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
17-23 September
On forthcoming and ongoing events
### 13th shipment on its way to Ukraine
lmsp.lv · palidzam ka spejam
lmsp.lv · palidzam ka spejam
### 30 September: Forestry Science Afternoon at LVMI "Silava"
### Monday, 19 September, voting began for the European Tree of the Year in Latvia.
We invite you to choose the tree with the most vibrant story, cast your vote, and encourage your relatives, friends, and colleagues to take part!
### 20 October: The annual internal forest industry conference is scheduled at the Jelgava Palace, in the Great Hall of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (formerly LLU). The conference starts at 10:00 and will feature reports on the performance of the forest sector under wartime conditions (presented by a Ukrainian representative), current trends in international markets, an analysis of energy issues, and other topics relevant to the industry.
The conference is an internal event for forest industry companies and organisations, with a limited number of representatives from public administration and "friends of the industry" also attending.
### 20-22 October: 11th International Conference on Biodiversity Research (ICBR 2022) in Daugavpils.
### 28 October: Faculty of Forestry reunion
### LMSP 7th International Conference "Sustainability of land-use sectors – under the conditions of European environmental policy requirements and geopolitical reality" on 3 November at the Faculty of Forestry of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU)
On current events in and around the sector
Since February of this year, when the war in Ukraine began, there has been a very rapid and imbalanced increase in the prices of roundwood, sawn timber, and energy wood. The demand for all types of roundwood in Latvia has increased significantly, which in turn has caused a deficit in the availability of logging and roundwood transport services. Latvian service providers cannot meet this rapid surge in demand in such a short time, as Latvia has been experiencing a shortage of qualified labour for several years, including an acute lack of experienced forest machine operators and timber truck drivers in the forestry sector.
As autumn begins, Latvian heating companies are starting to receive additional supplies of energy wood chips, delivered under existing contracts by the state-owned enterprise AS "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM). In 2022/2023, LVM plans to reach historically high volumes of production and sales of energy wood chips, offering approximately 800,000 bulk cubic metres (about 650,000 MWh) of product suitable for energy generation to the market.
The 2022 "Baltic Brand Forum" has named this year's most loved, greenest, and most human brands in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia across various categories. Based on public evaluation, AS "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM) once again received the top rating in two categories this year – Latvia's greenest and most human brand.
Wood pellets are currently one of the fuels experiencing a significant price increase. Some buyers suspect a potentially artificial deficit to drive up prices. The Competition Council is not currently assessing this market segment and cannot yet confirm suspicions of illegal price fixing. Meanwhile, the industry association denies that there is a shortage of wood pellets in Latvia.
To make the calculation of potential carbon income faster and easier for landowners and forest owners in Europe, and to open up opportunities to earn in the voluntary carbon market, the climate tech start-up Arbonics is launching its unique, data-driven, and science-based technology in Latvia and Estonia today.
Any confirmed attack by a wolf or other large predator on pets or livestock must be reported as soon as possible. Before the arrival of a State Forest Service specialist, specific actions must be taken to help determine the species of the attacker more accurately.
The State Forest Service urges reporting attacks as quickly as possible, as the specialist must examine the scene on the same or the following day; otherwise, the opportunity to confidently identify the attacker's species is lost. It is recommended to report by calling the engineer for hunting matters at the relevant State Forest Service regional office. You may also report to another State Forest Service official or local hunters, who can pass the information on to the appropriate authorities.
In response to accusations from the European Commission (EC) regarding Latvia's inability to cope with sustainable resource management and the improvement of habitat conditions, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) states that it is actively working to complete the 'nature census' process, i.e., the mapping of specially protected habitats of EU significance throughout the territory of Latvia.
For illustration, we recall this: zemeunvalsts.lv · aizliedzot mes it ka rikojamies bet realas politikas nav
For illustration, we recall this: zemeunvalsts.lv · aizliedzot mes it ka rikojamies bet realas politikas nav
On the economy
The Governor of the Bank of Latvia explained that the main reason for the slowdown in the Latvian economy is the energy sector.
For this reason, the winter will be quite difficult. A recession is expected in the Latvian economy, but it will be relatively shallow, meaning the decline will not be very deep. Kazāks added that the downturn will not resemble the situation during the economic crisis more than a decade ago.
"I am very disappointed that all Latvian beer producers, including small breweries, have been excluded from the pool of beneficiaries in the bill recently approved by the Cabinet of Ministers to support energy-intensive manufacturing companies in mitigating the consequences of Russian military aggression against Ukraine. With this decision, the government is saying that it will not help small brewers in Latvia during this difficult time, thereby exposing them to destruction."
This was stated in a press release by the owner of "Valmiermuižas alus", Aigars Ruņģis.
More than 17 million euros in financial support will be available to coastal fishermen of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, as well as for aquaculture investments, until 2029. Of this sum, 2.3 million euros will be available to support coastal fishermen, with 1.61 million euros provided by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and 690,000 euros from the state budget. Meanwhile, 15 million euros is earmarked for aquaculture investments, with 10.5 million euros from EMFAF funding and 4.5 million euros from the state budget.
From 2028, the breeding of farm animals for the sole or primary purpose of fur production will be prohibited in Latvia. This is provided for by amendments to the Animal Protection Law supported by the Saeima in the final reading.
Initially, the changes envisaged implementing the ban from 2026, but the deadline was postponed by two years.
The current deadline has been set so that entrepreneurs can reorient their businesses and the state will not have to pay compensation.
The changes do not prohibit fur production through hunting or the trade of furs.
The farm management software developer "eAgronom" has signed a cooperation agreement with "DOJUS agro", one of the largest agricultural machinery dealers in Eastern Europe, to offer a carbon farming programme to Latvian farmers. The carbon programme developed by "eAgronom" is the first certified carbon programme in Latvia that provides farmers with the opportunity to reduce their negative impact on the environment and generate additional income.
On what is significant
To ensure the preservation, protection, and development of the monument, a separate law for the Lestene Lutheran Church and the World War II memorial site, including the Lestene Memorial, is required, which is being advanced in the Saeima. The law would ensure that the public clearly understands the procedures for the maintenance, use, protection, management, and, most importantly, the funding provided by the state and the local municipality.
Are you yourself a Latvian taxpayer?
Yes. Latvia is Latvia. If I can provide benefits not only musically and by carrying the country's name into the world, then I believe it is my duty in this regard as well.
At a time when the country has found itself in yet another crisis due to global and not-so-global processes, recommendations to start living frugally are increasingly heard from the government and its satellite structures. So far, these calls have mostly been addressed to the population, including the 150,000 minimum wage earners, who are being reminded that the time of affluent living is supposedly over and they will have to correct their hitherto unrestrained spending.
Poverty? Education. Climate change? Education. Pandemic? Education. Cycle paths? Education. Whatever the question, whatever the field of the problem, the answer is always the same – education. It is always needed more and in better quality, because it directly influences absolutely everything.
Insight into foreign news
In a recent vote, the European Parliament approved restrictions on the use of energy wood sourced directly from forests. At the same time, energy sourced directly from forests is indispensable, for example, for Finland as a European country with the largest forest area. "If we suddenly stopped using bioenergy in Finland, we would soon freeze," says Kyösti Turkia, a bioenergy and bioeconomy expert at the Finnish Forest Centre.
"Currently, the only direct access to Europe from Russia is through Finland, because the Baltic states and Poland closed their borders to Russians. At the same time, the Finnish government has been unable to make decisions and has not been prepared to close the eastern border."
A plot of land was once unjustifiably transferred into municipal ownership. Employees of the Volyn regional prosecutor's office managed to return forest fund land worth 21 million hryvnias to the state. This was reported by the department's press service. The case concerns a 9-hectare plot of land.
Agricultural expansion in the tropics is recognised as one of the main causes of deforestation. However, precise data on the link between agriculture and tropical deforestation is lacking.