Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
On industry matters
https://www.db.lv/zinas/luminor-bank-pieskirusi-165-miljonu-eiro-kreditu-kokapstrades-uznemumam-osi-v-519565
Luminor Bank has granted a loan of 1.65 million euros to the Valka municipality woodworking company SIA “Oši V”, bank representatives reported.
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/hs-timber-group-no-bergs-timber-ab-iegadajusies-vika-wood-sia
Austria's HS Timber Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in the Latvian woodworking company Vika Wood SIA from its Swedish owner Bergs Timber AB.
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/rigas-mezu-top-10-notikumi-2024-gada-jauni-sasniegumi-finansiala-stabilitate-un-dialogs-ar-sabiedribu
With nature conservation in mind, and to encourage motorcyclists to think about the principles of environmentally safe riding, “Rīgas meži”, in cooperation with the Road Traffic Safety Council, ran the campaign “Don't tear up the forest, tear up the track”.
Official news
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pasvaldibas-meza-un-meza-zemes-kadastralo-novertejumu-var-sanemt-elektroniski
The State Forest Service reports that local authorities have the option of receiving the cadastral (balance sheet) valuation of forest and forest land electronically from the State Forest Register. The valuation can be obtained either as a list or as a separate electronically prepared document for each property, certified with an eSeal.
https://www.em.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pastiprinas-pateretaju-aizsardzibu-no-zalmaldinasanas
A commercial practice will be considered misleading if the consumer is given information about environmental performance that is not substantiated by measurable, well-founded indicators and other elements, and if the trader advertises insignificant benefits to consumers.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemi-ilggadigo-ogulaju-stadijumiem-no-publiskam-personam-drikstes-nomat-uz-laiku-lidz-70-gadiem
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law on amendments prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture which will make it possible to lease land from a public entity for the establishment of perennial berry plantations for a total term of up to 70 years.
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/uznemejiem-pieejama-atbalsta-programma-biometana-razosanai-un-parvadasanai
The Cabinet of Ministers approved a support programme for the production and transport of biomethane, developed by the Ministry of Climate and Energy. Both prospective and existing biomethane production and biomethane transport companies will be able to apply for the support programme.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pasvaldibam-bus-lielaka-patstaviba-rupnieciskas-zvejas-limitu-parvaldiba-ieksejos-udenos
Amendments to the procedure for industrial fishing limits and their use in inland waters provide that local authorities will in future have greater rights to decide themselves on the fishing limits to be used in the relevant calendar year in the inland waters within their territory, if such a decision is justified by measures needed to protect fish resources.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vidzemes-regionala-administracija-klientus-turpmak-apkalpos-sigulda
From now on, the Vidzeme Regional Administration of the Nature Conservation Agency will serve clients in Sigulda.
On hunting
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrija-izsludina-pieteiksanos-uz-medibu-saimniecibas-attistibas-fonda-finansejuma-sanemsanu-2025-gada
The total funding available is EUR 438,415.00. The implementation period for projects runs until 31 October 2025.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valsts-meza-dienests-aicina-zinot-par-vilku-klatbutnes-pazimem-0
In order to obtain as complete a picture as possible of the distribution of wolves in Latvia, the State Forest Service invites the public to report signs of the presence of wolves. The information gathered is essential for taking decisions that ensure the sustainable management of hunting resources.
On the environment
https://dabasdati.lv/lv
Mushroom, animal, bird of the year and so on, all in one place
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-maina-statusu-nosaukumu-un-nosaka-prioritaros-darbibas-virzienus
The National Botanic Garden of Latvia is an institution of national importance, subordinate to the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, which manages and implements programmes for the conservation of biological diversity. The LNBD maintains extensive plant collections, provides for scientific research and takes an active part in educating the public.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/kaniera-ezeram-mekles-jaunu-apsaimniekotaju
The Nature Conservation Agency is temporarily taking over management work at Lake Kaņieris and will at the same time look for a new manager. During the transition period, a licence is no longer required for angling on the lake; the other angling rules remain in force.
https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vaad-aicina-neuzkerties-uz-krievijas-baltkrievijas-darzenu-seklu-pardosanas-sludinajumiem-socialajos-tiklos
Responding to complaints received from social media users about the sale of small packets of vegetable seeds from third countries, the State Plant Protection Service reports that the sale of vegetable seeds originating from Russia and Belarus is not permitted.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/notiks-dabas-parka-istra-parvaldibas-plana-sabiedriska-apspriesana
The planned “Istra” nature park is located in Istra parish, Ludza municipality. It comprises the “Istras pauguraine” nature park, the “Istras ezers” nature reserve and the “Istras staignāju meži” nature reserve, as well as Lake Šķaunas, Lake Dziļais, Lake Audzeļu and the adjacent biologically valuable areas.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/pilsetvide/09.01.2025-tornakalna-mitrajs-perspektivais-rigas-mikrorajons-turpina-slikt-zem-udens.a582443/
In Torņakalns, construction of the University of Latvia's Writings House is proceeding slowly. Meanwhile the rest of the site, which the university also plans to occupy in future, is under water. In just a few years, building works and beavers have turned the abandoned allotment area into a wetland.
On choice
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/09.01.2025-nosaka-pasvaldibu-domes-ievelejamo-deputatu-skaitu.a583029/
On 9 January, the Central Election Commission took a decision on the number of deputies to be elected in the 2025 local council elections.
On the economy
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/08.01.2025-valmiera-sogad-taps-piecas-jaunas-rupnicas.a582723/
New jobs and exports – that is the promise of five new manufacturing companies to be established in Valmiera this year. They are mainly in metalworking and woodworking, but other sectors are represented too. This will be a significant gain for the regional city.
https://nra.lv/neatkariga/intervijas/479490-daunis-auers-ne-tikai-latvija-atpaliek-no-lietuvas-ari-igaunija.htm
Meanwhile, there is uncertainty in Europe. There are energy problems, there is war and an unstable political environment. It is unclear how relations will develop with China, which is a major economic partner for the EU and for Latvia as well.
https://ir.lv/2025/01/07/cetrus-miljonus-eiro-gramatam-valsts-neatrod-bet-21-miljonu-monitoringa-sistemai-gan/
...at the end of last year the government allocated 21 million euros for the creation of an education quality monitoring system, while at the same time pointing out that there was not enough funding for teaching materials. So it turns out that the state budget could not find the 4 million euros that would provide teaching materials for all primary school pupils in all subjects, but did find 21 million for a monitoring system.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/07.01.2025-taupibas-rezultats-latgale-pasazieri-paliek-cela-mala-bet-autobusi-brauc-garam.a582691/
...“empty buses” have appeared on the roads, driving past passengers without stopping. Rural residents are in the dark about what is happening with regional public transport.
On various developments
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/latvija/piemin-kabiles-partizanus-atklas-vides-objektu-pieminas-zimi.23650
An environmental object – a memorial sign – is to be unveiled in the centre of Kabile, recalling the events of 24 December 1945, when national partisans managed to take and hold Kabile for almost a day, raising the Latvian flag over it once again.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/10.01.2025-petijums-latvijas-regionos-vienam-vetarstam-pat-10-000-klientu.a583067/
A study carried out in Latvia reveals a shortage of veterinarians, particularly in the regions, where a single specialist often serves more than 10,000 people. Admittedly, this is not only Latvia's problem – across Europe the shortage of veterinarians is becoming ever more worrying.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7711-sogad-atjaunos-segumu-lozmetejkalna-meza-autocelam
In the summer, resurfacing along more than 4 km will be carried out on the “Ložmetējkalna ceļš” road in Valgunde parish, which is of considerable social importance, as the Ložmetējkalns observation tower and the First World War Christmas Battles memorial sites are nearby.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-straumes-aizrautie.23539
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/gada-dzivnieks-ezis-14329467
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-latvijas-gada-dzivnieks-ezis.23604
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/alkohols-lidz-astoniem-14329563
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-visiem-jauzpildas.23645
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/ari-korupcijai-ir-tiesibas-14329365
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-uz-zimem-skataties.23493