots to World Summits”
https://www.finieris.com/lv/latgales-vestnieciba-gors-skatama-izstade-par-koksnes-nozimi-bioekonomika-un-rupnicas-verems-attistibu/
Until 31 May: the exhibition “Peat. Getting Acquainted” at Bauska Museum.
https://bauskasdzive.lv/kultura-un-izklaide/bauskas-muzeja-aplukojama-unikala-izstade-kudra-partapusi-makslas-darbos/
Until 31 May: the public engagement campaign “Become an Avenue Detective!”
https://kurzemesregions.lv/aprili-un-maija-aicinam-klut-par-aleju-detektiviem-kurzeme/
Until 26 July: the photo exhibition “My Bird 2026” at the Latvian National Museum of Natural History
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/fotoizstade-mans-putns-2026
Baloži peat museum railway excursions in 2026
https://kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijas
Garden days and masterclasses at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026
Economy
https://www.bank.lv/aktualitates-banklv/zinas-un-raksti/jaunumi/17658-izstradatas-vadlinijas-dabas-daudzveidibai-labveligas-un-nelabveligas-saimnieciskas-darbibas-identificesanai
The sectors included in the guidelines – agriculture (crop and livestock farming), forestry, energy, and building and civil-engineering construction – were selected on the basis of two mutually complementary considerations.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/22.05.2026-schwenk-latvija-brocenos-plano-investet-vairak-neka-500-miljonus-eiro-klimatneitralas-cementa-razosanas-attistiba.a648289/
As part of the project the company plans to install carbon-capture equipment at its cement plant in Brocēni, Saldus municipality. The goal is to create the first CO₂-neutral cement plant in the Baltics by 2032.
https://zz.lv/projekti/no-petniecibas-lidz-nosargatai-jurai/
This data also makes it possible to forecast future opportunities. By developing offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea, modernising ports and expanding seafood production, Latvia could increase both its energy independence and coastal employment.
Knowledge
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-05-22/idejas-inovacijas-un-sadarbiba-vieno-ekspertus-lbtu-malnavas-koledza
The next two presentations were devoted to education and other current issues in the woodworking sector (...)
Hunting
https://www.medibam.lv/uzmanibu-sakta-iniciativa-par-drosibu-latvijas-mezos-un-lacu-populacijas-ierobezosanu
The initiative's submission stresses that the brown bear population in Latvia has grown significantly in recent years, increasingly creating conflicts between nature conservation, public safety and economic activity.
https://www.latma.lv/meza-dzivniekam-ir-jabaidas-no-cilveka-igaunijas-mednieki-bridina-par-cilvekbailu-zudumu/
In Estonia, the bear population has grown significantly in recent years. At the same time, there are increasingly frequent reports of bears near settlements, apiaries, farms, roads and rural homes. Bears damage beehives, attack livestock and are coming into contact with people ever more often.
Environment
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-latvijas-regionos-aicina-uz-seminariem-par-invazivo-augu-sugu-ierobezosanu
The Nature Conservation Agency's LIFE programme project “LatViaNature” is inviting local government representatives and residents to seminars on 26 May and 11 and 16 June, where invasive-species experts will present various methods for controlling invasive plant species and the first scientific findings on their effectiveness under Latvian conditions.
https://www.medibam.lv/kulas-dedzinasana-posta-dabu-un-nogalina-dzivniekus-lidz-20-maijam-dzesti-169-meza-ugunsgreki
We have previously reported that, due to severe drought and human carelessness, the number of forest and dry-grass fires has risen significantly this spring. Registered cases of last year's grass burning have already exceeded 2025's statistics.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/22.05.2026-kanala-riga-iegazusies-vairak-neka-gadsimtu-sena-peleka-apse.a648301/
Those responsible for Riga's parks and gardens named the steep slope, beaver burrows and partial root rot as the likely causes of the tree breaking.
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/rigas-mezi-un-dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-aicina-ko-ienes-meza-to-iznes-no-meza
To prevent damage to the forest ecosystem and ensure a clean, pleasant environment for visitors, public waste bins will be removed from Biķernieki and Šmerlis forests. Unfortunately, visitors regularly left not only small litter generated during walks but also household waste bags in them.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/piektaja-krupju-glabsanas-kampana-izglabti-tris-ar-pusi-tukstosi-abinieku
(...) 192 volunteers took part in the campaign, saving three and a half thousand amphibians on roads across Latvia over nine days in total, most of them common toads – the 2026 Animal of the Year.
https://www.jelgavniekiem.lv/zinas/novadu-zinas/jelgavas-novada-stiprina-zinasanas-un-sadarbibu-invazivo-sugu-parvaldiba/
Several pilot areas have been established in Latvia and Lithuania as part of the project, where methods for controlling invasive species are being tested and demonstrated, alongside expert exchange visits. In Jelgava municipality, the pilot area is in Bērvircava, where measures are being implemented to control the Spanish slug. The area covers both regularly mown meadows and overgrown riverbank zones that serve as a habitat for the spread of the invasive species.
Horrors and the market
(Jelgava residents will understand) https://www.jelgavniekiem.lv/zinas/jelgavas-zinas/jelgavas-tirgus-bus-tikai-jaunas-ekas-nomnieks/
On 18 May, an extraordinary sitting of Jelgava city council considered the question of concluding a building-right renewal agreement concerning two municipally owned plots of land, on which, among other things, the new Jelgava market stands.
Miscellaneous
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/kino-foto-un-tv/21.05.2026-foto-filma-ula-kannu-kinofestivala-ar-ovacijam-piedzivo-pirmizradi.a648229/
Interest in the Latvian film “Uļa” is being shown by both international media and film-industry representatives.
https://tv3.lv/zinas/ekonomika/pikis-un-gevelis/cirks-teatris-un-latvijas-politikas-sistema-pikis-un-gevelis-ciemos-daunis-auers/
(...) discusses with Daunis Auers, chairman of the board of the Latvian Institute of Strategic and Economic Solutions LaSER, the fall of the government and how this political knot might unravel.
https://lvportals.lv/viedokli/389712-vesturnieks-ulmanim-nebija-skaidras-idejas-par-jaunu-konstitucionalo-ietvaru-2026
Extremely interesting processes took place in Latvia, through which it is possible to look at developments elsewhere in Europe from a new perspective.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/tehnologijas-un-zinatne/13.05.2026-kapec-nezinosi-cilveki-ir-tik-drosi-par-savam-zinasanam-jeb-kas-ir-daninga-krigera-efekts.a646936/
People are asked – please spell this word correctly. Those who spell it most incorrectly think they have spelt it correctly, while those who spell it most correctly assume they might have made mistakes and slightly underrate their own skill (...)
https://satori.lv/article/nenopietni-cilveki
The ease with which officials have created political turmoil suggests that these people do not themselves believe what they so often declare, that Latvia is living under conditions of “hybrid war” and “great challenges”. Mutual grievances and dislike in politics are just as common as in any other profession.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-pragmatiska-izvele.42386
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-hokeja-kaislibas.42533
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/kulbergs-un-latvija-14352104
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/drons-valdibu-gazejs-14351830
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-kartibas-rullis.42109
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-netelojiet-varonus.42244