Industry
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/izsludinata-pieteiksanas-meza-nozares-gada-balvai-zelta-ciekurs
The Ministry of Agriculture invites interested parties to nominate candidates for the forestry sector’s highest award – the annual “Golden Cone” award, by 10 September, honouring people, companies and organisations for a significant contribution to the development of Latvia’s forestry sector.
https://www.finieris.com/lv/igaunija-sakts-latvijas-finiera-rupnicas-paplasinasanas-projekts/
“Kohila Vineer” factory expansion will significantly increase the group’s industrial capacity and promote more efficient use of wood resources across its whole production network.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sJh0YSmflE
What does the Nature Restoration Regulation mean for Latvia’s forests?
https://www.apollo.lv/8435153/stadit-aizsargat-vai-cirst-ka-veidojas-latvijas-mezu-nakotne
The document stresses that historical forest management, including hydrotechnical land reclamation, the use of breeding results and the tending of young stands, has already produced a significant rise in stand productivity and total growing stock.
https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/projekti/meza-ipasnieks-sava-baznica-sanem-perienu-talis-gaitnieks-gatavs-cinities-par-taisnibu.46161
(...) what makes the situation grim is that the state has created a system that makes forest owners think they must fell their forest before it is too late, since their forest has already been flagged as a potential habitat.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/mizgrauzu-aktivitate-latvija-butiski-samazinajusies-0
(...) a cool spring and a rainy start to summer, as in the previous year, have been unfavourable for the development of the bark beetle’s first generation (...)
Industry and competition
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8071-lvm-parsudzes-tiesa-konkurences-padomes-lemumu-par-naudas-sodu-ilgtermina-mezizstrades-ligumu-lieta
(...) rulings unfavourable to LVM were handed down at all three court instances, obliging the company to fulfil these contracts in full for their entire term.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8072-latvijas-valsts-mezi-preses-konference
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/13.08.2026-latvijas-valsts-meziem-teju-79-miljonu-eiro-sods-par-konkurences-parkapumu.a658625/
https://lemumi.kp.gov.lv/storage/files/12082026_L%C4%93mums_LVM.pdf
(...) live stream of the press conference on the Competition Council’s decision regarding long-term logging contracts
https://db.lv/zinas/lvm-parsudzes-kp-piemeroto-naudas-sodu
https://www.lmsp.lv/-aca-timber-nepiekrit-konkurences-padomes-lemumam-par-ilgtermina-mezizstrades-ligumiem
https://db.lv/zinas/pata-saldus-pata-jekabpils-pata-strenci-un-berivs-parsudzes-kp-lemumu
(...) LVM did everything possible to act lawfully within the current regulatory framework.
Industry and disputes
https://www.tvnet.lv/8524498/darbinieku-arodorganizacija-sakusi-kolektiva-tiesibu-strida-proceduru-ar-latvijas-valsts-meziem
No employee should have to fear adverse consequences for belonging to a trade union or for defending their own interests, and a state-owned company should be a role model in this respect, the union states.
https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/120130191/bezprecedenta-gadijums-mezrupnieki-centusies-ietekmet-kp-lemuma-pienemsanu
(...) concerns arose about the objectivity of officials, explained by the fact that officials had spoken at meetings and publicly about long-term logging contracts that did not comply with the legal framework.
Worth knowing! Upcoming and ongoing events
On 5 September the central event of the National Botanic Garden’s anniversary year, “Joy Grows in the Garden!”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-ieludz-uz-70-jubilejas-svinibam
8 October: Forestry Industry Day
https://inovacijas.lu.lv/par-mums/zinas/zina/t/110507/
3 December: Conference on innovative science-based solutions for soil improvement in agriculture, crop farming and horticulture
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/konference-kas-2026-gada-izskana-pulces-lauku-atbalsta-dienesta-administretos-petijumus
Until 15 September we are looking for the European Tree of the Year in Latvia (a tree with a story)
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/eiropas-gada-koks-latvija-2026-meklejam-koku-ar-stastu
Until 30 September we invite you to vote for the first European timber architecture award, the “WoodPoP Dara Award 2026”
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/kokaudzetava-zabaki-pretende-uz-eiropas-meroga-atzinibu-nobalso
Baloži Peat Museum Railway excursions in 2026
https://kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijas
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
All year round the National Botanic Garden’s anniversary event series “Nature in the Garden”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-70-jubilejas-gada-katru-menesi-aicina-uz-aizraujosiem-pasakumiem
Officially
https://zz.lv/vietejas-zinas/no-14-lidz-16-augustam-nebus-pieejama-e-adreses-funkcionalitate/
From 14 August at 22:00 until 16 August, the e-address functionality will not be available in the e-address system, the State Regional Development Agency reports.
We invite you to take part!
A study on the distribution of the veined-stem bolete in Latvia
https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/iedzivotaji-ari-sogad-aicinati-iesaistities-petijuma-par-dzislkata-bekas-izplatibu-latvija
Applications are now open for nominees for the Annual Nature Conservation Award
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/dabas-aizsardzibas-parvalde-aicina-pieteikt-pretendentus-gada-balvai-dabas-aizsardziba
Transport
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/10.08.2026-20-minutes-un-pusotrs-eiro-riga-no-aprila-plano-sakt-kugisu-satiksmi-starp-bolderaju-un-vecmilgravi-precizets.a658161/
Regular passenger boat traffic between Vecmīlgrāvis, on the right bank of the Daugava, and Bolderāja, on the opposite bank, has been discussed for years now, since the nearest place to cross the river by land is the Vanšu Bridge, right in the centre of Riga.
Hunting
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sakas-stirnu-kazu-kazlenu-un-lidz-divus-gadus-vecu-staltbriezu-bullu-medibu-sezona-1
On 15 August the hunting season opens for roe deer does and fawns (up to one year old), running until 30 November. Also on 15 August, the hunting season for red deer stags up to two years old opens across Latvia, running until 31 March.
https://www.medibam.lv/ukraina-medibu-saimniecibu-velas-tuvinat-es-praksei-zalie-reformu-deve-par-teroru
The document, submitted by more than forty members of parliament, envisages a substantial overhaul of the state hunting management system, its digitalisation, and closer alignment with European Union practice.
Bears
https://radioswh.lv/daba-un-turisms/petnieks-bridina-laci-nav-vienigie-meza-dzivnieku-pilsetas-klus-tikai-vairak/
The growth in bear numbers is being driven both by successful breeding in Latvia and by the fact that, for a long period, no bear hunting took place in a 50-kilometre strip along the Latvian border in Estonia. As a result the population grew, and some animals began moving into new territories in Latvia as well.
https://www.medibam.lv/lacus-vajag-iznicinat-visus-laci-cilveki-un-uzticesanas-kapec-vietejas-kopienas-jauzklausa
People’s opinions are rarely black and white. Far more often they are complex, contradictory, and rooted in personal experience.
Environment
https://radioswh.lv/daba-un-turisms/klinsu-ergla-neticama-izglabsanas-rets-torngliemezis-un-mazak-mednu-jeb-ka-mainas-latvijas-daba/
At the same time it cannot be said unequivocally that biodiversity is simply increasing or decreasing – some species are growing in number and expanding their range, while others show the opposite trend.
https://www.ntz.lv/aktuali/magnetu-talka-kanieri-nebijusi-pieredze-ezera-attirisana
During the event, participants will use powerful magnets to search for and pull sunken metal objects out of Lake Kaņieris, which not only pollute the lake but also endanger the birds living on it.
https://diena.lv/raksts/latvija/zinas-71/saistiba-ar-skulte-notikuso-ovi-towage-velkona-scorff-smago-avariju-joprojam-daudz-pretrunu
No explanation can be found as to why both the municipality and the State Environmental Service are avoiding an investigation into this case.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/07.05.2024-azbesta-sifera-jumti-joprojam-plasi-izplatiti-latvija.a553110/
When getting rid of an unwanted roof, many people choose to crush it to fill potholes in roads. That is categorically not permitted.
https://lasi.lv/par-svarigo/pasaule/kazahstana-savvala-izlaists-pirmais-tigeris-vairak-neka-70-gadu-laika.45998
The aim is to restore the wild tiger population in Central Asia, where the Caspian tiger disappeared in the last century.
Round anniversary
https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/29135
A full member – and founder – of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Professor Pēteris Nomals, devoted his life’s work wholeheartedly to researching Latvia’s bogs and clarifying peat reserves. (This article was written some time ago, but is highly fitting given Prof. Nomals’s 150th anniversary.)
Harvest
https://tv3.lv/dzivesstils/darzs-un-maja/saldakie-arbuzi-nav-meklejami-dienvidos-bet-gan-tepat-latvija-ka-tos-audze-pie-mums/
(...) it sounds like a little bell. If it sounds like a plank, it is not ripe, but if it has a bell-like sound, it is perfect.
Miscellaneous
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/kulturtelpa/09.08.2026-uzbrukums-kulturas-mantojumam-ir-uzbrukums-valsts-identitatei-intervija-ar-drosibas-petnieku.a657634/
(...) a cultural-historical site is not just a building or an archaeological location. It can also be a place of national identity, international tourism, symbolic significance, public gathering and political importance.
https://db.lv/zinas/nevalstiskas-organizacijas-raibakas-par-dzena-vederu
Referendums are not common in Latvia, and cannot objectively gauge support for NGO initiatives, so in Latvia’s case only political parties can call themselves representatives of civil society, since only they appeal to the public and receive a mandate from part of society in elections (...)
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vesture/09.08.2026-lai-nekaitinatu-padomju-savienibu-ka-mainijas-attieksme-pret-baltijas-valstu-diplomatiem-otraja-pasaules-kara.a655743/
(...) even then, Western diplomats much preferred to use a term such as incorporation, although the phrase forcible annexation was also heard.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/robezsardze-un-jubilejas-beglis
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/talvadibas-parvalde