The industry

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/saskana-ar-zm-izvertejumu-latvija-ieguta-meza-biomasa-atbilst-jaunajiem-red-iii-ilgtspejas-kriterijiem
The Ministry of Agriculture has updated its information on the assessment of compliance with forest biomass sustainability criteria.

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/sakas-stiga-rm-jaunas-kokapstrades-rupnicas-buvnieciba-ogre
The new plant will be located on a site that was historically home to a sawmill, transforming it into a modern industrial centre with a sustainable vision for development. The plant is to be developed in two stages, with full completion planned by 2029.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/krauzers-investes-modernas-zavesanas-kameras-523019
Most of the funding will go towards the purchase of new timber drying kilns and the adaptation of the infrastructure required for them, as well as storage yards and warehouses.

https://xtv.lv/rigatv24/video/6BpzykMkGq1-09_09_2025_preses_klubs_1_dala
https://xtv.lv/rigatv24/video/B37JYBL5NPz-09_09_2025_preses_klubs_2_dala
https://xtv.lv/rigatv24/video/9QpxzAk27kY-09_09_2025_preses_klubs_3_dala
...and on amendments as well...

https://www.llka.lv/aktualitates/meza-nozares-darba-grupas-sede-uzsver-nepieciesamibu-pec-ieguldijumiem-kooperativu-attistiba/5310/
On 8 September, a meeting of the Forestry Working Group was held within the Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association. The meeting discussed the current challenges in developing forestry sector cooperatives and put forward specific proposals for promoting sustainable management.

https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/54883004/dzilak-meza/120086279/vispirms-dabas-aizsardziba-tad-koksnes-ieguve-rupeties-par-piejuras-meziem
The classic difference between inland forests and coastal forests lies in the terrain — dunes, sandy and poor soil — as well as the obvious effect of constant wind on tree trunks and crowns. Along the coast it is strikingly noticeable that stands of widely differing ages occur within a small area.

Officially

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-armands-krauze-kopenhagena-aicina-es-dalibvalstis-uzstat-uz-lauksaimniecibas-politikas-ka-atseviskas-politikas-saglabasanu
...developing innovation and advancing the green transition in the sector primarily requires stable and predictable policy and funding. Agriculture is a very complex sector, dependent not only on political decisions but also on climatic conditions, and it is vital to every person on the planet.

https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valdiba-sniedz-atbalstu-pasvaldibam-2025-gada-vasaras-lietavu-radito-zaudejumu-segsanai-1743-tukst-eiro-apmera
The funds are allocated on the basis of the financial justification documents submitted by local authorities, inspection reports and decisions on providing co-financing.

Bad. Very bad

https://nra.lv/neatkariga/komentari/maris-krautmanis-3/501005-dabas-aprupetajiem-grib-atnemt-50-finansejuma-bet-zala-kursa-ideologus-gan-neapdalis.htm
In order to keep to the austerity course set by the Cabinet of Ministers and to deliver the scale of cuts set out in the Cabinet's remit, the Ministry of Finance and the State Chancellery have drawn up further proposals for reducing expenditure.

The best buildings of 2024

http://gadabuve.lv/index.php/2025/09/10/nosauktas-2024-gada-labakas-buves/
At the awards ceremony of the Best Building in Latvia 2024 competition, held on 10 September in Riga in the conference hall at 17 Reinvaldu Street, the most outstanding buildings completed last year were named and honoured in eight categories. This year marked the competition's 27th cycle, which concluded with the presentation of the Grand Prize

https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/finieru-razotne-kuldigas-fabrika-skates-gada-labaka-buve-latvija
A compact hydrothermal treatment chamber for plywood billets has been installed on the plant's site, where roundwood is prepared for peeling by steaming. The production process provides for the pre-treatment and reuse of waste water within the system.

Knowledge

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7724-skolam-pieskirts-finansejums-ekspedicijam-un-petijumiem-latvijas-valsts-mezos
In the new academic year, schools can access STEM and civic participation School Bag funding for transport to AS “Latvijas valsts meži” expeditions and research sample plots.

https://www.finieris.com/lv/latgales-lielakais-vides-izzinas-pasakums-zala-klase-2025-pulcejis-2000-skolenus/
Sarkaņkalns in Rēzekne municipality hosted Latgale's largest environmental education event, “Green Classroom 2025”, which brought together around 2,000 pupils, their teachers and experts from the forestry and related sectors.

At Ogre Technical School

https://www.izm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/par-ogres-tehnikuma-direktori-kluvusi-armanda-auzina
On 29 August, Armanda Auziņa, until now deputy head of the school, took up the post of director of Ogre Technical School.

Scholarships

https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2025-09-07/apsveicam-karla-ulmana-stipendiju-sanems-cetri-lbtu-studejosie
In the 2025/2026 academic year, the scholarship will go to Amanda Lejniece from the Faculty of Economics and Social Development (ESAF) academic bachelor's programme Sociology of Organisations and Public Administration and to three students from the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences — Laima Jaunā and Teo Ralfs Jēkabsons from the academic bachelor's programme Landscape Architecture and Planning, and Patrīcija Junkere from the academic bachelor's programme Forest Science.

What to research, and how

https://www.lu.lv/par-mums/lu-mediji/zinas/zina/t/105064/
The main task of universities is to be recognised and relevant in research not only in Latvia but worldwide; this is demanded by policy documents, international cooperation partners and students alike.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/10.09.2025-lu-iebilst-kritikai-par-petijumu-lietderibu-ministre-jarod-lidzsvars-starp-zinatnes-brivibu-un-sabiedribas-vajadzibam.a613817/
The Employers' Confederation of Latvia criticised the fact that the projects were not linked to economic development or government priorities. In a discussion devoted specifically to this topic today, representatives of the University of Latvia stressed once again that any research programme matters precisely because of its independence.

https://telos.lv/pseidozinatne-projektu-konkursa/
This project competition distributed Latvian taxpayers' money with the aim of developing and strengthening Latvian science. The funded studies can therefore essentially be regarded as public procurement.

The economy

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/09.09.2025-razotaji-latvija-saruk-pieprasijums-pec-dargakas-partikas-dala-uznemumu-parskata-sortimentu.a613543/
Annual inflation in August rose to 4.1% in Latvia, and the rise in consumer prices was driven to a large extent by food and non-alcoholic drinks becoming 7.5 percentage points more expensive.

https://www.tvnet.lv/8319764/saktas-diskusijas-par-valsts-ilgtermina-attistibas-scenarijiem
The importance of a long-term strategy is dictated by geopolitical change, the direction of the European Union's new priorities and the challenges of moving towards climate neutrality, the strategy's authors noted.

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vairak-neka-14-tukstosi-latvijas-majsaimniecibu-sanemusas-valsts-atbalstu-saules-elektrostaciju-un-citu-videi-draudzigu-energijas-razosanas-iekartu-iegadei
The support programme was developed under the Emission Allowance Auctioning Instrument and has been running successfully since March 2022. Over these not quite 3.5 years, a total of 14,500 projects have been carried out, with support of almost 53 million euros awarded.

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/latvija/nav-strategijas-ka-kaldinat-valsts-ekonomisko-izaugsmi-14341132
On the government's disagreements with businesses in the context of spending cuts, and on the ability or inability of political parties to offer sound national development scenarios with concrete, achievable goals

Hunting

https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/20252026-gada-medibu-sezona-latvija-lidz-sim-nomediti-139-vilki
The State Forest Service reports that, as of now (12.09.2025), a total of 139 wolves have been shot in Latvia during the 2025/2026 hunting season. Of these, 126 wolves were shot in wolf population management unit A and 13 in unit B.

https://www.medibam.lv/gorzijumi-ierocu-aprites-likuma-medniekam-tikai-divus-ierocus-sauj-garam-dalibniekiem-46
On 9 and 10 September, the Saeima Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee considered extensive amendments to the Law on the Handling of Weapons.

https://www.medibam.lv/uzmanibu-nomedito-mezacuku-obligati-izmeklejamas-teritorijas-25
...the only effective way to curb the spread of ASF is to radically reduce the wild boar population. This is especially important in areas where the disease has not yet been detected.

Missed! Episode 300
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xR0bL0HRjc

https://www.medibam.lv/senosana-un-drosiba-meza-ka-sadzivot-ar-laciem-vilkiem-un-lusiem
...our forests are home not only to mushroom pickers but also to predators — bears, wolves and lynxes.

The environment

https://www.tvnet.lv/8318168/igaunijas-krievijas-robezas-parpurvosana-lai-tanki-netiek-cauri-ekologi-un-militarpersonas-ieskatas-purva-duksnaja
Immediately after the deaths of the US soldiers in Lithuania's bogs in March this year, local environmental campaigners proposed strengthening the Baltic states' borders by using natural obstacles, and bogs in particular. Russia only noticed this story six months later and is now trying to ridicule it.

https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sogad-bakteriala-iedega-konstateta-sesas-vietas-latvija
...the dangerous plant disease has been confirmed in five places where outbreaks had already been recorded in previous years — in Jelgava, Kuldīga and Augšdaugava municipalities — and in one new location in Ādaži municipality.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7726-uzlaboti-dzives-apstakli-apdraudetai-vabolu-sugai
The hermit beetle is a beetle species endangered in both Latvia and Europe, inhabiting the hollows of broadleaf trees — chiefly oaks, limes and ashes — in well sunlit spots.

https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/120079233/amatu-pamet-ilggadejais-zalas-brivibas-vaditajs-brizga-vina-vieta-stajas-apinis
The annual general meeting of the environmental protection and environmental education organisation “Zaļā brīvība” elected a new board and a new board chair; the association will now be led by Maksis Rūdolfs Apinis. The previous chair, Jānis Brizga, held the post for 26 years.

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/kombulos-atrod-pieradinatu-un-savainotu-lusenu-dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-atgadina-roka-kas-pieradina-var-dzivibu-izdzest
...taking wild animals into one's possession and taming them seriously endangers their health, their behaviour and their ability to return to the wild.

When you haven't a clue but you're dying to talk

https://lr1.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/atvertie-faili/213-demagogija-mirstosie-mezi--ka-zemkopibas-ministrija-grib-pan.a211565/
....

...

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/latvija/vides-organizacijas-zm-iecere-samazinat-certamo-koku-vecumu-novedis-pie-koksnes-trukuma-14341060
The new amendments to the Forest Law, which lower the felling age of trees, reinforce the Ministry of Agriculture's cynical attitude towards forest policy, the organisation says.

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/latvija/zinas/vairak-neka-20-organizacijas-iebilst-zm-virzitajiem-grozijumiem-par-koku-cirsanas-vecuma-samazinasanu-14341244
At the same time, there are no plans to change the final felling age for oaks and larches, which stays at 101 years, or for ash, lime, elm, wych elm and maple, which stays at 81 years.

Protests

https://nra.lv/latvija/501394-lauksaimnieki-draud-ar-protestiem.htm
...representatives of every agricultural sub-sector could take part in the protest, as it is a matter of survival.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/11.09.2025-pasazieru-parvadataji-16-septembri-rikos-protestu-stundu-nekurses-regionalo-marsrutu-autobusi.a613947/
From 10 to 11 o'clock, all the carriers taking part in the action will suspend their services — buses will not set out on their routes, or will stop mid-route at suitable places that are safe for passengers.

Miscellaneous

https://www.sargs.lv/lv/militaras-macibas/2025-09-11/reportaza-zemessardzes-1-rigas-brigades-zemessargi-gatavojas
Launching the attack at five in the morning demanded not only military precision but physical stamina too — the dense forests and hills slowed movement considerably, while the rain, as is customary in military exercises, saw to testing the soldiers' morale.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/08.09.2025-recheck-miti-un-patiesibas-par-afrikas-cuku-meri-un-ta-izplatibu-eiropa.a613231/
African swine fever really is no threat to humans. Experts believe there is no significant risk of it jumping to humans either. However, in meat and elsewhere the virus survives for several months. So it can easily find its way back into pig farms or to wild boar.

https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/56234200/eiropas-zinas/120086776/beidzot-saks-istenot-akumulatoru-bateriju-vilcienu-projektu
At the same time, zero-emission trains replacing the old diesel trains that have served their time will make modern travel possible. It will also be a big step closer to meeting Europe's green targets.

https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/projekti/mediju-sapieri-draudzibas-parbaude.31733?
...why is Hungary still so dependent on Russian oil, and how long will this dependence continue?

Current affairs in cartoons

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-atradusi-rinajumu.32199

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-dronu-sienas-plans.32291

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/buvnieku-karteli-14341251

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-pieprasijums-rada-piedavajumu.32227

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/aprekina-laulibas-14341186