21-27 June - Zeme un valsts

21-27 June

In the industry
 
The state budget could be 200 million better off if the permitted felling volumes in state forests were increased. Forestry specialists also agree that felling rules could be made more flexible, but environmental organisations are firmly opposed.
 
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sia-bulduru-tehnikums-klust-par-eiropas-arboristu-padomes-kokkopja-sertifikacijas-centru
Bulduri Technical School has been officially recognised as an accredited certification centre of the European Arboricultural Council for organising "European Tree Worker" examinations. This approval is a significant step in the development of arboriculture in Latvia and is a testament to the school's long-standing work in strengthening education and professional qualifications.
 
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/uznemeja-diena/zinas/latvija-ir-apjomigas-mezu-platibas-un-malkas-netrukst-14337845
In our country, the efforts to restrict the use of firewood, pellets and wood chips for heating homes have no rational justification.
 
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/no-berza-seklas-lidz-betulinam
...the exhibition is a way of showing the wider public the vast body of knowledge and experience that has built up in Latvia in researching and processing the birch, a tree so characteristic of our landscape.
 
Washouts most often form in places where rainwater drainage is obstructed, or where the road structure cannot withstand strong water flows. The risk is particularly high in places where the surrounding terrain is pronounced, especially on the lower sections of a road, where culverts tend to become blocked with branches, gravel and plant debris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35mkeR-lH30
Institutions on holiday, residents in shock, hunters raising the alarm. A bear in Vilnius. Forest news #10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXJfKauqEpE
A lynx catches a cat in a yard, bears almost climb into a boat, and a wolf pesters an elk. Forest news #11

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-O-VXMcvK-w
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TQDAScgyFqM
What does Meža Draugs say and explain?

Worth knowing! About upcoming and current events

Baloži peat railway excursions in 2025
https://www.bdklubs.lv/lv/ekskursijas

The exhibition "What was rustling in the forest?" on the Līgatne nature trails
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/ligatnes-dabas-takas-atklata-jauna-ekspozicija-kas-meza-brikskinaja

From 21 June, the exhibition "From birch seed to betulin", created by AS "Latvijas Finieris" and its partners, is on permanent display at the environmental education centre of the National Botanic Garden of Latvia, "Botania" in Salaspils
https://www.finieris.com/lv/izstade-no-berza-seklas-lidz-betulinam-turpmak-bus-skatama-latvijas-nacionala-botaniska-darza-vides-izglitibas-centra-botania/

From 28 June to 14 September, Home Café Days
https://www.delfi.lv/56414296/komercials-saturs/120077698/saksies-ikgadejais-latvijas-garsu-celojums-majas-kafejnicu-dienas-2025
https://majaskafejnicas.lv/

From 12 April to 27 July, the photography exhibition "My Bird 2025" at the Latvian Museum of Natural History
https://www.dabasmuzejs.lv/lv/aktualitates/fotoizstade-mans-putns-2025

All through June, the Peony Flower Parade 2025
https://staburags.lv/visu-juniju-krasni-peoniju-ziedesanas-svetki-lvm-arboretuma-kalsnava/

From 28 May to 27 July, a solo exhibition by Prof. A. Barševskis "Peonies"
https://du.lv/aktualitates/atklata-arvida-barsevska-fotografiju-izstade-peonijas/

Until 30 June, a competition and an invitation to build the "Rīga Forests Sound Bank" together
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/konkurss-piedalies-rigas-mezu-skanu-bankas-veidosana

19 July, the Dienvidkurzeme Municipality Hunters' Festival
https://www.medibam.lv/34305-2
 
14 and 15 August, the first teachers' development forum DABĀ
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7587-skolotaj-piesakies-izaugsmes-forumam-daba
 
20-22 August, the international scientific conference "Sustainable Horticulture from Plant to Product: Challenges in a Temperate Climate – 2025", organised by the Institute of Horticulture
https://www.darzkopibasinstituts.lv/lv/conference
 
4 September, "Green Classroom" at Sarkaņkalns in Rēzekne Municipality
http://www.sarkankalns.lv/pasakumi/zala-klase/

12 September, "Forest Science in the Blue Hills", Ogre Blue Hills

15-19 September, the international scientific conference EuroDendro
 
30 October, the LMSP 10th International conference "Scientific, economic and social aspects of natural resource use in the current environmental and geopolitical context" at the LBTU Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences

About and around current affairs outside Latvia

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/mezi-neieklaujas-eiropas-komisijas-scenarija
In mature forests, growth slows down and they face greater climate impacts. Forests cannot accumulate biomass indefinitely.

https://www.lmsp.lv/igaunija-atsakas-no-merka-sarazot-visu-valsti-izmantojamo-elektroenergiju-sarazot-no-atjaunojamajiem-resursiem
The bill was in line with a clause in the previously signed coalition agreement, which contained precisely this commitment. The explanatory memorandum did not include a substantive impact assessment, and there was no evaluation of whether such a target is actually achievable in Estonia at all.

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/asv-atcel-noteikumus-par-meza-celu-izbuvi-laujot-palielinat
"We have so many environmental restrictions... We have more forests than almost anyone else. We don't need timber from elsewhere. We don't need trees from Canada or any other country," Donald Trump emphasised.

https://www.lmsp.lv/izraelas-un-iranas-konflikts-rada-realus-draudus-kokmaterialu-tirdzniecibai-tuvajos-austrumos
While oil and oil product prices are the main news topic, timber traders are particularly interested in developments in the Persian Gulf region.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/26.06.2025-lietuva-pienem-progresiva-ienakuma-nodokla-likumu-lauksaimniekiem-nosaka-atvieglojumus.a604571
On Thursday, the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, backed the introduction of three progressive income tax brackets from next year, though farmers will be granted concessions.

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/afrikas-sarkankoka-mizu-var-izmantot-medikamentu-razosana
In research, these chemical compounds show considerable biological activity and may possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial or even anti-cancer properties. This is, in fact, the first and most important step towards discovering a new pharmaceutical application for wood residues.

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/lai-ierobezotu-letu-importu-jauns-likumprojekts-asv-paredz-nodoklu
US homeowners could receive tax rebates on purchases of flooring, panelling, joinery products, cabinets, windows and also roof windows made from US hardwood (rather than cheap artificial substitutes), under a new bill submitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Economy
 
https://www.lrvk.gov.lv/lv/aktualitates/valsts-kontrole-sniedz-priekslikumus-miljonos-meramiem-ieguvumiem-valsts-budzeta
The State Audit Office has sent the Saeima, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance a summary of the recommendations made in State Audit Office audits that have yet to be implemented, along with other audit findings and conclusions that could have a positive impact on the state budget.
 
https://www.db.lv/zinas/kam-pieder-zemes-latvija-522002
The largest landowners in Latvia are the state, in the person of its ministries, local governments, and a number of private companies.
 
https://jauns.lv/raksts/bizness/660770-valmiermuizas-alus-ipasnieks-aigars-rungis-nosauc-lielakos-zaudetajus-no-alkohola-tirdzniecibas-ierobezojumiem
...in an interview with the LETA news agency, he stressed that in the HORECA segment the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is not yet over, and only this year could the company reach the sales volume in this segment that it had in 2019.
 
In the LBTU faculties
 
Deans have been selected through a competitive process for the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies' Faculty of Economics and Social Development, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; they took up their duties on 25 June 2025.
 
In science
 
https://www.lu.lv/par-mums/lu-mediji/zinas/zina/t/104183/
The joint work of French scientists has resulted in a scientific paper published on 25 June in the world's most prestigious academic journal, "Nature".
 
 
The environment and out in it
 
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/latvijas-nacionala-biblioteka-notikumu-cikla-latviesu-gramatai-500-aicina-izstaigat-latviesu-autoru-citatu-celu-rigas-parkos-un-apkaimes
This summer, the National Library of Latvia, together with SIA "Rīgas meži", invites people to take walks through Rīga's parks and neighbourhoods, where quotations from the literary works of Latvian authors can be read on the benches.
 
https://www.tvnet.lv/8273599/zibens-skartais-dambju-dizozols-atkal-sazalojis
On the night of 14 September last year, lightning struck one of Latvia's mightiest oaks – the Dambji great oak, which stands in Burtnieki parish, Valmiera Municipality. The oak caught alight and a fire broke out in it.
 
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/salacas-ielejas-dabu-visu-vasaru-var-iepazit-foto-orientesanas-spele
The game, which teaches about natural values in fresh waters, forests, meadows, caves and rock outcrops and engages people in nature conservation issues, was developed by experts from the Nature Conservation Agency in the LIFE IS SALACA project.
 
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/videunturisms/dabasdiena/dazadiba-rada-lidzsvaru-14337567
Why do we need so many species? Because they create the balance of the ecosystem. Every species in nature has its own role – plants photosynthesise, insects pollinate, predators regulate populations, and fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms.
 
https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/kapec-apputeksnetaji-ir-svarigi
Pollinators are hugely important in nature, including in agriculture, where pollinating crops increases yields and improves the quality of the produce obtained. Some crops depend on pollinators in order to produce fruit and seeds.
 
Roads and traffic
 
https://www.db.lv/zinas/buvdarbi-turpinas-70-valsts-autocelu-posmos-521993
Construction work is under way on 70 sections of the state road network.
 
https://www.talsunovads.lv/lv/jaunums/celu-nozare-iepazistas-ar-bsm-tehnologiju-starp-upesgrivu-un-valgalciemu-ieklats-eksperimentalais-posms
An experimental section has been completed on the Tukums-Ķesterciems-Mērsrags-Kolka state regional road between Upesgrīva and Valgalciems, where the surface was renewed by laying a layer of bitumen-stabilised material.
 
https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/56234200/eiropas-zinas/120077879/atklas-divas-eksperimentalas-parrobezu-autobusu-linijas-kas-par-tam-jazina
From 1 July, two experimental cross-border bus routes will open: Valga-Valka and Ikla-Ainaži-Salacgrīva. They have been introduced under the Interreg Estonia-Latvia programme project "Estonia-Latvia cross-border public transport connection", in order to improve mobility options for people living in the border area.
 
All sorts of odds and ends
 
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/teatris-un-deja/24.06.2025-aktieris-karlis-arnolds-avots-uljanas-semjonovas-loma-ir-mans-hamlets.a603449/
The talented and highly capable actor, now well liked, is approaching the zenith of his fame and has won international recognition for his role in the miniseries "Soviet Jeans".
 
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/kd/intervijas/izstadem-par-karu-ir-jabut-par-mieru.-ekspertu-diskusija-14337795
In a museum exhibition, just as in a film or a play, the most important thing is the story it sets out to tell. The question is – what do we gain from this particular exhibition?
 
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/26.06.2025-dabas-muzejs-ebay-noperk-fragmentu-no-19-gadsimta-latvija-nokritusa-meteorita.a604518/
A fragment of the Biržai meteorite, which fell on 2 June 1863 in what is now Sala parish, Jēkabpils Municipality, has entered the collection of the Latvian Museum of Natural History.
 
Current affairs in cartoons
 
 
 
 
 

Add a comment