Industry
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/2025-gada-meza-izsniegtie-koku-cirsanas-apliecinajumi
In 2025, in the course of administering the extraction of wood resources from forests, the State Forest Service issued permits for commercial activity in 95,083 felling sites.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7860-lvm-versas-tiesa-par-vesturisko-iml-lausanu
“Latvijas valsts meži” has filed a claim in court seeking to have the long-term logging contracts (IML) declared invalid, while also asking the court to suspend the contracts’ effect until the court ruling takes force.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7865-inovacijas-lvm-koksnes-piegades-kedes-optimizacija
The optimisation solution is based on the coordinated work of several processes, delivering significant cost savings in how they are carried out.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/03.02.2026-mezu-ipasnieku-kontakti-noperkami-par-simtiem-eiro-aizdomas-par-datu-nopludi-no-valsts-sistemam.a632863/
The question is, how many databases has this information been compiled from? That’s why it’s very important to us that you sent us these files, since someone else may also have access to this kind of information. We have also approached others who are dealing with this matter, because we know very well that this offer was circulating.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/pata-saldus-kokrupnieki-2023-gada-aicinaja-noverst-cenu-veidosanas-mehanisma-radito-nevienlidzibu-525069
...a deliberate shift of focus from cause to effect is currently under way in the public arena, which prevents the public from objectively assessing the situation.
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/aktuali/vai-kokrupnieku-skandals-radis-jaunas-plaisas-valdiba.37808
He still rejects the commission’s conclusions and stresses that the report submitted in 2023 accurately reflected the market reality of the time.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/komisija-zinojuma-par-valsts-atbalstu-kokrupniekiem-nav-analizejusi-situacijas-celoni-525033
...the report does not analyse the underlying cause that created the need for timber companies to demand changes – the price indexation mechanism introduced by LVM, which was new at the time and had not previously been used in practice.
https://bauskasdzive.lv/latvija-un-pasaule/auksta-ziema-kokrupniekiem-rada-gan-iespejas-gan-istermina-izaicinajumus/
...because of the cold winter, the start of the year has been unexpectedly good for timber companies selling fuel wood for energy, though Klauss points out that most contracts are signed in summer and autumn, with deliveries made at the agreed prices.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/video-biomasa-pasu-zeme-izaudzeta-zala-energija-525047
The volume of biomass grown in Latvia exceeds domestic consumption at heating plants, so it is exported and generates extra income; consumption of this resource within the country is forecast to grow further...
https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/54883004/dzilak-meza/120105062/ilgi-gaiditie-laikapstakli-ka-ziema-notiek-celu-saldesana-meza
Freezing is a logging method in which frost is used to reinforce forest roads and natural tracks in boggy, very wet areas with low ground bearing capacity. The aim is to create a stable, frozen track.
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/694717-sadega-viss-ugunsgreka-izpostita-md-wood-razotne-suntazu-pagasta
A fire has destroyed the production plant of MD Wood Ltd in Suntaži parish, Ogre municipality, the company’s owner confirmed...
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/01.02.2026-latvija-vienigaja-koku-mebelu-audzetava-februari-ievaks-razu-izaudzis-pirmais-lampas-abazurs-un-kresls.a632537/
The only tree-grown furniture nursery in the Baltics, and indeed in Northern Europe, lies within a forest, in Cīrava parish, South Kurzeme municipality. Now it is surrounded by white snowdrifts, creating a special mood.
Anniversary month
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/80-gadi-zinatne-un-inovacijas
In 2026 the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry marks its 80th anniversary. February is the institute’s founding month.
Worth knowing! Upcoming and ongoing events
Until 22 February we invite you to vote for the European Tree of the Year, supporting the Valdemārpils Elku Lime
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/eiropas-gada-koks-aicinam-piedalities-un-atbalstit-elku-liepu
https://www.treeoftheyear.org/vote
On 12 February at the University of Latvia Botanical Garden, Agnis Graudulis’s lecture ”Nut Growing in Canada”
More information
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/lekcija-riekstkopiba-kanada
On 14 February Hunters’ Biathlon
https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/lvmi-silava-aicina-uz-spraigu-mednieku-biatlonu
On 14 February at the Līgatne Nature Trails, evening walks by lantern light, “Meet the Animals in the Dark”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valentindienas-vakars-lukturisu-gaisma-ligatnes-dabas-takas-aicina-uz-pargajieniem-satiec-zverus-tumsa
On 15 February, a seminar and workshop on artificial nest boxes for wood ducks, their placement and upkeep
https://www.medibam.lv/nenokave-notiks-seminars-par-meza-pilu-maksligo-ligzdvietu-izgatavosanu-un-apkopi
On 27 February, the Horticulture Conference at Bulduri Technical School
https://www.darzkopibaskonference.lv/
13-15 May 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, “Latvia’s Forest Days”
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7854-latvijas-meza-dienas-tervete-notiks-22-un-23-maija
Survey on coexistence with large carnivores
https://sondages.inrae.fr/index.php/456847?lang=lv
Officially
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/baltijas-energosistema-pirmo-gadu-stabili-darbojas-neatkarigi-no-krievijas
Almost a year has passed since the Baltic states began operating synchronously – in a single heartbeat with the European power system. This step marks a significant turning point in the region’s energy independence and the sector’s further development.
https://www.sam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/rail-baltica-istenosana-lidz-2030-gadam-joprojam-ir-atkariga-no-pietiekama-es-finansejuma
The European Court of Auditors has published an updated version of its 2020 report on European Union transport mega-projects. It assesses eight major infrastructure projects in thirteen EU member states, including Rail Baltica.
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/varam-darbu-uzsak-36-jauni-valsts-un-pasvaldibu-vienotie-klientu-apkalposanas-centri
At the end of January, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM), working with local governments, expanded the network of joint state and municipal customer service centres (VPVKAC), opening 36 new VPVKAC offices in the Ludza, Saldus and Ventspils municipalities.
Economy
https://www.makroekonomika.lv/ekspertu-komentari/alus-vai-sula-globala-nenoteiktiba-vai-latvijas-rupnieku-noteiktiba
Sentiment in Latvian industry and assessments of export orders are less easily shaken, and are affected more negatively by events at home or in geographically nearby countries, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, than by international tariff battles.
https://www.makroekonomika.lv/raksti/sankciju-ietekme-uz-krievijas-ekonomiku
With trade volumes with Russia considerably reduced, the EU now trades substantially more with the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Since the route to these countries often runs directly through Russia, there is a strong likelihood that some of these exports never actually reach their official destination.
Hunting
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/lietotnei-mednis-350-versija
Version 3.5.0 of the “Mednis” mobile app is now available, which adds a new map data layer showing signs of wolf presence.
https://www.lasi.lv/mednieks-makskernieks/medibas/redaktores-sleja-linda-dombrovska-medibas-nav-problema-tas-ir-risinajuma-dala.37892
This year has brought hunters two big topics that are sparking sharp public debate– large carnivores and firearms regulation. Both issues are full of prejudice and assumptions...
https://www.medibam.lv/sokejosi-skaitli-par-patversmes-nonakusajiem-mednieku-medibu-skirnu-suniem-ko-atklaj-specialisti
...if people studied everything about a breed before getting a puppy, and considered how that breed’s traits fit their lifestyle and circumstances, shelters would have less work to do.
https://radioswh.lv/daba-un-turisms/no-memorandiem-lidz-vilkiem-lms-vaditajs-buskevics-par-spriedzi-medibu-nozare/
“If we look even at the forest service’s count, which is very modest and approximate, putting the figure at 1,400 wolves in Latvia, we hunters think this number is at least twice as high,” he says, stressing the need for a more accurate, more up-to-date count.
https://www.medibam.lv/katra-pasvaldiba-pa-lusu-specialistam-un-zoodarzam-un-ieroci-labak-atstat-seifa
What happened suggests that Latvia does not really have a clear plan of action for how to handle situations like this and similar ones. And yes, for a good while now the hunter has not been a cork to plug the bottle of problems posed by stray dogs and predators entering people’s yards, lynxes especially.
Environment
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7861-kudras-ieguves-vietu-rekultivacija-lvm-apsaimniekotajas-zemes
“Latvijas valsts meži” extracts peat on land it manages across Latvia over an area of more than 16,000 hectares. These areas are leased out, and peat extraction there is carried out by tenants, who use the extracted peat for further processing.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/laika-zinas/laika-zinas/04.02.2026-vai-meteorologi-vareja-prognozet-sadu-ziemu-video-saruna-ar-ltv-laika-zinu-redaktoru-tomu-brici.a632869/
During the conversation we talked about what to expect from next summer’s weather, and about why some bodies of water are safer than others.
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/parks-ka-dziva-ekosistema-izstradatas-vadlinijas-musdienigai-pilsetvides-apsaimniekosanai
During the implementation of the Nature Conservation Agency’s LIFE Osmo Baltic project, guidelines were drawn up, titled “Park Management and Biological Diversity”, that is, a handbook offering practical recommendations for more nature-friendly management of parks, helping municipalities and private owners create sustainable green areas in cities.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/neatbalstamais-eksports-14347372
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-epsteina-failus-lasiji.37754
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-aha-korumpantes.37676
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/slesera-durvis-14347545