Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
On 5 December at the LBTU Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences
LMSP 9th International Conference “Scientific, economic and social aspects of natural resource use in the current environmental and geopolitical context”
On 12 October, the last Baloži peat railway excursion of the season (this year, this autumn)
On 12 October, hikes in the Krustkalni Nature Reserve
On 12 and 13 October, Travellers' Days in Gauja National Park
Until 18 October, Nordic Days in Daugavpils
Until 15 October there is an opportunity to apply to the open tender “Mechanised forest sowing, soil preparation in strips with a disc plough and soil preparation forming mounds with a rotating mounder, 2025-2029” announced by AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM)
The “Ziedu ceļos” campaign runs from 1 February to 30 October
From 18 May, the exhibition “From birch seed to betulin” at the Pharmacy Museum
27-29 March 2025, the 12th Baltic Theriological Conference “Baltic mammals in the turbulence of anthropogenic tensions”
On industry matters
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/14-oktobri-nosledzas-meza-ugunsnedrosais-laikposms
As of 14 October, the State Forest Service is lifting the forest fire danger period across the whole country, which had been in force since 3 May. This year 225 forest fires were recorded and extinguished, burning 65 ha of forest land, which is a considerably better figure than in previous years.
In the park, covering roughly three hectares, capacity will be provided by 3,600 installed double-sided (bi-facial) generating solar panels, positioned to take account of the particular requirements of the terrain and using adjustable mountings.
In recognition of this direction, the “Latvijas Finieris” commendation will also be presented for the first time during the Latvian Annual Award in Architecture, in order to highlight the use of timber in construction in Latvia, as well as the use of sustainable building solutions in construction projects.
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/projekti/ka-latvijas-meza-monitorings-palidz-cina-par-klimata-neitralitati.20379
This year we compiled the data from the fourth five-year period of forest resource monitoring and completed the first five-year period of forest biodiversity monitoring. In the biodiversity monitoring sample plots, fallen deadwood and other habitats are also assessed, as is the remaining vegetation – ground-cover plants, mosses and lichens.
Gatis Brencis, a forester from Smiltene municipality and a many-times titled competitor in logging contests at various levels, has won his first gold medal at the world logging championship competing for the Latvian national team; the championship took place in Austria at the end of September.
On the official side
In 2024 as well, it will be possible in Latvia to pay out a larger advance of the basic income support for sustainability (ISIP) and, subsequently, slightly later, an advance of the organic farming payment (BLA) to Latvian farmers. The ISIP advance will be paid at 70% and the BLA advance at 85%.
At an extraordinary Cabinet of Ministers sitting on 10 October, amendments to the Regional Development Law were approved which, from next year, would allow local government investment projects to be financed both through state budget loans provided by the Treasury and through loans offered by other lenders, including commercial banks, if they offer more favourable loan terms.
The very sharp fall in imports in July 2024 compared with June clearly shows that the EU's increased customs tariffs are serving their purpose and that their implementation has significantly reduced imports from Russia and Belarus. This means that discussions with EU member states must continue in order to consider the next proposal on tariffs and the statistical nomenclature.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments to the Electricity Market Law drawn up by the Ministry of Climate and Energy (KEM). The aim of the amendments is to strengthen consumers' rights and broaden their opportunities in the electricity market, to reduce the system costs of electricity distribution system operators in future, and to reduce the administrative burden on operators.
In the European Union, a reduced VAT rate is introduced so that particular goods are cheaper and more accessible to end consumers. Raising the VAT rate on fresh fruit, berries and vegetables would undeniably push up the final price, and this would prevent a large proportion of Latvia's population from buying fruit, berries and vegetables, which are desirable and healthy products in the diet.
On environmental matters
In search of adrenaline, motorcycle, car and quad bike drivers tend to ride illegally through forests in places where this is not permitted, damaging the ground cover and causing serious harm to nature. This situation has become a significant problem in Riga and the surrounding area.
The compiled results of the game show that the most popular have been various bog trails and well-appointed recreation spots by lakes. Of all the sites entered into the game, the largest number of participants was at Kalnansu Bog, which is located in Kuldīga municipality.
Last autumn we thinned middle-aged and older pine stands to varying densities in order to provide better light conditions for the rare species living here. This autumn it is planned to thin young pine stands over a combined area of about 12 hectares, creating openings and thereby letting more light into the forest, which is important for various specially protected and rarely encountered plant species.
There is no unified approach to managing household construction waste in Latvia, and so the country is not making use of the full potential for recycling, recovering and reusing this type of waste.
On the future of rail transport (hopefully, what is to come)
Assorted, varied, interesting
One of the main risks arising from using all-season tyres in winter is their comparatively poor grip on icy roads. All-season tyres may be an acceptable solution in regions with milder winters, but not in Latvia, where winter often brings a layer of ice and snow onto the carriageway.
Word has come from the Ministry of Culture that the problem in Riga's historic centre is a “mythical notion of remaining in a preserved state”. In the NKMP's assessment, this points to a tendency to regard the system for preserving cultural heritage in Riga as an obstacle to the city's development.
The manor plans to host organisers of weddings and private and corporate events, along with those wishing to hold celebrations, and artists are also invited to stage solo exhibitions.
The beginnings of theatre in Valmiera go back to the 1880s, when the Latvian Society house was founded and a theatre was established alongside it. In the 1980s the modest historic building was demolished, and following a joint design by the architects Ģelzis, Upaciere and Gusevs, a new theatre, prominent in the town, was built within Valmiera's cultural heritage area.
The programme Stiprie stāsti visits Līga Kozaka at “Strēlnieki” in Aloja parish, Limbaži municipality. Together with her husband Vasilijs, a Ukrainian, Līga keeps a herd of 80 goats and is developing Latvia's local breed. In place of a former potato cellar there is now a dairy house, where goat's milk is turned into various kinds of cheese with added ingredients, ice cream and other products.
Re:Baltica approached five influencers who advertise gambling. Krīvēns was the only one who at first had the courage for a face-to-face interview. But the next day he wrote back saying he had “slept on the subject a bit” and wanted to answer in writing, because “the subject is sensitive and, given how serious it is, I could very easily come a cropper with the way I talk.”
I sent the Financial Intelligence Service (FID) information about a criminal wanted by Interpol who is concealing properties in Latvia. This information reached me when a client wanted to rent premises and we carried out due diligence.
Ukri parish lies on the Lithuanian border, 100 kilometres from Riga, yet the village houses are almost empty. Some have already been eaten away by time, while a few still have someone living in them. Driving around the village in the middle of the day, we manage to meet one retired couple.
The news in cartoons
