On current and upcoming events
### You can sign the petition “No to new protected nature areas without the provision of fair compensation!”
### We are looking for a tree with a story!
### 11 August: Bread Festival at Vārme Manor
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/11-augusta-maizes-svetki-varmes-muiza
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/11-augusta-maizes-svetki-varmes-muiza
### 18 August: an informative walk in the “Ovīši” nature reserve
### Until 21 August: exhibition “A Poem About Milk” at the old Tirza dairy
### 26 August: Tomato Festival in Brenguļi
https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/events/tomatu-svetki-brengulos/
https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/events/tomatu-svetki-brengulos/
### Baloži peat museum railway excursions in the 2023 season
### Researchers from ten countries (including colleagues from Daugavpils University) are conducting a study on horticulture and its environmental impact; we invite you to support it by participating in the survey:
### When planning your summer outings, you may find this useful
https://majaskafejnicas.lv/
https://majaskafejnicas.lv/
On the storm and its consequences
The territory of the Zemgale forestry region suffered the most damage from the hail and wind on 7 August. Relatively extensive damage was also identified in the Vidzeme region, where a powerful storm with heavy rain raged. The assessment of forest damage continues across the entire territory of Latvia, though it is hindered by roads blocked by fallen trees.
On 10 August, the Cabinet of Ministers agreed at an extraordinary meeting on support measures for the clearing of storm damage to residential houses. The informative report developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM), which was produced after discussions with the mayors of the storm-affected municipalities, includes terms for support that municipalities will provide to residents for home repairs in the form of one-off funding or the execution of repair (restoration) work. Support can be granted for the repair of roofs and windows of both individual residential houses and apartment buildings.
The storm on 7 August most severely affected the LVM Zemgale region, where a total of 22,000 cubic metres of completely fallen or broken trees and 8,000 cubic metres of trees damaged individually or in small groups have been recorded so far. In Zemgale, young stands also suffered during the large-grain hail; the extent of this damage is still being assessed. Meanwhile, on the night of 8 August, significant damage was also caused in other regions—for example, 22,000 cubic metres of damage were recorded in East Vidzeme and 8,000 cubic metres in West Vidzeme. The storm affected the LVM North Kurzeme, South Kurzeme, and Middle Daugava regions the least.
Upon surveying the area, we have determined that the greatest storm damage is from fallen trees, as infrastructure damage is generally not significant. There is minor roof damage to the Information Centre and the equipment rental building. The roof and handrails of the pedestrian bridge over the road were also damaged, but all these structures are safe for use. The popular “Čiekure” gnome town survived the elements without damage, and no significant damage was found to the small wooden houses or sculptures in the Gnome Village. The area housing our partner facilities – the Tērvete Tarzan and Net Park – suffered the most.
On Monday, a thunderstorm with strong gusts of wind, and in places heavy rain and large-grain hail, raged in Kurzeme and the central part of the country. For the afternoon and evening, warnings have been issued for thunderstorms in the central and eastern regions of Latvia.
Latvian Television observed that municipal representatives were touring farms, and the Chairman of the Cooperation Council of Agricultural Organisations (LOSP), Guntis Gūtmanis, stated that he had visited a number of the council members’ farms.
https://zz.lv/dobeles-darzkopibas-instituta-vetras-laika-izgaztas-apmeram-50-abeles/
In the apple orchard, institute staff were busy picking and weighing fruit before dumping it back on the ground, the LETA agency observed. Grāvīte explained that although the institute does sell some of the fruit, there is nowhere to put the unripe, bruised, cracked, or otherwise weather-damaged fruit, and most of it is not yet ripe. In the orchard, many plums, apricots, pears, and apples have been blown off the trees and lie metres away.
Kroņauce, Bukaiši, Augstkalne, Zelmeņi in Dobele Municipality, and Žagare in the neighbourhood – these are the areas affected by the storm and hail where “Zemgales Ziņas” examined the consequences of Monday’s natural disaster on Tuesday evening.
In the storm-affected villages of Dobele Municipality, people are glad they do not have to worry about the supply and removal of construction waste containers. The day after the storm, containers were placed in six locations in the municipality where residents can dispose of construction waste from storm-destroyed houses, as well as dangerous asbestos roofing, free of charge.
On state-level issues
Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) has decided to form a new coalition after current coalition partners – the National Alliance and the United List – rejected his proposal to replace ministers and sign a memorandum on priority tasks for the remainder of the year.
...the government approved the order prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture (ZM) regarding the national research programme “Research and Sustainable Use of Local Resources for Latvia’s Development” for 2023-2025, which sets out the goals, tasks, implementation period, and costs for the ZM sectors – agriculture, fisheries, food, and forestry. The total funding for the research programme for the three-year period is 5 million euros (1 million euros in 2023, and 2 million euros annually thereafter).
It seems the President is the only person in the country working. In contrast to the sluggish, wordy, and carefree work schedule of other officials, the country’s head of state meets with ministers and visits the regions—today at the border, tomorrow already visiting the police—while finding time in between to comfort those affected by the storm and assure them that help is on the way. After a short rest, he will dive into the depths of the Amber Sea and, on his day off, fly over the entire country in a hot air balloon, gauging the next round of troubles.
On important industry matters
Without questioning the competence and high position of every Member of the European Parliament as a mirror of society—a position that will never be reached by Latvian scientists—such a tone, without even asking for or waiting for an analysis of the details, is quite surprising. Perhaps it is even depressing for forestry workers. Not only because, within the framework of Latvian forest science, the various criteria by which the biological value of the Latvian forest is or has been determined have never even been discussed. We may have been convinced that every living forest stand, including young growth, is and will be a great biological and other type of value for our country.
In connection with the damage caused to forest stands by the storm and hail on 7 August, the State Forest Service provides information on the conditions under which forest owners can carry out tree felling in the devastated areas.
However, what is to be done if, at the same time, the “Green Deal” plans to eradicate the use of peat and peat products in agriculture and forestry?
Representatives of the forest industry point out that it is impossible to grow forest seedlings at all without peat. Latvia’s forests are a valuable and priceless resource for economic, environmental, and social needs. Wood processing, timber harvesting, and the woodworking industry provide jobs and economic development.
Currently, “Rīgas meži”, adhering to regulatory requirements and following the principles of good governance, is actively seeking the most appropriate solutions for three long-standing issues related to the company’s operations: the red deer herd at the environmental education centre in Tīnūži, the property at Biķernieku iela 70, and the property in Mangaļsala (both located in Riga).
This year, the highest flight activity of the first generation of European spruce bark beetles has been observed so far, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s (ZM) informative report “On the impact of emergency situation measures on the limitation of spruce bark beetle damage and future actions” on the Legal Acts Project (TAP) portal.
...these losses rather have a short-term and quickly passing effect on the timber market, increasing the workload for loggers; however, given that logging in Latvia is still not operating at full capacity due to the bark beetle emergency situation, logging companies have the resources available to process the broken and fallen timber quickly enough.
On the economy
Annual inflation in Latvia continued to decrease in July; it was one and a half percentage points lower than in June, at 6.4% compared to 7.9%. In June, the drop in annual inflation was record-fast (-4.2 pp) because it was determined by both the base effect (the dramatic events in 2022) and an unusually large price drop on a monthly basis. In July, the base effect no longer helped, as prices rose by 0.7% compared to the previous month.
“We believe in science. We believe that new knowledge drives us towards a healthier, more prosperous, and wiser future. We believe that the thirst for knowledge and the joy of discovery will never be lost at RTU, founded 160 years ago in 1862. We believe that in many hundreds of years, our university will be one of the leading technology universities not only in the Baltics but also in the wider region. And we hope that the generations that open this time capsule will be able to verify the stability of the materials placed in this capsule with much more modern technologies and will be convinced of the longevity of our research,” says the message from Riga Technical University (RTU) to future generations, upon the commencement of construction of the Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence building on the Ķīpsala campus.
On hunting
The “Munchausen” hunter festival has become a popular tradition among hunters. It first took place in 1999 and is held every year on the first weekend of August in different locations across Latvia. This year, nearly 60 teams gathered.
The waterbird hunting season begins on 12 August this year. The State Forest Service invites you to familiarise yourself with the hunting conditions in specific territories, hunting safety and biosecurity requirements in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza, as well as the ban on the use of lead shot ammunition.
On environmental issues
The Nature Conservation Agency reminds us that a veteran tree is a protected natural treasure that is under state protection, which is why special conditions apply to it even in cases where a veteran tree has suffered from the destructive impact of a storm and clean-up work is necessary to mitigate the consequences.
In July, the government approved regulations prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture regarding investments in flood risk reduction infrastructure. A total of 39,890,070 euros will be spent from EU Recovery Fund and state budget resources to restore polder pumping stations, protective dams, and regulated sections of slow-flowing rivers. Although the objects being restored often play a significant role in reducing flood risk, Latvia still has a long way to go to ensure that flood risk reduction investments not only protect our agricultural land, homes, or roads from flooding but are also friendly to nature and the environment, and are implemented in accordance with the latest knowledge.
With the growing demand for organising various events and activities in nature, including in specially protected nature areas, the Nature Conservation Agency has prepared informative guides or infographics that will help event organisers navigate the process of obtaining the necessary approvals and permits.
Bears have returned to Latvia to stay, emphasises bear researcher Jānis Ozoliņš. As the bear population grows, people are likely to encounter the large beast more often, but scientists estimate that it will be a long time before there is any talk of authorising hunting. Meanwhile, in the village of Pūpoli in Brenguļi parish, Vidzeme, residents report that bear tracks have appeared in their back gardens.
On energy independence
Recently, this environment bubbled over because the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), together with the Wind Energy Association and selected environmental NGOs, held informative meetings in Pāvilosta and Jūrkalne. Subsequently, an initial public consultation was held in a remote format, and the next planned step is an environmental impact assessment for the ELWIND offshore wind farm in the E4 area, located 15 km and 17 km from Pāvilosta and Jūrkalne. Public interest, to put it mildly, was high at all events, and the attitude towards wind farms was extremely critical.
On the changes at Daugavpils University
Until now, Daugavpils University had faculties of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences, Music and Arts, Humanities, and Education and Management. From 1 August, only two remain—the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health Care and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Miscellaneous interesting things and interesting things about the miscellaneous
Parliamentary elections were recently held in Spain, the outcome of which is a thoroughly interesting topic, yet the following text will not be about that. In the context of the elections, I remembered how passionately part of Latvian society admired and supported the Catalan independence movement. A mere five years have passed, and how many are there who even remember this topic?
Through a painstaking year-long process, communicating with the owner living in Russia and almost changing his mind twice in the middle, Latvian entrepreneur Jānis Dubinskis has become the new master of Zentene Manor.
On 17 August 2023, Bread Day will take place at the Faculty of Food Technology (PTF) of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) in Jelgava, Rīgas iela 22A. There, partners of LBTU food technologists—representatives of grain processing and bread production companies—along with industry experts and those interested, will gather in one place to discuss current industry issues and enrich their knowledge through practical sessions.
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