Sector
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-armands-krauze-ka-radit-vel-lielaku-vertibu-latvijas-kokrupnieciba
Latvia's wood-processing industry is one of our economy's strongest and fastest-growing sectors. It is very well developed, processing huge volumes of timber every year and creating high-value-added products (...)
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/samazinajies-meza-iegutas-koksnes-apjoms
According to reports on tree felling submitted and registered by forest owners, 13.8 million m³ of timber was harvested in 2025. Compared with the two previous years, the volume of timber harvesting has fallen.
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/tukuma-darbu-sak-stiga-rm-pasaule-modernaka-akustisko-platnu
With the launch of the new plant, the company is significantly expanding its product range, entering the finishing-materials segment with acoustic panels under the new “Sonablock” brand. The plant is expected to produce more than 4.5 million square metres of panels every year.
https://ir.lv/nauda/iespejas-meza.221284
The global economic shocks three years ago also affected the logging company ZLM. To protect itself against difficulties in the future, it has now opened a veneer-chip production facility. This allows it to sell timber with greater added value.
https://www.silava.lv/images/articles/Aktualitates/2026-04-20-Ciekurs-Kas-notiek-ar-gobam.pdf
In recent years, a deterioration in the health of elm trees has been observed increasingly often across the whole country.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/darzs-un-majas/19.04.2026-malku-un-granulas-eiropa-uzskata-par-nulles-emisiju-kurinamo-lai-gan-ta-nav-kadel.a643448/
The ministry has expressed a wish to reduce fossil fuel use in centralised heating. Heat pumps could serve as an alternative in centralised heating systems. Private homes, too, are gradually switching to this very technology.
Also a current issue for the sector
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-lai-mamma-daba-saskaita.41266
A valuable contribution
https://kurzemesregions.lv/aprili-un-maija-aicinam-klut-par-aleju-detektiviem-kurzeme/
(...) in April and May the Kurzeme Planning Region is continuing the public engagement campaign “Become an Avenue Detective!” under the “Green Guardians” project, inviting residents to take part in identifying and documenting tree avenues in Kurzeme.
Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
25 April: Spring Garden and Plant Festival and Open Day at Bulduri Technical School
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/no-tradicijam-lidz-inovacijam-25-aprili-bulduru-tehnikums-aicina-uz-pavasara-darza-un-stadu-svetkiem-un-atverto-durvju-dienu
1 and 2 May: Latvijas Stādu parāde 2026 (Latvia Plant Parade 2026)
https://kodols.lv/pieriga/sigulda/jau-drizuma-sigulda-notiks-lielakais-stadu-notikums-baltija-latvijas-stadu-parade-2026-201253
13-15 May: International conference “Education, Innovation and Cooperation for the Future of the Regions” at Malnava College
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-02-03/starptautiska-konference-izglitiba-inovacijas-un-sadarbiba-regionu-nakotnei-lbtu
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
Until 26 April: orienteering game at the manor houses of Valmiera municipality “Catch the Hare at the Manor”
https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/apcelo-valmieras-novadu-kerot-zaki-muizas/
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
Official
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/varam-rosina-nodot-velesanu-sistemu-izstradi-sia-latvijas-mobilais-telefons-sia-tet-un-latvijas-valsts-mezi
To ensure the unquestionable legitimacy of the Saeima elections and to avoid possible reputational risks, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development is proposing to hand over the development of the election system to SIA “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons”, SIA “Tet” and AS “Latvijas valsts meži”.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/lauksaimniekiem-zivsaimniekiem-un-mezsaimniekiem-bus-ilgaks-laiks-apgrozamo-lidzeklu-aizdevumu-atmaksai
In response to the crisis in the agricultural sector, and taking into account climate risks, price fluctuations, high costs and several years of losses, the government has extended the repayment deadline for working-capital loans to help farmers overcome their financial difficulties.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/samazina-administrativo-slogu-darzenu-skirnu-kolekcionariem
To reduce the administrative burden on collectors who distribute seeds from their vegetable-variety collections, vegetable-variety collectors will no longer be required to submit a list of varieties intended for distribution to the State Plant Protection Service (...)
Economy
https://www.delfi.lv/898102/versijas/120115100/olegs-umanskis-miljonu-sadardzinajumi-buvniecibas-projektos-nav-nejausiba-ta-ir-sistema-ko-varam-mainit
Another important aspect is the lowest price, or the most economically advantageous solution, as the main criterion in public-sector procurement. In projects of this scale, with implementation periods of five or even ten years, it is almost impossible to ensure the lowest price at every stage.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/21.04.2026-stadu-audzetajiem-sakas-jauna-tirdzniecibas-sezona-spiesti-celt-cenas.a643901/
In other years people could already go and buy in March, but this year in March all the pots were still frozen to the ground even in the sunniest spots, not to mention the shady ones (...)
Science
https://lifeissalaca.silava.lv/iepazistas-ar-upmalu-mezu-apsaimniekosanu/
Although the Protection Zones Law sets restrictions on the management of riverside forests, the approach used so far does not always produce the best result. Every year a considerable amount of sediment ends up in rivers, worsening water quality and reducing its natural self-purification capacity.
https://www.delfi.lv/campus/56036780/zinatne/120115000/maris-zanders-zinatnes-daudzinasana-netrukst-iespejams-neapzinatas-liekulibas
(...) we want science to let us live ever longer, without getting ill. We want science to somehow solve the problems of ecology and resource depletion in such a way that we ourselves don't have to change our consumption habits.
Politics
https://domnicalaser.lv/latvijas-politikas-sistema-cels-uz-ricibspeju
The report offers a comprehensive analysis of Latvia's political system, assessing its capacity to develop and implement effective policy.
Hunting
https://www.latma.lv/latma-bridina-likuma-grozijumi-var-novest-pie-medibu-iecirknu-sadrumstalotibas/
On the agenda were proposals to amend Article 19 of the Hunting Law , including in relation to hunting red deer hinds and calves, by allowing agricultural land to be included in the 1,000-hectare requirement.
https://www.medibam.lv/jauna-medibu-sezona-sakusies-limiti-augs-postijumi-nemazinasies-bet-medibu-likuma-grozijumi-var-sasupot-visu-nozari
We need to continue reducing the damage caused by red deer. Accordingly, the limits will not be reduced in the new season, but increased.
Transport
https://www.apollo.lv/8453956/rigas-centra-gar-daugavu-tiks-izbuvets-velocelins
A cycle path will be built along the Daugava, on the 11. novembra embankment section from the railway bridge to the Vanšu bridge, for EUR 1,285,710 (...)
Environment
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-un-valsts-meza-dienests-stiprina-sadarbibu-dabas-vertibu-aizsardziba-un-datu-apmaina
The new agreement will provide the basis for faster decision-making in cases where it is necessary to assess tree felling in specially protected nature areas or to clarify the boundaries of micro-reserves (...)
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/konsultativaja-grupa-izskata-pilnveidoto-aizsargajamo-juras-teritoriju-dabas-aizsardzibas-planu
The plan provides for transparent administrative oversight and implementation of the MPAs; the refined zoning will allow more effective protection of the most sensitive marine habitats and species, while preserving development opportunities for sustainable fishing, tourism and recreation.
https://www.lasi.lv/latvija-pasaule/ekonomika/zemnieki-proteste-jaunie-dabas-liegumi-jekabpils-novada-sasien-rokas-saimniekiem.41204
Residents of Jēkabpils municipality are opposing the creation of seven new nature reserves, which prevents them from using the land as they see fit.
https://travelnews.lv/
In Latvia too, the number of bears is approaching 200, causing concern in Latvia's rural tourism sector, where considerable funds have been invested. It was precisely during the pandemic that hiking tourism began to develop rapidly in Latvia (...)
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/palu-sezona-latvija-nosledzas-bez-plasa-meroga-pludiem
The spring flood season passed successfully and remained stable throughout its entire period, mainly due to favourable weather conditions, which prevented it from turning into large-scale flooding.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/arpus-etera/arpus-etera/14.04.2026-gatis-krumins-andra-blumberga-klimata-parmainas-un-klimatneitralitate-problemas-un-risinajumi.a642661/
The climate on planet Earth has always been variable. Warmer and colder periods have also influenced the development of all living things. Climate change was the main factor in the extinction of the dinosaurs.
https://klasika.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/meistars-knehts/vai-dabai-var-but-tiesibas-uz-aizsardzibu-sevis-pasas-nevis-cilv.a219636
(...) if nature itself is granted the rights of a legal person, then nature itself could bring the matter to court and seek compensation. Nature's interests, like human interests, would be represented by lawyers, while decisions on going to court could be taken, for example, by specially formed representative bodies.
Miscellaneous
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/vecaki-un-berni/gimene/20.04.2026-attalums-lidz-skolam-un-sliktais-cels-kurinu-gimene-pec-10-gadiem-laukos-parcelas-uz-pilsetu.a643673/
Taking the children to and from school takes the family several hours a day; mum used to drive to pick the children up from school, which basically takes an hour there and back. Yes, the costs and everything together, it seems to her, the state had worked out that life in the countryside ends up much more expensive than in the city anyway.
https://ziemellatvija.lv/ziemellatvija-plus/gatartas-muiza-piedzivo-atdzimsanu/
We reported some time ago that Gatarta manor in Drusti parish was looking for new owners. The Kluči family has become its new owner. The new owners value the breath of history and would like to lend a hand in preserving the historic manor.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-pirmsvelesanu-piedavajumu-darbnica.41153
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-kur-ir-mana-lokomotive.41198