The sector
The main topic of discussion at the event was how forestry work can reconcile climate challenges with economic growth. Experts stressed that sustainable forest management involves not only nature conservation, but also adapting forestry to new challenges, such as increasingly frequent storms and the wider spread of pests. zm.gov.lv
Forest covers 3.45 million hectares in Latvia, which is around 53% of the country's territory. The aim of the guidelines drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture is to set out the strategic directions for the development of the forest sector over the next 25 years. lsm.lv
The Ministry of Agriculture's proposal to lower the final felling age for a number of tree species has stirred up a storm of opinion, provoking squabbles even within the government. Uldis Biķis, Chairman of the Board of Latvijas finieris and Vice-President of the Employers' Confederation, gave his comments on the tv3.lv podcast "Piķis un ģēvelis!".youtube.com
As the spruce forests that are the most widespread in Latvia are increasingly being taken over by the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle and other pests, the Ministry of Agriculture is calling for the felling age for spruce to be lowered from 81 to 51 years, since a growing number of spruces do not live to that age at all.nra.lv
In the first seven months of 2025, Latvia exported wooden furniture worth 108.219 million euros and imported wooden furniture worth 50.21 million euros.db.lv
Sweden has long been regarded as one of the leading examples in forestry, one that others would do well to learn from and adopt good practice from.apollo.lv
...as a former graduate of the Leningrad Forest Technology Academy, I have repeatedly approached former President Egils Levits and Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, and written to the Minister of Agriculture, about increasing the effectiveness of this institute's work. lasi.lv
The aim of the meeting was to discuss and develop a strategy for tackling current problems, including the regulation of the "grey" timber market, as well as the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation and compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive.tvnet.lv
...next to the property he owns, a wood processing company bought land and built an asphalted yard where it debarks logs, stacks them in piles and exports them. The log debarking equipment, as well as the stacking of the timber, creates additional noise and vibration. lsm.lv
Serious changes are currently under way at the Competition Council. For example, in food supervision, where there were two people overseeing these processes, there are now said to be 15. And the Minister of Economics believes that we will see the results of this work in the near future.tvnet.lv
In the Baltics, unlike in Western European countries, there is unused land that ought to be put to use for large-scale afforestation.vs.lv
Representatives of FSC's European countries meet once a year in different countries, both to learn more about those countries and to discuss topical issues, to build the team, and also to assess forest management and plan the following year's activities. Why Latvia this year? Every year countries put themselves forward, and then a vote is held on them.bauskasdzive.lv
On 3 October, the Latgale business forum. "The Latgale formula for economic growth and public benefit: land and people"
4 October, Mushroom Day hike in the Krustkalni Nature Reserve
4 and 5 October, Ķemeri National Park Travellers' Days
On 8 October, the business ideas competition "Green Ideas Gallery" at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Faculty of Economics and Social Development
Legal literacy
The study "Measurement of the Legal Literacy of the Latvian Population 2025" found that people's self-assessment of their legal literacy is influenced mainly by their level of education and income, practical experience in dealing with legal matters, and their choice of information sources.lv.lv
Economy
Meanwhile, by the politician's calculations, roughly 3.9 billion euros from the Cohesion Fund have not been contracted. jauns.lv
A joint venture is to be set up to build the plant. The project plans to attract more than 200 million euros in investment, and within ten years the plant's exports could exceed 3 billion euros. db.lv
The social partners regard as categorically unacceptable the practice introduced by the government of failing to make documents on items included in the agenda of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council available in good time, thereby failing to create the conditions for effective social dialogue and constructive work. lvportals.lv
Energy efficiency
The competition "The Most Energy-Efficient Building in Latvia 2025" has concluded; it has been organised for 15 years now by the Ministry of Economics as part of the "Live Warmer" campaign, in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate and Energy and the Latvian Association of Civil Engineers.kem.gov.lv
To support the plant's operation, Adven is building a renewable steam facility on site that will supply more than 130 GWh of steam a year, powered by local renewable fuel. db.lv
Environment
In Lunkiču bog, located in the "Paņemūnes meži" nature reserve in Bauska municipality, LVM will carry out a range of works to restore the hydrological regime and diversify the structure of the habitats...lvm.lv
The true extent of the damage is hard to assess at present, but according to European Commission data around one million hectares burned in Ukraine in 2024. Over the same period, wildfires in Europe burned an area half that size.lsm.lv
...in recent years there have been several cases in which landowners have destroyed them unlawfully or local government officials have exceeded their powers by issuing unlawful felling permits. Such unauthorised action is against the law and carries criminal liability.daba.gov.lv
So there is a relationship between what nature can provide and how we are able to live. And so we developed the idea of resource accounting – similar to the way money is accounted for – and that was part of my doctoral thesis.lsm.lv
Avenues
The avenues of Padure Manor have already come to the attention of the avenue detective. This means the avenue has been entered into the campaign. Together with Padure local Alise Volanska, author of the book "Padures mozaīka – vēsture uz paša ādas", Latvijas Radio admired the giant lime trees that have grown there for several centuries. She had plenty to tell both about the avenue itself and about Padure.lsm.lv
Compensation
The draft regulations provide for the payment of compensation, including for significant damage caused in 2025 in the agriculture and aquaculture sectors. The damage is most often caused by geese to field bean and winter wheat crops and by bears to apiaries, while cormorants cause losses in the aquaculture sector. varam.gov.lv
Farm management
The past three years have been very good ones for the farm. I built and tested a sustainable system in practice, I came to understand how things fit together, and I grew wiser. This period was a very good test of my business model.lasi.lv
Hunting
...we talk to Jens Ulrik Hoeg, head of the Hunters' Voice Community from Denmark. We delve into the image of hunters and the importance of advocating for hunters' interests, and we look at how to communicate effectively both with the wider public and with anti-hunting groups. medibam.lv
Properties
The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies is putting five properties up for auction.lbtu.lv
Miscellaneous
The new Liepāja prison is designed to hold 1,200 inmates. The complex as a whole will comprise six different buildings. The total area of the site is 305,116 square metres, and the total planned floor area is approximately 37,400 square metres.lsm.lv
Rekova Secondary School is one of three rural secondary schools that Balvi municipality intends to close – that is, to discontinue the secondary education stage. This year it has 25 pupils: 10, 8 and 7 in years 10, 11 and 12 respectively. lsm.lv
The Ethics Council has examined a complaint about the use of the phrase "state media" in reference to Latvian Television in the opinion piece "Prokrieviski sarkans porolona kubs" in the newspaper "Ogres Vēstis Visiem".tvnet.lv
Current affairs in cartoons
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