Worth knowing! Upcoming events
The “Ziedu ceļos” campaign runs until 30 October
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
Until 12 May there is an opportunity to nominate candidates for the European Commission's “EU Organic Awards” competition for organic producers who have developed outstanding, innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects that create real added value for organic production and consumption.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zm-aicina-latvijas-lauksaimniekus-un-partikas-razotajus-lidz-12-maijam-izvirzit-savu-kandidaturu-es-balvai-biologiskaja-razosana
The “Ziedu ceļos” campaign runs until 30 October
https://www.mammadaba.lv/aktuali/235-pasakumi/3920-akcija-ziedu-celos-2024-aicinas-apmeklet-astonus-ziedosu-kolekciju-darzus
The environmental campaign “Dod riepām otru dzīvi” runs until 2 June
On 11 May, the annual planting bee at the world's first sap tree park
On 16 May, the conference “Bioekonomika Latvijā: cilvēks, sadarbība, ilgtspēja”
On 17-18 May, the 27th Gauja Raftsmen's Festival
On 18 May, 31 August, 21 September and 12 October, hikes in the Krustkalni Nature Reserve
Until 12 May there is an opportunity to nominate candidates for the European Commission's “EU Organic Awards” competition for organic producers who have developed outstanding, innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects that create real added value for organic production and consumption.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zm-aicina-latvijas-lauksaimniekus-un-partikas-razotajus-lidz-12-maijam-izvirzit-savu-kandidaturu-es-balvai-biologiskaja-razosana
On 16 May, Latvian Forest Science Day Stories about the Latvian National Forest Monitoring programme
On the official side
Efforts to cut red tape are moving on several fronts – the most significant of them is digitalisation.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved draft regulations* prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development on support for infrastructure development and renewal works aimed at helping local authorities adapt to climate change and reduce the risk of climate-change-induced disasters.
On industry matters
To avoid disturbing animals, and birds in particular, during their breeding season, restrictions apply to tree felling and forestry work in forests. In towns and villages, this prohibition also covers the felling of trees growing outside forests.
On 7 May, the new board of AS “Latvijas valsts meži” met the presidium of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation for a working session to discuss the development of the forestry sector and the creation of a sustainable, stable economic environment for the sector's businesses in the future.
This month, one of Latvia's leading logging and woodworking companies, “Stiga RM”, celebrates its 30th anniversary. The company was founded in May 1994 in Tukums.
https://play.1188.lv/pasmaju-tv-sovi/360tv-zinnesi-58/meza_ipasniekam_cesu_puse_sapnis_par_majas_buvniecibu_no_pasa_priedem_paliek_nepiepildits-740625/
Finding a protected bird, plant or fungus species on your land means striking a line through any plan to fell trees for sale, or even to thin them, which is why there are suspicions that a large share of forest owners keep quiet about the presence of rare species in their forests.
A restoration workshop is due to open in September at the wooden building renovation centre Koka Rīga on Krāsotāju iela, the External Communications Unit of Riga City Council reports.
Who's who
Products manufactured in an EU member state or a third country under a name such as “coconut milk” may be sold in Latvia, but with a clarified product name that complies with EU legislation and cannot be given a direct Latvian translation.
On environmental matters
...on the whole, it can be concluded that the Baltic economies have felt the negative consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine relatively more sharply than other EU member states.
On 5 May, in Zvārtava parish of Valka municipality, near the recreation area by Lake Cepurīte, 14.49 hectares of mature forest burned down. The fire is thought to have been started by human activity.
The blue infrastructure construction works carried out by AS “Latvijas valsts meži” on the banks of the Tora in the Rietumvidzeme region are nearing completion; their aim is to improve water quality in the Tora and the Aģe basin.
When it comes to environmental impact and CO₂ emissions, there is much discussion of transport and aviation, but far less attention is paid to the emissions produced by the IT sector, because they are not as self-evident.
One of the schools that will receive support is Jaunmārupe Primary School, where the project will create a floating island whose job will be not only to delight visitors to the park and the waterfowl that like to gather there, but also to purify the water in the pond by acting as a biological filter.
On precision
Such is the topsy-turvy order of things nowadays: the seriousness of a problem depends on the publicity it gets.
It should be noted that this absurdity also affects environmental issues and the protests connected with them. Greater attention and a greater willingness to help go to species whose members are either simply easy to spot physically (whales, polar bears and so on) or, in people's eyes, appealing. It is easier and more comprehensible to shed tears over a koala than over an endangered species of scorpion. People are ready to fight wholeheartedly for the forests of the Amazon, whereas standing up for the no less important and equally vulnerable ecosystems of the tundra or the steppe is somehow boring and unremarkable.
Important to know!
The Public Space and Mobility Department of Riga City Council has received a special inspection report on the technical condition of the road bridge over the railway on Altonavas iela, and following a study of the bridge structures and analytical calculations it has been decided to keep the existing traffic arrangements on the bridge. Under present conditions the bridge can remain in service for another two years...
On the economy
In Latvia we consume 53% renewable electricity, while for Lithuanians the figure is 26% and for Estonians 29%.
In March, Latvian industry maintained the positive year-on-year momentum that returned in February after an almost unbroken decline in negative territory since as far back as mid-2022.
Latvia's first unique, environmentally friendly and sustainable bio-asphalt road surface has been laid. The project is being carried out by the road construction company SIA Vianova, continuing its work on producing environmentally friendly asphalt.
On science
From 8 to 24 May, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) in Jelgava is bringing together Latvian and foreign scientists, industry specialists and policymakers, both in person and online, to share the latest research findings and discuss future activities in land management and surveying, education, pedagogy, rural development, social and personal development, economics and engineering, across a series of international conferences.
On this and that
To an acquaintance who was off to visit their parents in the United Arab Emirates, Daina gave a selection of “Gotiņa” sweets made by the company “Skrīveru saldumi” as a gift to take along.
The “Dilles” farm, Ungurmuiža and Rucka Manor – a golden triangle of one's own, in the Indian style: that is the vision of the future sketched out by entrepreneur Renārs Sproģis, who leases both manors from Cēsis municipality. Both manors, however, need serious investment, and the only way to obtain the money is through various European and Latvian state projects.
Let's plant Latvia with fruit trees! – under this motto, fruit trees have now been planted for the third year running, in spring and autumn, at various educational establishments, care homes and social care centres in Latvia. This time a 70-year-old apple orchard at Rekava Secondary School has been given a second lease of life...
In May 2023, after a pause lasting 70 (!) years, the Bārta raft 2023 was successfully lashed together and launched downstream on the River Bārta with tremendous support from enthusiasts, partners and those who keep rafting and the national spirit alive. The tradition continues!
...by doing away with the last cultural venues in the countryside, the roots of Latvians as a cultural nation are being cut back.
The World Wide Fund for Nature is calling on Latvia to urgently address the issue of the refuelling of Russia's so-called shadow fleet of vessels in the Baltic Sea...
In Riga, paving stones removed during construction projects that do not go back into the streets are put into storage. Beforehand they are weighed and handed over for storage under a formal record, and in exactly the same way, when the historic paving needs to be laid again, it is weighed and released from storage under a formal record.
The news in cartoons
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