On current developments
### In February, we invite you to participate by voting for the European Tree of the Year: https://www.treeoftheyear.org/lv/vote
### You can still sign up for the future of hunting in Europe: https://signforhunting.com/
On national issues
The perception of the distribution and properties of peat soils on agricultural land in Latvia is changing. Due to both mineralisation and subsidence, the properties of peat soils have altered, and the current situation differs from the historical data recorded during previous soil surveys conducted in the last century. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences of the University of Latvia (LU ĢZZF) after surveying 240 out of 487 historical deep-boring sites in agricultural land. The historical deep-boring samples were taken between 1960 and 1991 across the territory of Latvia, which still forms our current perception of the properties of peat soils on agricultural land in Latvia.
On 1 February 2023, in a move to expand the regional accessibility of public services, nine new State and Municipal Unified Customer Service Centres (VPVKAC) were opened in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.
Four new unified customer service centres were opened in Bauska Municipality – in Gailīši parish, Svitene parish, Valle parish and Vecumnieki parish. Meanwhile, three centres began operations in Smiltene Municipality – in Grundzāle parish, Trapena parish and Palsmane parish. Additionally, VPVKAC centres also opened in Lapmežciems parish in Tukums Municipality and Cenu parish in Jelgava Municipality.
When comparing capitals on a Baltic scale, Riga stands out with a significant loss of population since Latvia regained its independence, whereas the capitals of Lithuania and Estonia have managed to stop their population decline. Tallinn succeeded in this after 2005, and Vilnius after 2012, according to data compiled by LDDK finance and tax expert Jānis Hermanis.
On sector affairs
It was an unforgettable evening. Arēna Rīga was filled with hundreds of people. On stage, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and well-known Latvian artists. A story spanning decades. On the screen – a luminous tree, its roots reaching deep into the earth and its branches stretched towards the sky. The Tree of Life – a messenger of the core values of joint-stock company Latvijas Finieris for all those attending the 30th-anniversary celebration.
Ensuring the transition to the use of renewable, sustainably sourced resources. The European Green Deal is no longer just words, and they resonate in Latvia as well. A testament to this is the daily work of our guest on this evening's programme – Latvijas Finieris Development and Research Sector Manager Māris Būmanis.
You will still be able to light a stove or fireplace with firewood in the future. European Parliament members, bioenergy producers and environmental advocates all agree on this. It is perhaps the only issue upon which all involved parties can agree. There is less consensus on other aspects of the Renewable Energy Directive.
One of these concerns biomass. Currently, very favourable conditions have been created for its use in heating. But this situation has led to problems, says Nils Torvalds, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment from Finland.
The Parliament proposes separating primary wood biomass from secondary. This is supported by environmental advocates, including forest and climate activist Martin Pigeon from the non-governmental organisation 'Fern'.
The organisation 'Fern' advocates for forests and those who depend on them at the European level. Pigeon says that in recent years, the pellet and wood chip business has become extremely profitable due to subsidies provided by Europe.
Recognising the volume of mineral materials required for the national economy and industrial construction in the coming years, “LVM Zemes dzīles” plans to increase the volume of mineral material prospecting works in 2023 by at least 50% compared to 2022 and to open six new extraction sites.
The European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is considered the most aggressive and dangerous pest of spruce stands in all of Eurasia, as it can infest not only weakened spruces but also perfectly healthy trees.
https://www.medibam.lv/video-vilki-nak-no-latvijas-austrumiem-uzbrukumi-aizvien-biezaki-un-nezeligaki
Torn-up moose calves have been found. The wolves have been feasting there; everything is torn apart. You can see it was a very good, large catch. Well... If they are going after moose, one must conclude that there are a great many wolves.
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/541933-ne-visu-drikst-nocirst-atstajami-ir-ekologiskie-koki
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/541933-ne-visu-drikst-nocirst-atstajami-ir-ekologiskie-koki
Both views have some truth to them, as 'ecological trees' have a dual role. They ensure the natural regeneration of the forest, which is particularly successful with deciduous trees, as their seeds are scattered over quite large areas. As these trees overgrow or are toppled in storms, a special microclimate is formed in that spot where various species of insects and fungi can develop. Until the planted forest grows, these trees also have scenic value.
On related sectors and forestry-related issues
The bog is one of the most interesting and diverse habitats in Latvia. To our ancestors, it was associated with mysticism and danger; today, many perceive it only as a place for peat extraction or, at best, a place for a weekend walk.
The 'Kalntontes' farm in Lode parish, which owns one of the most productive dairy herds in Latvia, has ended its bid to purchase the long-term managed agricultural land following legal proceedings.
The decline of any species population is undesirable. The fact that there are species whose populations are increasing is not necessarily something very positive. In nature conservation, the desired situation would be for the majority of species populations to be stable, neither going up nor down, explains Ainārs Auniņš. When a species' population rises, it essentially consumes resources, and this may be the cause of the decline of other species. One must look at both those that are decreasing and those that are increasing in the negative aspect. An exception could be a situation where a species had previously declined and targeted measures have been taken to restore its population, then that growth can be assessed positively.
On various events
Do you remember last spring, when we were eagerly counting how many and which Western companies were leaving Russia? A year has passed, and as a joint study by two Swiss universities published at the end of January shows, only 8.5–10% of the approximately 1,400 EU, US and Japanese companies that issued press releases in 2022 about their 'exit' have actually left the Russian market, for instance by selling or writing off their assets in the country. A similar study by the Kyiv School of Economics points to an even lower figure – only 6%.
I will mention a few examples. I assume part of the public feels a sense of malicious joy over the troubles of the Saskaņa party. They did not make it into the Saeima, and last week they officially lost their representation in Daugavpils (and possibly in Rēzekne in the foreseeable future). Well, great. I have never voted for or otherwise sympathised with Saskaņa, yet I do not really see a reason for joy if the real possibility is that the Daugavpils mayor, who left the party, and his colleagues speak of the need to form a “new regional political force”. In other words, if we understand that for Andrejs Elksniņš and apparently also Rēzekne mayor Aleksandrs Bartaševičs Saskaņa seems too “pro-Western” and insufficiently oriented towards the Russia-supporting segment of the Latvian electorate, then we can also guess what kind of “miracle” this “new regional political force” would be in Latgale.
Current affairs, with a smile