In the industry

https://satori.lv/article/vai-ir-sapratigi-gaidit-lidz-koks-sapust-par-meza-vertibu-un-cirsanas-vecumu
Yet the story is often left half-told – what actually happens to these old trees? Nor is it stressed that the felling-age rules dating from the occupation era are still in force. These Soviet-period age limits, enshrined in law, do not match practice in most European countries and are set so high that in many cases the trees are already damaged – or, as people put it, rotten – before they reach the prescribed age.

https://www.lasi.lv/latvija-pasaule/ekonomika/lvm-valsts-budzeta-dividendes-iemaksas-111-002-miljonus-eiro.30787
AS “Latvijas valsts meži” will pay 111.002 million euros in dividends into the state budget, as well as 27.751 million euros in corporate income tax.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/28.07.2025-menesi-agrak-atcel-mizgrauzu-del-noteiktos-saimnieciskas-darbibas-ierobezojumus-eglu-audzes.a608317/
The State Forest Service has decided to lift the restrictions on economic activity in spruce stands a month earlier – from 1 August 2025.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/video-desmitiem-miljonu-razosanai-krustpili-522381
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0vW4un_DwQ
With an investment of nearly 50 million euros, SIA AmberBirch is doubling its veneer production capacity, thereby increasing export earnings, and is preparing to implement a 65 million euro thermal insulation board plant project.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/finierloksnes-ir-svarigas-gan-eksporta-gan-vietejo-koksnes-produktu-razosana-522434
Even so, veneer sheet imports should not be seen as a negative phenomenon. Quite the opposite. Veneer sheets are an intermediate product from which other, higher value-added products are made.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7689-arlietu-ministre-baiba-braze-iepazist-lvm-inovacijas-un-stadu-razosanas-pieredzi
During the visit, a hike was organised in the area around Ložmetējkalns together with LVM experts, to become acquainted with the technologies the company uses in forest management, the benefits provided by water and aerial drones, and other solutions.

https://www.apollo.lv/8292263/ta-ir-stabila-izvele-davis-blankenbergs-un-vina-berzi-pieredze-izaicinajumi-un-ieguvumi
Dāvis, who trained as a forest engineer, has managed his own forest since 2016, but has been connected with the forest since childhood.

https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/rigas-mezi-uzsak-mezizstradi-juglas-meznieciba-ropazu-novada-meza-masiva-starp-bajarkrogu-un-kangariem
At the end of July 2025, SIA “Rīgas meži” will begin logging operations in the Jugla forest district, Ropaži municipality – in the forest tract between Bajārkrogs and Kangari, by the state regional road P4 Rīga–Ērgļi.

Until 31 August, the exhibition “Photo installation of Latvian timber construction projects” at the LVM Customer Centre
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7660-lvm-rigas-klientu-centra-skatama-koka-buvniecibai-veltita-izstade

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/

Science and thrift

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/26.07.2025-petnieki-latvija-bazijas-par-taupibas-rezima-ietekmi-uz-zinatnisko-darbu.a608217/
The Institute of Horticulture in Dobele, also known as Upītis's garden, is in fact a scientific institute whose laboratories study Latvia's plants right down to their DNA structure. The findings are used in pharmaceuticals, food production and other fields.

Roads and thrift

https://bauskasdzive.lv/projekti/dusmas-par-granti-grimstosu-nakotni-barbele-piektdien-protestes-pret-cela-parbuves-apturesanu/
...there will be at least ten pieces of heavy machinery at the protest; how many people will turn up is not known, but a fairly large turnout is expected.

Hunting

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7690-lvm-izsludina-izsoles-par-medibu-tiesibu-nomas-tiesibu-pieskirsanu
“Latvijas valsts meži” has announced two auctions of hunting rights leases in the Austrumvidzeme and Dienvidkurzeme regions, with a total area of 2644.95 ha.

https://www.medibam.lv/lacada-pie-sienas-un-atkal-grib-aizliegt-medibas-sauj-garam-294-epizode
A bearskin on the wall and yet another push to ban hunting!

A call to get involved

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/iedzivotaji-aicinati-iesaistities-petijuma-par-invazivas-senes-dzislkata-bekas-izplatibu-latvija
...the aim of the study is to establish the distribution in Latvia of the North American fungus Aureoboletus projectellus, its possible impact on local soil fungal communities, and to assess the nutritional value and chemical composition of the fungus's fruiting bodies.

Environment

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/ari-sogad-ipasnieki-var-pieteikt-lielus-kokus-sakopsanai
Trees that may be nominated for the programme are the pedunculate oak, small-leaved lime, horse chestnut, Norway maple, common ash, European white elm and wych elm.

https://tv3.lv/dzivesstils/darzs-un-maja/kailgliemezi/zinatniekiem-jau-2018-gada-bija-plans-ka-nepielaut-kailgliemezu-izplatisanos-latvija-kapec-politiki-un-ieredni-vilcinajas/
Asked why the situation nevertheless got out of hand and failed to attract closer attention, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development gives several reasons. One is that in 2018 the problem did not yet seem serious enough to warrant immediate action; another is the long and fruitless discussions.

https://zz.lv/vasara-veiktas-eku-parbuves-apdraud-siksparnus/
We recommend planning the reconstruction or renovation of buildings for early spring or after mid-August. That is because in the second half of August the new generation of bats will have grown up and, even if disturbed, will be able to survive on their own and move to new homes.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/30.07.2025-ezeru-aizaugsana-klust-par-problemu-plano-atvieglot-saskanosanu-to-tirisanai.a608626/
Ludza municipality is one of the lake-richest municipalities in Latvia – there are more than 200 within the local authority. The town of Ludza is likewise called a town of lakes, since several larger and smaller lakes lie nearby.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/31.07.2025-eksperti-lielaka-dala-avotu-udens-ir-ar-piesarnojumiem.a608783/
...of more than 650 drinking water springs, the water in roughly a third is clean, while the rest are contaminated.

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/latvija/pelu-vanadzini-apdzivojusi-tresdalu-no-sadales-tikla-elektroliniju-balstos-uzstaditajiem-buriem.30817
The cages have been placed on “Sadales tīkls” electricity poles at seven sample sites – in the areas of Grobiņa, Ventspils, Talsi, Viesatas, Skrīveri, Tukums and Eleja.

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/parakstits-sadarbibas-memorands-par-latvijas-upju-atjaunosanu
Latvia has more than 12,000 rivers, but most of them are not free-flowing. They are blocked by hydroelectric power stations, old mill dams, man-made stone piles and other structures.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/28.07.2025-cilveka-ietekme-ir-jutama-petnieku-grupa-vairak-neka-10-gadus-vac-datus-latvijas-ezeros.a608383/
Large predators, such as perch, usually indicate a healthy ecosystem. There are not many small fish either, and that is a further sign that all is well with the lake.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/29.07.2025-rosinas-samazinat-certamo-koku-daudzumu-velocelina-veidosanai-imanta.a608510/
Heated discussions continue in Rīga City Council about the planned Rīga–Babīte–Piņķi cycle path. Local residents have previously voiced concerns about the trees due to be felled to carry out the project. Now, with the felling under way, the council opposition has also stepped in to defend the trees.

In the dunes

https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/665790-rosina-izmainas-aizsargjoslu-likuma-lai-varetu-apbuvet-mezainas-kapas
The Protection Zone Law has been in force since 2002, and every year debate flares up in society about amending it. How this exchange of views will end we shall see as the law makes its way through the government and the Saeima.

https://lr1.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/krustpunkta/krustpunkta-em-rosina-grozijumus-aizsargjoslu-likuma.-cik-tie-ir.a209863/
The Ministry of Economics is proposing to lift the statutory bans on building in the dune zone, leaving it to local authorities to decide whether or not to permit construction. Is this a considered decision, and why has it been raised now?

Buildings and...

https://www.em.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/izstradats-patvertnu-buvnormativs
https://likumi.lv/ta/id/362052-patvertnu-buvnormativs-lbn-210-25
The shelter building code LBN 210-25 sets out general requirements for shelters and requirements for shelters intended to provide protection against blast waves, shrapnel, ionising radiation, chemical warfare agents and radioactive dust.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/30.07.2025-selijas-militara-poligona-1-kartas-buvnieciba-rit-pec-plana-visu-iecereto-istenos-lidz-gada-beigam.a608482/
The first phase of construction of the Sēlija training ground must be completed by the end of this year; work is proceeding to plan and there is said to be no doubt that the deadlines will be met.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/30.07.2025-tornakalna-oaze-centra-pievarte-top-daudzdzivoklu-un-biroja-telpu-kvartals-ar-darziem-bernudarzu-un-muzeju.a608634/
Although colourful illustrations showing how the area will soon look are on display on the fence at 68 Jelgavas Street, the Torņakalns residents interviewed by Latvijas Radio knew nothing at all about the ambitious project, which is to create more than 180 flats and commercial premises.

The news in cartoons

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/velocelins-pret-kokiem-14339421

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-romans-vitkovskis-saksim-taupit.30790

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/odu-monitoresana-14339224