Industry
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/atklata-vestule-par-satraucosam-tendencem-latvijas-bankas-darbiba
(...) at no point have there been clearly defined standards, qualification criteria, or methodology for selecting the experts or non-governmental organisations to be involved in the development of the guidelines. (zemeunvalsts.lv note: if you know that the sustainability expert for the Bank of Latvia is the former Latvian Fund for Nature activist Baiba Baltvilka, it is unlikely that the quality of these so-called guidelines will come as a surprise to anyone. They are ideological guidelines.)
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-08-28/mezs-ienak-jelgava-2026-aicina-sajust-mezu-pilsetas-sirdi-jelgavas-pils-parka
This year, the Jelgava Palace park will transform for one day into an educational and adventure-filled “forest town”, where every visitor will be able to experience the presence of the forest firsthand and discover its diversity.
https://jauns.lv/raksts/maja-un-darzs/725972-mazak-eglu-gluzi-ka-vacija-un-uzsvars-uz-mistraudzem-ka-klimata-parmainas-izmainis-latvijas-mezus
Not everything needs to be felled, and not everything needs to be left alone. The new director of the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Guntars Šņepsts, is convinced that through wise management, our forests are safe.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/skatpunkts/01.09.2026-meza-zinatnieks-kapec-vieni-mezi-vetru-iztur-bet-citi-ne.a661088/
(...) even in the natural sciences, much like in the man-made world order, we can predict a great deal if we know our history well.
https://news.inbox.lv/150opug-video-konkurence-nenozime-otra-kolega-iznicinasanu-uldis-bikis-par-skalo-kokrupnieku-lietu
(...) Uldis Biķis urged the public and responsible institutions to take a long-term view of the situation, pointing to the ongoing practice of high-profile cases that often conclude without any real convictions.
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/rigas-mezi-padome-darbu-turpinas-toms-auskaps-un-aigars-germanis-padomei-pievienojas-agnese-ozolkaja
The current council members Toms Auškāps and Aigars Ģērmanis will continue their work on the “Rīgas meži” board, while Viktors Troicins is stepping down from the company's board. Agnese Ozolkāja has been appointed as a board member effective from 1 September 2026.
The industry and the storm
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/precizets-vetras-radito-postijumu-apmers-mezaudzes
In most areas, individual trees or small groups of them have been uprooted or broken. As previously reported, the damage mainly concerns deciduous trees – birch and aspen – whereas conifers, such as spruce and pine, have suffered to a lesser extent.
https://db.lv/zinas/vetras-lielakais-cenu-spiediens-varetu-but-uz-zemakas-kvalitates-koksni
(...) in the short term, the additional volume of timber on the market may put pressure on the prices of certain assortments. If large quantities of firewood, pulpwood, and technological wood enter the market at the same time, buyers gain more choice, but it may become harder for sellers to maintain previous price levels.
https://xtv.lv/rigatv24/video/lmNmqjrLNOP-29_08_2026_saimnieks_zeme_valsts_1_dala
https://xtv.lv/rigatv24/video/oQGEqVrwGX8-29_08_2026_saimnieks_zeme_valsts_2_dala
https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/54883004/dzilak-meza/120132156/samazinata-birokratija-vetras-gazto-koku-novaksanu-atvieglo-jauna-kartiba
Currently, damage is spread across the entire country, though unevenly. Sēlija, the Latgale region, and the northern part of Zemgale, including the Dobele and Jelgava vicinities, have suffered the most. Conversely, some parts of Kurzeme have weathered the storm relatively more calmly.
Worth knowing! About upcoming and current events
29 October LMSP 11th International Conference “Environment and Sustainable Forest and Land Management – Current Solutions”. At the LBTU Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences
5 September The central event of the National Botanic Garden's anniversary year “Joy grows in the garden!”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-ieludz-uz-70-jubilejas-svinibam
6 September Thematic trip to experience the hydrangea blooming festival in Kalsnava
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8074-lvm-un-vivi-aicina-doties-tematiska-brauciena-uz-hortenziju-ziedesanas-svetkiem-kalsnava
8 October Forest Industry Day
https://inovacijas.lu.lv/par-mums/zinas/zina/t/110507/
3 December Conference on innovative, science-based solutions for soil improvement in agriculture, crop production, and horticulture
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/konference-kas-2026-gada-izskana-pulces-lauku-atbalsta-dienesta-administretos-petijumus
Until 15 September we are looking for the European Tree of the Year in Latvia (a tree with a story)
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/eiropas-gada-koks-latvija-2026-meklejam-koku-ar-stastu
Until 30 September we invite you to take part in the vote for the first European Wood Architecture Award “WoodPoP Dara Award 2026”
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/kokaudzetava-zabaki-pretende-uz-eiropas-meroga-atzinibu-nobalso
Baloži peat museum railway excursions in 2026
https://kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijas
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
All year round National Botanic Garden anniversary event cycle “Nature in the garden”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-70-jubilejas-gada-katru-menesi-aicina-uz-aizraujosiem-pasakumiem
Official
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-uldis-augulis-latvijas-bankas-ekovadlinijas-komercbankam-lauksaimnieku-kreditesanai-var-kaitet-tautsaimniecibas-attistibai
When drafting these recommendations, the Bank of Latvia did not consult with either the Ministry of Agriculture or non-governmental organisations in the agricultural and forest sectors, despite the fact that the recommendations directly and negatively impact the Latvian agricultural and forestry sectors as a whole, as well as the national economy.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrijas-butiskakais-veikums-valdibas-pirmajas-100-dienas
(...) we have laid the foundations for the long-term development of these sectors by promoting the creation of higher value-added for Latvian goods, with a greater positive impact on the development of the national economy.
Science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPNFVZwzXT8
Forest road monitoring and smart solutions
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/ka-no-koksnes-izveidot-implantu-kaulu-fiksacijai-intervija-ar-martinu-andzu
The OsteoWood project, developed within the BioPhoT platform, is searching for a new solution for bone fixation – a material made from highly densified birch wood that could become an alternative to traditional metal implants.
Hunting
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sakas-alnu-un-staltbriezu-bullu-medibu-sezona-0
The hunting season for moose and adult red deer stags begins on 1 September this year. Moose may be hunted until 31 December, adult red deer stags until 15 February, and red deer stags up to two years old (so-called “spikers”) until the end of the hunting season on 31 March.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/no-14-lidz-18-septembrim-nebus-pieejams-meza-valsts-registrs-un-vmd-e-pakalpojumu-portals
The State Forest Register will be unavailable to users from 20:00 on 13 September 2026 until 24:00 on 18 September.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/kas-jazina-medniekiem-mvr-darbibas-partraukuma-laika
As a reminder – registering a hunted animal in the “Mednis” app is considered “writing off the permit”, and sending the data to the State Forest Register (MVR) counts as “submitting the third attachment”.
Hunters are invited to review the information registered in the “Mednis” app and send it to the MVR by 20:00 on 13 September to reduce inconvenience when submitting data later.
Greens
https://db.lv/zinas/eiropas-plausas-bez-atlidzibas-jeb-kapec-niderlandes-recepte-latvija-nedarbojas
At the beginning of 2026, Latvia had a population of 1 million 845 thousand, 12 thousand fewer than the year before, with 60.1 thousand people working in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The number of nests is growing, but the number of jobs is not.
Environment
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/aicina-uz-dabas-parka-ogres-zilie-kalni-dabas-aizsardzibas-plana-sabiedrisko-apspriesanu
(...) Residents of Ogre and Ikšķile, landowners, entrepreneurs, representatives of nature and sports organisations, as well as other visitors to the nature park are invited to the public consultation on the “Ogres Zilie kalni” nature park management plan.
Dangerous!
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/31.08.2026-latvija-pieaug-saslimstiba-ar-tularemiju-grauzeju-ercu-un-odu-parnesatu-infekciju.a661028/
Tularemia often starts suddenly with fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain. Skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph nodes, sore throat, eye inflammation, cough, or pneumonia may also occur.
NGOs and NGOs
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/03.09.2026-vai-prasiba-pec-izmerama-rezultata-un-taupibas-vienadi-attiecas-uz-visam-nvo-latvija.a661430/
One issue on which critics and the NGOs themselves seem to be in agreement is that the use of public funds must be easily traceable. The Civic Alliance publishes a detailed annual report on its website, but this is not mandatory for all state-funded NGOs. (zemeunvalsts.lv note: Recalling the meeting between sectorial NGOs and State Audit Office representatives some time ago, one must conclude that attempts to standardise and neatly categorise all NGOs still seem reasonable to some, and furthermore, it is specifically the sectorial NGOs that many feel quite strongly about...)
https://www.medibam.lv/viedokli-visas-nevalstiskas-organizacijas-nedrikst-likt-viena-maisa
Voters should look not only at beautiful slogans but also at the past actions of politicians: who truly defends hunting, agriculture, forestry, and balanced environmental management, and who uses politics to promote their own or their family's interests.
Governance
https://lvportals.lv/viedokli/393644-vai-ta-ir-laba-parvaldiba-2026
(...) listening to the chaos surrounding the “Rail Baltica” construction, the “airBaltic” troubles, recalling the dismissal of the Stradiņš Hospital board, the constant rotation of ministry personnel due to incompetence, and so on, one must say – there is sand in the engine of our national governance.
Is it or isn't it?
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/skatpunkts/28.08.2026-zane-brikmane-zilums-bez-lieciniekiem.a660816/
Will it really be necessary in the future to have at least five witnesses, audio and video recordings capturing the blow, and an unequivocally identifiable perpetrator to prove that a specific black eye was caused by person X, otherwise the victim has little chance of proving they are telling the truth because the perpetrator says it didn't happen?
A step further
https://kodols.lv/sarunas/biblioteka-kura-satiekas-ledurgas-stasti-203926
(...) in Lēdurga, the opposite path was chosen – funds were invested in the library, creating spacious, modern, and accessible premises. A year since the move has shown that the investment was worth it – the number of registered readers has increased by approximately a third.
Current events in cartoons
https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-partiju-reitingi.47221
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/letins-un-lsm
https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-uzlabosim-operaciju-vilkatis-2.47275
https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-cels-ir-vala.47391
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/pedeja-mirkla-grozijumi