Industry
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/isuma-par-kokrupnieku-lietu
Support for the timber industry was an economically and politically justified decision in the circumstances of the crisis, taken to preserve jobs and the economy in Latvia's regions — something which, incidentally, is of no concern whatsoever to the industry's opponents and never has been.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-armands-krauze-aicina-lvm-vadibu-publiski-skaidrot-personala-vadibas-politiku-uznemuma
On 20 March, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze met the management of AS “Latvijas valsts meži” to discuss the company's personnel policy and its future directions of development.
https://www.prokuratura.lv/lv/aktualitates/2026/aktualitates/generalprokuratura-sakts-kriminalprocess-par-iespejamiem-as-latvijas-valsts-mezi-nodaritiem-zaudejumiem-3719
The inspection established that the information obtained points to the possibility that criminal offences were committed in the service of state institutions in connection with the unlawful provision of support to timber producers by adjusting prices in the long-term contracts of AS “Latvijas valsts meži”. Accordingly, the Prosecutor General's Office has initiated criminal proceedings in respect of criminal offences set out in Chapter 24 of the Criminal Law.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/1-aprili-sakas-meza-ugunsnedrosais-periods
In accordance with the Law on Fire Safety, Fire-fighting and Rescue Operations, the forest fire hazard period begins on 1 April and will last until 30 September.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7922-lvm-uzsak-meza-atjaunosanas-sezonu
“Latvijas valsts meži” is beginning the forest regeneration season. The first spruce saplings have been planted in the LVM Zemgale region, in the Tukums forest district.
https://nra.lv/ekonomika/latvija/517259-tiesa-apmierina-lvm-pieteikumu-par-pagaidu-aizsardzibu-civillieta-par-iml-atzisanu-par-speka-neesosiem.htm
The court ruled that, until the final judgment enters into force, the operation of the mutual lending platforms included in the proceedings is to be suspended and that contractual partners are to be prohibited from demanding performance of the obligations arising from those transactions.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/21.03.2026-no-galdniecibas-sapna-lidz-miljonu-apgrozijumam-gimenes-uznemums-woodheart-izcina-vietu-eiropas-tirgu.a639248/
Wood processing is one of Latvia's largest export industries, but competition within it is particularly fierce. In such an environment, the family business Woodheart is trying to stand out with a different approach — by focusing on bespoke furniture and interior elements with high added value.
https://www.riga.lv/lv/jaunums/bulduru-tehnikuma-audzekni-palidz-sakopt-rigas-kokus
Over the past weekend, trainee arborists from Bulduri Technical School carried out tree maintenance work on the stretch of Ilūkstes iela between Lubānas iela and Brāļu Kaudzīšu iela, helping to make the capital more beautiful and better kept.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/26.03.2026-pasvaldibu-ministrija-un-knab-verte-bezatlidzibas-darbus-meza-rezekne.a640644/
On social media, residents are worried that the planted forest is now private property that is being exploited and where walking will no longer be permitted. Meanwhile, residents of the nearest houses believe the forest should have been tended to far earlier.
European Tree of the Year
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/par-eiropas-gada-koku-2026-balsojuma-kluvis-lietuvas-lauku-ozols-elku
(...) The Elku lime came fourth in the vote, the best result in five years.
Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
From 20 March to 26 April, the orienteering game at the manors of Valmiera municipality “Catch the Hare at the Manor”
https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/apcelo-valmieras-novadu-kerot-zaki-muizas/
On 28 March, the educational event “The first flowers of spring: from catkins to bulb flowers”
at the “Botania” nature centre of the National Botanic Garden
https://nbd.gov.lv/events/pirmie-pavasara-ziedi/
On 28 March, an apple tree crown shaping masterclass and working bee at the Garden of Destiny
More about the working bee and the masterclass
On 13–15 May, the 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
On 22 and 23 May, “Latvian Forest Days”
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7854-latvijas-meza-dienas-tervete-notiks-22-un-23-maija
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.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministra-armanda-krauzes-atbilde-uz-atklato-vestuli-par-aktivistu-kriminalizesanu-un-bioterorisma-jedziena-izmantosanu
I fully support compliance with animal welfare standards and transparency in the industry, but I categorically reject the position expressed in the letter that the conduct of activists, when they unlawfully enter the premises of agricultural businesses and production facilities, breach biosecurity rules and damage or destroy other people's property, should be regarded as lawful civic oversight or whistleblowing.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/petniecibai-un-sabiedribas-izglitosanai-sogad-pieejams-vairak-neka-1-miljons-eiro-no-meza-attistibas-fonda
In order to support the research, public education activities and educational programmes needed by the forest sector, on 24 March the government decided on the allocation of state support from the Forest Development Fund in 2026.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vairak-neka-triskartigi-samazina-akcizes-nodokli-lauksaimnieciba-izmantojamajai-dizeldegvielai
In order to reduce the negative impact and stabilise the situation in the agricultural sector, on 24 March the government, at the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, approved a reduced rate of excise duty — 21 euros per 1000 litres of diesel fuel used in agriculture.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvijas-rosinata-klp-kontrolu-un-auditu-vienkarsosana-gust-plasu-es-dalibvalstu-atbalstu-brisele
At present the risk of non-compliance for member states is so high that, in order to meet the requirements set by the European Commission, they are forced to increase the number of checks and the bureaucracy imposed on farmers.
Forecasts
https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/darzenu-slimibu-un-kaiteklu-attistibas-un-izplatibas-prognoze-2026-gadam
Forecasting specialists at the regional units of the State Plant Protection Service have assessed the results of last season's observations of vegetable diseases and pests and, taking those and the likely weather conditions during this year's growing season into account, have forecast the development of the most significant diseases and pests for the 2026 season.
Economy
https://www.makroekonomika.lv/ekspertu-komentari/tuvakajos-menesos-redzesim-pakapenisku-inflacijas-pieaugumu
Over the past few days, energy prices have been fluctuating by the hour in response to missile strikes in the Middle East and to politicians' statements. So if I now name a precise figure for how much higher Latvia's inflation will be this year because of events in Iran, that figure will in all likelihood be out of date by this evening.
https://bauskasdzive.lv/latvija-un-pasaule/latvijas-veja-parki-pern-stradaja-ar-14-miljonu-eiro-zaudejumiem-uznemums-apturejis-parku-attistisanu-ogres-bauskas-aizkraukles-teritorija/
The management report in the company's annual accounts states that last year's losses were mainly related to the costs of project management and support services.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/22.03.2026-zemenu-audzetajs-kudras-cenu-kapums-ietekmejis-izmaksas-ogu-cena-butiski-nepieaugs.a639849/
The strawberry grower hopes that the market price of peat will stabilise this year; at the same time, the rising cost of fuel and energy is adding to expenses. All of this will also affect the final price of the seedlings, although the berries could well be similarly priced to last year (...)
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/21.03.2026-igaunija-pieaug-bazas-par-rail-baltica-projekta-izdosanos-ta-atkariga-no-latvijas-posma-pabeigsanas.a639851/
Estonia is building not only the railway but also the motorways to Pärnu and Tartu at the same time, overloading the local construction market. Already in the second half of this year we are seeing a certain shortage of available resources. And, of course, one of those is labour, another is machinery, and the third is materials (...)
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/arzemes/22.03.2026-krievija-baidas-no-patiesibas-saruna-ar-ukrainu-ekologu-ko-agresorvalsts-izsludinajusi-starptautiska-meklesana.a639717/
(...) they very, very much do not want their war crimes, including their ecological crimes, to be properly assessed and for all of it to be recorded. They are very afraid that it might then all be quantified and that they will have to pay reparations for it towards Ukraine's reconstruction.
Science
https://www.lza.lv/aktualitates/jaunumi/2510-pasniegs-lza-un-sadarbibas-partneru-vardbalvas-un-balvas-jaunajiem-zinatniekiem
This year the named prizes established by the Latvian Academy of Sciences and its partners will go to eleven scientists, among them several young researchers, and five young scientist awards will also be presented. The prizes will be awarded on Thursday, 9 April, during the LZA spring general meeting.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-armands-krauze-pasniedz-atzinibas-rakstus-labakajiem-koksnes-kimijas-zinatniekiem
On 20 March, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry marked its 80th anniversary. At the ceremony for this significant jubilee, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze presented Certificates of Appreciation to the institute's most outstanding scientists.
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/zinatne-ar-dveseli-laimas-veveres-kimija
Laima's path at the institute began more than ten years ago, and she is now working on her doctoral thesis. During that time Laima has built up experience in biomaterials and lignin research, looking for ways to create new materials from natural raw materials (...)
Riga Zoo
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/25.03.2026-rigas-zoodarzu-pievienos-rigas-meziem-plano-rekonstrukciju-un-jaunas-ekspozicijas.a640446/
Two thirds of the zoo's overall infrastructure is outdated, does not meet modern standards, and is inefficient and difficult to manage. Requirements for keeping animals in zoos are becoming stricter worldwide as well.
https://www.tvnet.lv/8437392/ratnieks-darisot-visu-iespejamo-lai-rigas-zoo-atgrieztos-ziloni
...the zoo lacks an anchor animal that would attract more visitors. It is therefore necessary to ensure that large animals can once again be seen in Riga.
Environment
https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/54883004/dzilak-meza/120111518/mazie-meza-inzenieri-jeb-ka-kukaini-uztur-daba-lidzsvaru-stasta-petnieks
In Europe, roughly 78% of wild flowering plant species are wholly or at least partly dependent on pollinators. People often think that pollination is carried out only by bees, and by that they usually mean only the honey bee, which is more familiar to us, but in reality the range of pollinators is far broader.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7926-niedraju-pilkas-purva-uzbuveta-jauna-skatu-platforma
Creating and equipping recreation areas in bog territories is one of the most difficult kinds of tourism infrastructure work, because in boggy terrain it is hard to deliver building materials to the specific construction site and hard to carry out the construction work itself.
The process has begun
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/21.03.2026-aizsardzibas-ministrija-sakusi-zemju-atsavinasanu-pierobeza-iedzivotajiem-joprojam-trukst-informacijas.a639880/
The Ministry of Defence has begun expropriating land from owners along the eastern border in order to build counter-mobility infrastructure. The ministry notes that the process is complicated, both from a bureaucratic point of view and in terms of valuing the land.
On infinity...
https://nra.lv/latvija/517161-berns-no-latvijas-nosutits-uz-krieviju.htm
We are sending a child to a state that is an aggressor state, that has started a war, a state that literally forces people to fight. And we are sending a citizen of Latvia, our future...
https://inc-baltics.com/dzivnieku-tiesibu-aizstavji-apdraudot-olu-razotaja-biodrosibas-pasakumus/
Information held by the company indicates that drones were used not only to monitor the movements of security staff in real time, but also as part of coordinated attempts to enter the site. In several cases, individuals tried to gain access to the production premises through technological openings intended for manure removal systems.
Miscellaneous
https://klasika.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/vai-zini/vai-zini-ka-latviesi-dzejoja-par-rigu-jau-sen-pirms-caka.a218910/
(...) the poem thereby takes on a more serious, educational and indeed instructive character. It appeared in 1865 under the title “Riga, or a Ballad about Riga and its Life” and went through many reprints. The most recent of these, supported by Riga City Council, in the shape of a chocolate bar and richly illustrated, was published as recently as 2017.
https://nra.lv/neatkariga/komentari/bens-latkovskis/517166-donkihotiska-cina-ar-kulturas-mantojumu.htm
The efforts of certain political operators to keep this “cancelling” campaign warm look downright comical, not to say pitiful, as they call for Imants Ziedonis, Ojārs Vācietis and other writers recognised under Soviet rule to be swept onto the dung heap as well.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/mobilo-sakaru-balsts-14349716
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-saozu-krizes-smaku.40045
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/balsu-skaitisanas-masina-14349792
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-ka-talak.39904