Sector
https://www.db.lv/zinas/meza-nozare-gads-stagnacija-525513
Sawn timber generated the biggest rise in export revenue last year – up by 41 million euros, followed by plywood – up by 15 million euros, along with wooden packaging, wooden sleepers, walking sticks...
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/samazinas-izsniegto-sanitaro-atzinumu-skaits
Every year, various factors cause some stands of forest to lose vitality, as a result of which they die off and are felled in a sanitary cutting once the State Forest Service has issued a sanitary opinion.
https://www.finieris.com/lv/latvijas-finiera-darbinieku-gada-balvas-top-sadarbiba-ar-latvijas-makslas-akademijas-dizaina-studentiem/
Product design student Jēkabs Ozols combined two materials in his award-winning design – “Latvijas Finieris”-made “Riga Wood” birch plywood and stainless steel. The idea is built on the principle of layering, which characterises both the structure of plywood and the Latvian landscape.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/11.03.2026-izcirsti-tukstosiem-hektaru-mezu-aktivi-cinas-pret-mizgrauzi-un-ta-atstatajam-sekam.a638453/
One of the reasons is that we want to remove trees that have been infested or weakened before this insect swarms and threatens the neighbouring stands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrWgvXJDU3g
Forest News #28. The law provides that an animal cannot be left in a helpless state, but right now no one is able to, does not know how to, or does not want to take responsibility and end the animal’s suffering in this particular situation.
https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/sabiedriba/zoodarza-apvienosanas-scenarijs-ar-rigas-meziem-kadi-tam-plusi-un-minusi/
Asked whether merging the two companies would also mean staff redundancies, as happens in a large share of such cases, Bilzēna stressed – the zoo has exactly as many animals as it has, no fewer, so there would be no grounds for laying off staff.
https://rigasmezi.lv/jaunumi/bijuso-skolas-eku-margrietas-iela-planots-parbuvet-par-rigas-mezu-biroju
At Margrietas iela 4 in Riga, there are plans to convert a former school building into an administrative office building for SIA “Rīgas meži”, and to build a new utility building for the Pārdaugava district of the company’s “Dārzi un parki” (Gardens and Parks) division. The project concept envisages preserving the building’s cultural-historical value while adapting it into a modern, sustainable and functional working environment.
Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
17 March memorial event and battle reenactment in Īle
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/pieminas-pasakums-un-kaujas-rekonstrukcija-ile
20 March seminar for hunters in Koknese “Hunting, society and nature conservation. The State Forest Service’s role and functions in hunting. Control of wild animal populations in Latvia”
https://www.lmsp.lv/seminars-20-marta-koknese-medibas-sabiedriba-un-dabas-aizsardziba-valsts-meza-dienesta-loma-un-funkcijas-medibu-joma-meza-dzivnieku-populaciju-kontrole-latvija
Until 22 March entries open for the photo contest My Bird 2026
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/izsludinats-fotokonkurss-mans-putns-2026
Until 22 March anyone interested is invited to watch the historic cone-drying kiln at Vijciems in action
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7883-aicina-verot-ciekuru-zavesanu-vesturiskaja-lvm-vijciema-ciekurkalte
23 March: International Day of Forests 2026
More information about the event
28 March educational event “First Spring Flowers: From Snowdrops to Crocuses”
at the National Botanic Garden’s nature centre “Botania”
https://nbd.gov.lv/events/pirmie-pavasara-ziedi/
28 March apple-tree crown-shaping masterclass, volunteer day at Likteņdārzs
More on the volunteer day and masterclass
13-15 May International conference “Education, innovation and cooperation for the future of the regions” at Malnava College
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-02-03/starptautiska-konference-izglitiba-inovacijas-un-sadarbiba-regionu-nakotnei-lbtu
22 and 23 May: “Latvia’s Forest Days”
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7854-latvijas-meza-dienas-tervete-notiks-22-un-23-maija
Garden Days and masterclasses at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026
Official
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvija-kopa-ar-vel-cetram-es-dalibvalstim-aicina-eiropas-komisiju-parskatit-klp-ieviesanas-pasakumu-kontrolu-samerigumu
A particularly difficult situation arose when introducing the new climate, environmental and animal welfare interventions, including eco-schemes. Member states were called on to design ambitious support measures, while farmers and administering authorities had to adapt to new compliance, oversight and monitoring requirements.
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/baltijas-valstu-energetikas-ministru-kopigais-pazinojums-par-starptautiskas-energetikas-agenturas-iea-kolektivo-ricibu-saistiba-ar-naftas-rezervemhttps://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/baltijas-valstu-energetikas-ministru-kopigais-pazinojums-par-starptautiskas-energetikas-agenturas-iea-kolektivo-ricibu-saistiba-ar-naftas-rezervem
IEA member states will take coordinated action to release 400 million barrels (around 54 million tonnes) of oil equivalent onto the market. The collective action will send a unified, strong signal to stabilise the global oil market.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zemkopibas-ministrs-armands-krauze-japarbauda-vai-dunduru-plavu-taurgovju-masveida-naves-iemesls-nav-nolaidiba-vai-cietsirdiga-izturesanas-pret-dzivniekiem
Is the Nature Conservation Agency monitoring the territories under its management, and the animals living there, carefully enough?
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/ieniegts-life-integreta-projekta-pieteikums-pasvaldibu-klimata-ricibas-stiprinasanai
If the assessment is positive, the project is planned to run for nine years and to be implemented through several thematic work packages covering transport decarbonisation, energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy, climate adaptation measures, land-use and carbon-sequestration issues, as well as monitoring results, dissemination and public engagement.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/biznesa-zalinasanai-regionos-bus-pieejami-415-miljoni-eiro-525546
The programme provides support for three types of projects – improving energy efficiency in buildings and equipment, generating renewable energy for own consumption, and developing new products and processes, provided they significantly reduce resource use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Economy
https://www.makroekonomika.lv/ekspertu-komentari/tuvakajos-menesos-redzesim-pakapenisku-inflacijas-pieaugumu
In recent days, energy prices have been fluctuating by the hour, reacting to missile strikes in the Middle East and statements by politicians. So if I were to name an exact figure right now for how much higher Latvia’s inflation will be this year because of events in Iran, that figure would very likely already be out of date by this evening.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/dala-autocelu-projektu-varetu-netikt-istenoti-bitumena-strauja-izmaksu-pieauguma-del-525509
Some road projects in Latvia may not go ahead because of the sharp rise in the cost of bitumen, which is used, among other things, for road surfacing...
https://www.db.lv/zinas/sas-atgriezas-rigas-lidosta-525483
Airline Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will begin operating three flights a day on the Riga-Copenhagen route from 8 March 2026.
Bogs and Peat
https://lpr.gov.lv/lv/2026/vesturisko-kudras-ieguves-vietu-revitalizacija-nepieciesama-tresdala-pasvaldibu-un-aptuveni-ceturtdala-privatipasuma-esoso-teritorijuvesturisko-kudras-ieguves-vietu-revitalizacija-nepieciesama-tresdal/
The aim of the assessment was to analyse desk-based data sets (i.e. using already-available data) on historical peat extraction sites, to identify areas where revitalisation activities could be carried out, and to map places where natural recovery or renaturalisation has already taken place. The analysis drew on various geospatial data and information layers, as well as on-the-ground surveys of the areas.
https://www.zemgale.lv/lv/jaunums/izstradatas-metodiskas-vadlinijas-vesturisko-kudras-ieguves-vietu-revitalizacijas-planosanai
The documents are intended for municipalities and private landowners, to help them choose the most suitable solution for each area on a sound basis, reduce the risk of unjustified investment, and, at the same time, promote both economic returns and the restoration of ecosystem values.
Science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfohTlun7TY
Camera traps provide continuous, unobtrusive data collection, helping scientists establish species presence and animal dynamics across large areas and over longer periods. They also make it possible to track the behaviour of rare or nocturnal animals and to model ecosystem processes.
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-03-10/no-aizaugusiem-ezeriem-lidz-aprites-risinajumiem-publiceta-pirma-nutriloopworks
Elevated nutrient concentrations promote intensive algae growth, or water blooming, which disrupts the balance of the aquatic ecosystem and degrades water quality.
Support
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/bulduru-tehnikuma-izcilniekiem-pasniegtas-darzkopibas-nozares-stipendijas-10-500-eiro-apmera
Education and a strong professional environment are built where purposeful young people meet responsible industry leaders. Investing in tomorrow’s professionals and strengthening the development of green skills in Latvia.
Hunting
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/latvija/zinas/mainits-teritoriju-saraksts-kuras-nomeditas-mezacukas-ir-obligati-jaizmekle-uz-acm-14349184
As a result, wild boar taken during hunts must be tested in the territories of 30 municipalities and six state cities. LETA has already reported that ASF has this year been detected in 238 wild boar across 67 parishes in 18 municipalities in Latvia.
https://www.medibam.lv/foto-un-video-medibas-bez-armijas-rezima-disciplina-ar-humora-devu-bez-dzinejmedibam-kluba-dzive-apsikst
I’ve been a hunter for 15 years. For the last ten I’ve been in Ramata, where I also run the association.
At Last!
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/10.03.2026-spanijas-kailgliemezis-oficiali-klust-par-invazivo-sugu-latvija.a638246/
Until now, in legal terms Latvia had only one invasive species – giant hogweed. The Spanish slug was first recorded in Latvia in 2009. It began spreading more actively across the country in 2020.
Look at That!
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/10.03.2026-apstiprinasanai-galigaja-lasijuma-virza-pasvaldibu-tiesibas-ierobezot-troksnosanu-izklaides-vietas.a638223/
The amendments provide that a municipality is responsible, within its administrative territory, for protecting people against unwanted or harmful noise arising at entertainment venues or during various events, except during practice shooting, shooting competitions and hunting.
Busy Times
https://kodols.lv/ekonomika/biedriba-par-bisu-parziemosanu-vel-ir-par-agru-spriest-200315
...winters in Latvia used to be longer – many beekeeping books still state that bees usually fly out after winter in late March, whereas the situation has now changed, and there have already been years when bees started flying out of their hives as early as late February.
https://kodols.lv/ekonomika/zeme-smejas-caur-ziediem-200320
Kristaps has observed that Latvians buy the most for graves and candle-lighting evenings. “People think more about the cemetery than about their own yard,” he concludes. There are also long-time customers who come to the garden centre as if visiting a friend.
Environment
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/09.03.2026-recheck-parbauda-vai-tiesam-latvija-ieviesis-maksu-par-pastaigu-meza-vai-senosanu.a637716/
(..) a fee is planned for holding large public events, and only in specially protected nature areas. These would include, for example, sports competitions, concerts and similar events.
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/latvija/par-dizozola-nozagesanu-marupe-virietim-jaatlidzina-valstij-27-500-eiro.39418
The Riga City Court has convicted one of the people involved in felling the Mārupe old oak, sentencing him to two years of probation supervision and ordering him to pay the state 27,500 euros in compensation...
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7899-latvijas-valsts-mezu-tiesraides-ligzda-atgriezusies-klinsu-ergli
On the morning of 5 March, golden eagles were observed for the first time this year in the livestream nest provided by Latvijas valsts meži.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7900-uzavas-apkartne-uzlabo-mezaino-piejuras-kapu-biotopa-stavokli
This year, thinning operations are planned across more than 30 hectares of medium-aged pine stands in the Užava forest management district.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/09.03.2026-cel-trauksmi-par-vairak-neka-40-boja-gajusiem-dzivniekiem-kemeru-nacionalaja-parka.a638123/
The Food and Veterinary Service is responsible for animal health and welfare. Both authorities have received submissions from residents, and inspectors from both agencies have gone to Dunduru pľavas (Dunduri Meadows) to inspect. Nature Conservation Agency inspectors have not found any breaches of nature protection rules.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/12.03.2026-valsts-prezidents-ludz-prokuraturu-parbaudit-faktus-par-dzivnieku-bojaeju-kemeru-nacionalaja-parka.a638603/
The President has familiarised himself with the information set out in an open letter about the situation in Ķemeri National Park’s Dunduri Meadows, where a large number of dead animals have been found.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/11.03.2026-par-mirusajam-taurgovim-iedzivotaji-versas-pie-prezidenta-un-saeimas-atrasti-jau-79-dzivnieku-liki.a638448/
No breaches were found, and it was noted that the animals that died in the area were mainly old animals that had already passed their biological age threshold. Such attrition, it was said, should be seen as a normal part of the animals’ life cycle.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-par-dzivnieku-labturibu-dunduru-plavas-ir-atbildigs-ipasnieks-nevis-zemes-iznomatajs
The agreement does not place the Agency, as lessor, under any obligation to supervise the animals or ensure their upkeep, since using animals to manage the grasslands was the tenant’s own free choice. The permanent presence of Heck cattle and Konik horses in Dunduri Meadows has been ensured by the Foundation.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/11.03.2026-bistamu-bojajumu-del-slegta-kaniera-niedraju-laipa-kemeru-nacionalaja-parka-uzsakti-steidzami-remontdarbi.a638467/
Repairs are underway on the reed-bed boardwalk at Lake Kaņieris in Ķemeri National Park, so the Nature Conservation Agency is strongly urging residents and tourists not to use it until the work is finished. The Agency warns that the damaged structure may not bear weight and that walking on the boardwalk could be dangerous.
https://jauns.lv/raksts/zinas/699209-kaniera-ezera-biedejosi-skati-noslapis-liels-daudzums-zivju-vai-ir-pamats-satraukties
In May 2025, the Nature Conservation Agency announced a tender for lease rights to select a new manager for Lake Kaņieris, one able to ensure the preservation and development of the lake’s ecosystem.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/09.03.2026-arvien-vairak-cilveku-baidas-doties-daba-kapec-ta-un-no-ka-jauzmanas-latvijas-mezos.a637519/
Researchers at Lund University have compiled nearly 200 studies on people’s relationship with nature and concluded that this relationship is deteriorating, with more and more people becoming distanced from nature and even feeling fear or aversion towards being in a natural environment.
https://kodols.lv/projekti/zala-nakotne/no-partikas-atliekam-lidz-biogazei-200265
Last year, the “Getliņi” landfill handled almost 330 000 tonnes of waste in total. Of that, more than 130 000 tonnes of BIO waste were processed at the biodegradable waste complex – both separately collected material and that obtained through waste sorting.
Miscellaneous
https://www.db.lv/zinas/igaunija-nakamnedel-planots-nacionala-meroga-lauksaimnieku-protests-525566
During the protest, agricultural producers will gather with their tractors on bypass roads and at major traffic junctions in Estonia’s biggest cities. The aim of the protest is to send a single, highly visible message about the importance of Estonian agriculture and the need to guarantee a level playing field.
https://bauskasdzive.lv/vietejas-zinas/bauska-par-217-miljoniem-eiro-atjaunos-drengeru-iebraucamo-setu/
Bauska Municipality has begun implementing the project “Preservation of cultural heritage and development of new services in the historic centre of Bauska”, the aim of which is to restore the nationally significant architectural monument “Dreņģeri Coaching Inn”.
The News in Cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-romans-vitkovskis-nu-tik-apkaros.39314
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-romans-vitkovskis-izvertes-ka-nakas.39383