Sector
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sabiedriskajai-apspriesanai-nodotas-meza-un-saistito-nozaru-attistibas-pamatnostadnes-lidz-2050-gadam
The guidelines set out a balanced vision between economic activity and nature conservation, providing for up to 30% of forest land to be primarily allocated to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, including up to 10% kept under strict protection, while in the remaining areas sustainable forest management and bioeconomy development are to be promoted.
https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/120127396/prokuratura-prasa-atcelt-valdibas-lemumus-par-atbalstu-kokrupniekiem
The closed part of the official agenda for the Cabinet of Ministers' meeting on 21 July includes an item on a draft reply to the Prosecutor General's Office, but the content of the reply is not publicly available.
https://www.apollo.lv/8513096/premjers-si-valdiba-nevar-juridiski-atcelt-iepriekseja-ministru-kabineta-lemumus-kokrupnieku-atbalsta-lieta
(...) the previous decisions have been taken, the law has been implemented, the work is complete.
https://nra.lv/neatkariga/izpete/526016-latvijas-mezu-apdraudejumi-zinatnieces-baibas-jansones-viedoklis.htm
(...) one of the long-term solutions the sector needs would be a clearer separation of forest functions, reaching political agreement on which areas are intended for economic activity and which give priority to nature conservation. At present all of this takes place in one and the same areas, which creates conflicts of interest.
https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/latvija-izaugusi-berzi-pasaule-konkure-ar-metala-un-naftas-produkciju/
Latvia is the only country in Europe with a wooden icebox of this kind. Elsewhere in the world, too, there is most likely no similar structure.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/ilgtspejiga-mezu-apsaimniekosana-pamats-bioekonomikas-attistibai-un-biologiskas-daudzveidibas-saglabasanai
The forest sector plays a vital role in ensuring public wellbeing, as it delivers economic, social and environmental benefits. At the same time, globally the main causes of declining biodiversity are deforestation, climate change and the use of non-renewable resources.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8045-lvm-un-vivi-vel-astoniem-vilcieniem-pieskir-ar-mezu-saistitus-vardus
(...) eight further electric trains have been given forest-related names – Mellene (Blueberry), Gailene (Chanterelle), Liepa (Lime), Kadiķis (Juniper), Skudra (Ant), Lācis (Bear), Pupuķis (Hoopoe) and Cīrulis (Skylark).
A memorial forest grows
https://www.lmsp.lv/pieminas-mezs-aug
The impact of timber
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/24.07.2026-16-koka-peronu-projekts-kavesies-vismaz-vel-gadu-izmaksas-pieaugs-iespejams-par-70.a656137/
Timber had an impact – quite a lot of it went into the project – and its delivery deadlines had an impact too. When we drew up the schedule last year, everything looked fine, but Riga station took more time than we expected. When we worked it out for ourselves – it's not exactly to our credit, of course, but that's how it is in real life – we calculated an average sort of platform (...)
Worth knowing! Upcoming and ongoing events
25 July: Kaucminde Housewives' Day
https://bauskasdzive.lv/pasakumi/kaucmindes-saimniecu-diena-2026/
31 July (19:00–23:00) “Bat Night Adventure” at the Ligatne Nature Trails
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/siksparnu-nakts-piedzivojums-ligatnes-dabas-takas
1 August Hunters' Festival “Munchausen 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/
3 December: Conference on innovative, science-based solutions for soil improvement in agriculture, crop farming and horticulture
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/konference-kas-2026-gada-izskana-pulces-lauku-atbalsta-dienesta-administretos-petijumus
Until 26 July photo exhibition “My Bird 2026” at the Latvian Museum of Natural History
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/fotoizstade-mans-putns-2026
Until 10 August public consultation on the “stress test” of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/18072-Birds-and-Habitats-Directives-stress-test/public-consultation_lv
Until 15 September we are looking for Latvia's European Tree of the Year (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 timber architecture award, “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 masterclasses at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026
All year National Botanic Garden anniversary event series “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.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8044-izsludinats-konkurss-mezkopibas-darbu-veiksanai-2027-2028-gada
Tender submissions must be lodged in the Electronic Procurement System by 10:00 on 18 August.
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/j-vitenbergs-lai-mazinatu-spriedzi-kurinama-izejvielu-tirgu-latvijas-valsts-mezi-rikos-papildu-izsoli-2026-gada-4-ceturksnim
(...) one of the factors limiting the increase in production capacity is the insufficient availability of raw materials.
https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/izmainas-augu-aizsardzibas-lidzeklu-registra-53
Nine new plant protection products have been added to the register of plant protection products. The registration period for several plant protection products has been extended.
Science
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/lvkki-projekts-ir-starp-pieciem-regiostars-awards-2026-finalistiem-kategorija-zala-eiropa
A project by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Research into the extraction, production and application of high-specific-surface-area betulin particles from birch bark, has reached the final of the European Commission's REGIOSTARS Awards 2026 competition.
Education
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/bulduru-tehnikums-jau-otro-gadu-pec-kartas-ieklauts-darba-deveju-ieteiktako-skolu-top-5
Choosing Bulduri Technical School is a far-sighted decision, since the study process combines theory with strong practical skills.
Economy
https://ltrk.lv/baltijas-valstu-tirdzniecibas-un-rupniecibas-kameras-aicina-premjerus-uznemties-politisko-atbildibu-par-rail-baltica-istenosanu/
(...) business organisations are calling for clear political responsibility to be taken for the successful implementation of the project.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrija-eiropas-komisijas-istenota-arkartas-finansiala-atbalsta-sadale-ir-netaisniga-un-neatspogulo-pierobezas-dalibvalstu-paaugstinato-ekonomisko-ievainojamibu
In the vote, 24 member states supported the European Commission's proposal, two abstained, while Latvia did not support the proposal. In the vote, Latvia stated that emergency support for farmers is essential and necessary under the current circumstances, but that it could not support the proposed regulation and allocation of funding.
https://www.apollo.lv/8513174/ingka-investments-renewable-energy-latvia-balvu-novada-velas-buvet-veja-parku
Ingka Investments Renewable Energy Latvia plans to build the Balvi wind farm in the Balvi, Lazdukalns, Rugāji and Vectilža parishes of Balvi municipality (...)
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/21.07.2026-dala-lauksaimnieku-pierobeza-kritize-altum-bezprocentu-aizdevumu-var-ierobezot-citas-atbalsta-iespejas.a655324/
However, the offer has also proved disappointing for Balvi municipality farmers who qualify for the interest-free loan.
https://inc-baltics.com/ungarijas-otp-bank-kas-joprojam-strada-ari-krievija-iegadasies-luminor/
(...) Hungary stated on several occasions that it would block individual EU decisions on aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia for as long as OTP Bank remained on that list, the AP news agency reported. It was only after talks and OTP's removal from the list that this disagreement eased.
Hunting
https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/lvmi-silava-aicina-piedalities-aptauja-par-medijamo-dzivnieku-populaciju-parvaldibu
We invite everyone interested to take part in the survey and share their views on questions of game animal management!
https://www.latma.lv/augstaka-tiesa-medibu-ierobezojumus-nevar-noteikt-parsniedzot-likuma-pilnvaras/
The hunting organisation BASC considered that the regulator had begun interpreting the law far more broadly than Parliament had intended, creating significant uncertainty for hunting estates and rural businesses. The organisation therefore turned to the High Court, asking it to assess whether Natural England had exceeded its powers.
https://www.medibam.lv/foto-un-video-atnaca-uz-vistu-bufeti-vien-12-kilometrus-no-cesim-lacis-plosa-burus-un-posta-pagalmus
In Raiskums parish, only about 12 kilometres from Cēsis, a bear entered farmyards during the night, tore apart bird and rabbit hutches and gave local residents a considerable fright.
Environment
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/atjaunota-bartas-upe-un-aizsargdambis-pasargas-iedzivotajus-un-lauksaimniecibas-zemes-no-applusanas-riska
Regulation works on the lower reaches of the Bārta river and the construction of a protective dyke were historically carried out back in 1936–1939. Over the long period of use, the watercourse had become overgrown, and sediment and fallen trees had accumulated in its bed, significantly reducing its capacity to carry water away.
https://retv.lv/drosiba/iedzivotaji-atklaj-kapec-dursupe-parrauts-dambis/
https://jauns.tv/video/1284874-specigas-lietavas-talsu-novada-izskalojusas-celu-dursupe
As a result of heavy downpours, the dam of the Dursupe mill pond was breached, the surrounding area was flooded, and several sections of road were washed out, including the Jūrmala–Talsi regional road.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8049-valsts-mezos-atklata-jauna-liela-torngliemeza-atradne
The great tower snail is most often found in old broadleaved forests with a rich understorey and diverse structure – places where natural ecosystem dynamics have been preserved.
Latvia's newest town
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-negu-svetki-carnikava.45350
https://kodols.lv/zinas/pasvaldibas/pec-desmit-gadu-ilgas-gaidisanas-carnikava-ieguvusi-jaunu-statusu-203355
On Thursday the Saeima passed amendments to the Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas, which grant Carnikava town status. The law was considered under an urgency procedure and will come into force on 22 August. On that day, Carnikava will hold its Lamprey Festival.
Miscellaneous
https://www.la.lv/romans-melniks-latvija-joprojam-nav-skaidras-sistemas-kuras-nevalstiskas-organizacijas-un-kapec-valstij-butu-jafinanse
Widespread controversy has been sparked by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs's publicly expressed surprise that the participation of non-governmental organisations in conveying public opinion to politicians within the Memorandum Council is funded from the state budget.
https://lvportals.lv/viedokli/392417-biedriba-tavi-draugi-valsts-neprot-izmantot-nvo-sektoru-sava-laba-2026
(...) I would like to object – no dialogue has developed between the state and NGOs. The sector demands money to carry out its initiatives. Of course, there are also initiatives that are not the most important or necessary. But, in my view, the state does not know how to make use of the NGO sector to its own advantage.
https://www.la.lv/armands-puce-strukturalas-korupcijas-nvo-kapu-svetku-gaidas
You don't need to throw a stone to work out that, anywhere near public administration, it will always hit one of the “memorandum people”. They will never give up defending this arrangement – because it is about a great deal of money, influence and power that they have allotted to themselves.
The news in cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-negantie-pludi.45213
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/inflacijas-dzineji-junija
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/k