In the industry

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvija-iestajas-meziem-bagato-valstu-strategiskaja-alianse-forest-group
On a working visit to Slovenia this week, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze signed the guidelines of the "For Forest Group+" alliance, providing for Latvia's accession to the alliance. "For Forest Group+" is an informal strategic alliance among forest-rich EU member states that work together to promote sustainable forestry, common positions in EU policy and better forest management in their own countries.

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/kapec-10-kilometru-skrejiens-pa-mezu-vel-nav-zinatnu-grads
Brushwood, by definition, also includes fallen branches and tree trunks, and here we see the impact of nature reserves on forest management and forest health in all its glory. Trees begin to fall in old, overly dense stands that are not managed, where drainage systems are not restored and sanitary thinning is not carried out on trees damaged by bark beetles.

https://mezaipasnieki.lv/lv/node/2080
The Latvian Forest Owners' Association was founded in September 2005.

https://lmna.lv/lmna-darbinieku-tiesibu-vajinasana-nav-pielaujama/
Collective agreements in the forest sector have not remained unchanged for decades, as is claimed – they are a dynamic instrument that ensures fair working conditions and promotes sustainable development for both parties involved.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/28.08.2025-ka-biezas-lietavas-un-negaisi-sogad-latvija-ietekmeja-mezus-un-kokus.a611928/
Oskars Krišāns explains that the wet weather has had a negative effect on old trees, or ones that were already weakened and diseased. Trees that struggle to adapt to or withstand any kind of change, disturbance, pest, disease or unfavourable weather.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/jysk-ipasnieks-investes-baltijas-valstu-mezos-522962
After Sweden's largest forest owners' association and forestry group "Södra" announced in January that it intended to sell its properties in the Baltic states, it was assumed that "Jysk" would acquire them.

https://skontotev.lv/lv/epizode-1790
The forest is also an important place for recreation and cultural life, where one can rest and find inspiration, especially artists and nature lovers.

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 Latvian National Botanic Garden's environmental education centre "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/

Property

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM9fHSgXwxg
How land expropriation in the border zone will work

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/04.09.2025-lidz-2000-hektaru-lielu-platibu-pierobeza-latgale-atsavinas-valsts-drosibas-nolukiem.a612959/
...we will expropriate only certain points, certain parts of properties, no more than 2000 hectares in total, located within this 30-kilometre strip. This is not about all the properties located in this 30-kilometre strip; it will be a small part and will affect only 6 municipalities.

Work at the castle

https://zz.lv/vietejas-zinas/jelgavas-pils-ziemelu-korpusa-ievaksies-zemkopibas-ministrijas-paklautiba-esosas-institucijas/
Once the refurbishment is complete, the renovated premises will be used by tenants – the Rural Support Service, the State Forest Service, the State Plant Protection Service, the State Technical Supervision Agency and the Food and Veterinary Service.

In the bogs

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/30.08.2025-kapec-purvam-vajag-udeni-vairakos-latvijas-purvos-sak-atjaunosanas-darbus.a611925/
This year the bogs are wetter, but this also shows how very well the drainage systems installed in these bogs long ago still work – after many decades – because the water flows along the ditches.

https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/aktuali/purvu-appludinasana-efektiva-taktika-lai-atvairitu-militaru-uzbrukumu.31847
Farmers' organisations stress that restoring the bogs would mean a considerable reduction in the area of cultivable land, so jobs and tax revenue would be lost. Farmers point out that there are more effective methods of meeting climate targets, while the compensation mechanism for the land lost remains unclear for now.

In local government

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/03.09.2025-revidenti-pasvaldibu-pieskirtie-pabalsti-un-atlaides-loti-dazadi-dargi-un-biezi-nepamatoti.a612825/
To establish the cost of administering the reliefs, we asked local authorities to prepare estimates for 23 reliefs. Analysing the information submitted, we found that both the number of staff involved in granting the reliefs and the costs of one and the same type of relief differ substantially between local authorities.

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/latvija/riga/rigas-centra-par-35-miljoniem-eiro-veidos-jaunus-apstadijumus-un-lietusdarzu-14340968
New planting and a rain garden will be created in Riga's historic centre at a cost of 3.5 million euros, the Riga City Council External Communications Division reported.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/zalas-vides-prasibas-klupsanas-akmens-razosanai-kazdanga-522975
...a solution is being sought, but at present it is impossible to say whether it will materialise or what it will be. By 24 September we have to be able to find the funding – 350,000 euros.

https://zz.lv/vietejas-zinas/telekomunikaciju-sakaru-torna-buvniecibai-ozolniekos-izraudzisies-citu-vietu/
During the public consultation it was found that construction of the planned communications tower could affect the future development of Alejas and Jelgavas streets and their infrastructure, including the construction of lighting, footpaths, underground utilities and other engineering services.

Hunting

https://www.medibam.lv/redaktores-sleja-linda-dombrovska-ar-likumiem-nekad-nav-vienkarsi
This autumn will also be a busy one. Ahead lie discussions on amendments to the Hunting Law and to the Law on the Handling of Weapons. The Latvian Hunters' Union, the Latvian Hunters' Association and the Latvian Arms Traders' Association have submitted a number of important proposals.

https://www.medibam.lv/nosaut-dronu-mednieki-pierada-ka-ari-darbos-var-palidzet-valsts-aizsardziba
The long-range shooting session for hunters at the Vienoti valstij Ādaži military base is being held for the eighth year running, drawing more than 500 participants each year.

In the environment

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/ar-2-miljoniem-eiro-atbalstis-aizauguso-biologiski-vertigo-zalaju-atjaunosanu-un-so-platibu-atgriesanu-lauksaimnieciskaja-razosana
Grassland habitats in Latvia are sometimes managed inappropriately, or abandoned, or converted to other land uses. In order to tidy up overgrown and abandoned grasslands, securing and increasing the area of habitat for plant and bird species, the regulations set out the conditions for support...

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7720-poslonica-pec-34-gadiem-atkal-fikse-seviski-reti-sastopamu-augu
Sand sainfoin is a beautiful plant that flowers in pink in July. It is rare in Latvia, found mainly in dry pine forests, at roadsides, on hill slopes and on esker ridges.

https://klasika.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/pa-celjam-ar-klasiku/ka-skan-lobelija-saruna-ar-komponistu-ernestu-valtu-circeni.a211311/
Dortmann's lobelia, listed in the Red Data Book, needs very clean growing conditions. It has chosen Lake Ummis, ringed by coastal forests, as its home.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/29.08.2025-ka-koki-saprot-ka-laiks-gatavoties-rudenim-skaidro-profesors-ievins.a611783/
In autumn, as trees prepare to shed their leaves, they adopt various thrift strategies. Everything that can possibly be saved, all the valuable compounds, the leaves try to break down and send for storage in the trunk and roots, to be used again next season to fuel new growth.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7719-rekultiveta-lvm-apsaimniekota-derigo-izraktenu-ieguves-vieta-varpsala
As part of the reclamation works, the slopes and the site were levelled and the infrastructure was tidied up – information signs, gates and the boundary markers of the licence area were dismantled.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/03.09.2025-igaunijas-mezos-latvijas-robezas-tuvuma-iespejams-pamanita-puma.a612949/
...several people saw the animal in the forest at the end of August, but no one has yet managed to photograph it. The Estonian Environment Department has also been informed of the sighting.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/29.08.2025-narutas-upes-sakopsanas-talkas-dod-efektu-sak-paradities-aizsargajamas-sugas.a612320/
...the clean-up events have been running since 2012 and in recent years the fruits of that work have been clearly visible – the river's fast-flowing stretch has been restored and the living environment improved for protected species inhabiting the river.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/arzemes/30.08.2025-atkritumu-tirdzniecibas-ena-uzplaukst-jauns-kolonialisma-veids-cies-visa-pasaule.a611749/
Hazardous waste ends up in countries where the rules on waste storage or processing are not as strict as in the EU. Hazardous waste generated in Europe ends up not only in Africa, but also in South-East Asia.

https://www.delfi.lv/campus/56036786/vide/120085427/buenosairesa-bagatnieku-apkaimi-parnem-kapibaras-iedzivotaji-saiet-ragos
A sterilisation programme is being considered to curb the invasion of the rodents, but some residents believe the real problem is human expansion into the capybaras' natural habitat.

Carbon

https://www.db.lv/zinas/schwenk-atklaj-pirmo-oglekla-uztversanas-testa-bazi-latvija-522895
This year several carbon capture technologies are being tested at the plant in Brocēni in order to select the most suitable solution both for the plant in Latvia and for other Schwenk Building Materials Group plants in Europe.

Wheat and the taming of it

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/29.08.2025-makaronu-kviesi-sogad-dabuja-iesnas-ka-latvija-peta-un-pieradina-latvijai-netipiskas-graudaugu-skirnes.a612259/
...hopes have not faded that Latvia's farmers may finally manage to tame some variety of durum wheat to Latvian weather conditions – whether from abroad or perhaps even one of their own breeding.

Transport

https://www.aprinkis.lv/index.php/sabiedriba/dzive-un-ticiba/63949-regionalaja-sabiedriskaja-transporta-nakamgad-pieaugs-bilesu-cenas
Ticket prices on regional public transport will rise from 15 January 2026, the Public Transport Council decided on Thursday. Rail fares will rise by an average of 6.6%, while bus fares will go up by around 7.5%.

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/gaujas-nacionalaja-parka-aizliegts-parvietoties-ar-motorizetiem-udenstransporta-lidzekliem
In Gauja National Park it is prohibited to travel on rivers, lakes and other bodies of water using any kind of motorised vehicle driven by a power engine.

https://nra.lv/latvija/riga/500404-vilciens-uz-bolderaju-kad-tas-saks-kurset.htm
For its part, "Pasažieru vilciens" would be ready to send trains to Bolderāja as soon as tomorrow. But for that to happen, he said, the modernisation work on this line being carried out by "Latvijas dzelzceļš" has to be completed, and "Pasažieru vilciens" has to receive an order from the Road Transport Administration.

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valsts-atbalsts-videi-draudzigu-auto-iegadei-devis-augstus-rezultatus
Funding from the support programme for the purchase of electric cars and plug-in hybrids has enabled more than 6400 people to buy environmentally friendly vehicles...

Plant protection

https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/integretaja-augu-aizsardziba-lietojamie-augu-aizsardzibas-lidzekli-un-pamatvielas
The State Plant Protection Service's website https://noverojumi.vaad.gov.lv/integreta-audzesana/integretaja-augu-aizsardziba-lietojamie-augu-aizsardzibas-lidzekli carries regularly updated information on plant protection products for use in integrated plant protection and on the basic substances used to control plant diseases and pests.

https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/neparbaudits-seklas-materials-inficeta-augsne-kluda-kas-maksa-dargi
Did you know that by planting potatoes from the shop or "from a neighbour" you may unwittingly spread quarantine diseases that can make the soil unsuitable for growing for years to come?

Brewers on the move

https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/37264250/biznesa_vide/120085779/valmiermuizas-alus-pievienosies-cesu-alus-grupai
Although this is the best year in "Valmiermuižas alus" history, we are also aware that we operate in a business environment in Europe that is unfriendly to small and independent brewers, as a result of which Latvia ranked last in the European Union for volume of beer produced last year. That significantly hampers the ability of Latvia's brewers to grow, invest and compete on a European scale.

https://www.delfi.lv/898102/versijas/120085813/helena-asmane-latvijas-un-igaunijas-alus-daritaji-kur-un-ka-spejam-konkuret-ar-lielvalstim
The "Ārpus" brewery and its smoothie beers are carrying Latvia's name out into the world. I would even call Latvians the uncrowned smoothie kings of the Baltics. In this segment Latvia is far ahead of Estonia.

https://www.tvnet.lv/8316366/labiesa-ipasnieks-valmiermuizas-alus-pardosana-cesu-alum-ir-psihologisks-trieciens-mazajam-alus-daritavam
The "Valmiermuižas alus" brand has been a beacon for all of Latvia's small brewers, and the company is a pioneer of the industry, showing that small breweries can work on their own brand, expand their market and grow steadily.

Current affairs in cartoons

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/ikp-lifta-14340785

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/taupisim-darba-14340922

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-augstaka-esanas-padome.31950

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-saredzam-potencialu-jaunam-produktam.32023