Worth knowing! On upcoming and current events
Voting for the European Tree of the Year is open until 24 February
zemeunvalsts.lv · eiropas gada koks aicinam piedalities un balsot 1From 28 January to 14 March,
applications are open for paid
work placements at AS “Latvijas Finieris” business units
zemeunvalsts.lv · latvijas finieris izsludina 25 prakses vietas 13 profesijasFrom 11 February to 30 April, in the foyer of the Conference Centre of the National Library of Latvia, an international
exhibition of illustrators’ works, “The Magic Forest”km.gov.lv · starptautiska ilustraciju izstade magiskais mezsFrom 25 January to 22 March, every Saturday from 12.00 to 15.00,
at “Skulmes” in Mālpils parish, sculptor Marta Liepiņa-Skulme’s winter
sculpture park “Snowmen”diena.lv · foto malpili atklats martas liepinas skulmes ziemas skulptur…artursdimiters.com · sniegaviriOn the Līgatne nature trails, since December, a new exhibition
“What Was That Crackling in the Forest?” has been open
daba.gov.lv · ligatnes dabas takas atklata jauna ekspozicija kas meza brik…Until 28 March, the
exhibition “Vārdene” at the “Latvijas valsts meži” customer centre in Riga
lvm.lv · 7720 lvm rigas klientu centra atklata kudras figuru izstade…21 March, International Day of Forestsfao.org · enzemeunvalsts.lv · 21 marta starptautiska mezu diena27-29 March, the 12th Baltic Theriological
conference “Baltic mammals in the turbulence of anthropogenic tensions”silava.lv · aicinam piedalities 12 baltijas teriologijas konference10-11 April, the 67th International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils Universitydu.lv · aicinam pieteikties daugavpils universitates 67 starptautisk…23 and 24 May, Latvian Forest Days 2025latvijasmezadienas.lvm.lv20-22 August, the international scientific conference
“Sustainable Horticulture from Plant to Product: Challenges in a Temperate Climate – 2025” organised by the Institute of Horticulture
darzkopibasinstituts.lv · conference
About the industry
In an assessment of what has been achieved in building construction and in the development of production facilities and the company itself, AS “Latvijas Finieris” received an award in the category “Municipality Investment in Construction 2024”, alongside two other businesses, for the plywood mill “Kuldīgas fabrika” opened last year.
When applying to the Rural Support Service programme for forest establishment, regeneration and replacement, as well as for the tending of newly established areas and the thinning of young stands, forest owners can choose high-quality, selectively bred forest seedlings grown in the nurseries of AS “Latvijas valsts meži”.
It is no secret that the forest sector is one of the main cornerstones of Latvia’s economy. In 2022, forestry, woodworking and furniture manufacturing accounted for 7% of gross domestic product, while exports reached 4.2 billion euros – 20% of the country’s total exports. There is not a single parish in Latvia where you could not find a wood processing company of some size. ir.lv
Under the project “Support for the revitalisation of historical peat extraction sites”, an inventory will be made of the bogs owned by municipalities and private individuals where such extraction was once carried out. The aim of the project is to draw up recultivation plans for these places, in order to bring these areas back to life and reduce carbon emissions.lsm.lv
On official matters
The three priorities for the Ministry of Agriculture’s work in 2025:
Reducing bureaucracy and the administrative burden in the EU Common Agricultural Policy, as well as levelling out direct payments after 2027;
Increasing the share of food produced in Latvia in public procurement and retail, and promoting the consumption of local products;
Reviewing the requirements of the Green Deal in order to strengthen Latvia’s economic competitiveness.zm.gov.lv
On the economy
Countries are prepared to invest enormous sums in defence, so we need to look for ways of getting involved in this business.db.lv
However, the loose ends of projects not completed on time, running to millions in total, have to be finished by those implementing them using their own funding, or else they have to dip into the new European funds envelope, if the government gives the green light.ir.lv
The Competition Council honestly admits that it is working less and less, and less and less efficiently, because it sets its own priorities independently – its own view both of what should be done and of whether anything needs to be done at all.db.lv
News has just been made public that until quite recently was protected as a commercial secret: AM Craft has supplied LOT Polish Airlines with 1,200 3D-printed passenger seat armrests for installation across its Boeing 737 fleet.lasi.lv
As freight volumes have fallen, state subsidies have climbed. Since 2020, the sum invested by the government in increasing LDz share capital and ensuring its financial balance exceeds 140 million euros. A further 26 million euros has been set aside in the 2025 state budget to cover the railway’s losses last year.lsm.lv
On environmental matters
The Nature Conservation Agency has launched an ambitious project – the creation and development of a nature centre for the Gauja National Park, in order to improve public understanding of biodiversity, the nature conservation system and climate change.daba.gov.lv
On and around science
On greenhouse gas emissions and Latvia’s inventory report, which LVMI “Silava” also helps to prepare; on CO₂ sequestration and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in forest management; on the factors affecting greenhouse gas emissions from the surface of tree stems; and on why the land use, land use change and forestry sector has an important role to play in meeting climate neutrality targets.silava.lv
By autumn, a great deal of biomass for processing has also grown in towns and cities – leaves and other green waste. Logging residues, including branches and treetops, are biomass too. In scientific terms, biomass is everything that contains cellulose and lignocellulose, whose main component is sugars.lasi.lv
The range of literary works about Zemgale is not especially rich, and roughly the same plots are used, which makes it possible to notice two mutually intertwined emphases in the portrayal of ancient Zemgale and the Semigallians – Zemgale as a mighty and covetable place, and the Semigallian chieftains and noblemen nurtured by that place.zz.lv
On recreation
Procuring high-quality services for the work to be done can also cause problems, since the recreation sites are spread across the whole of Latvia. It is also not uncommon to come across installed materials that do not meet the required quality, and sites that are not tidied up promptly after maintenance work.tvnet.lv
...with almost two years of extensive repair work now complete, the popular recreation spot by the unique Lake Čertoks near Krāslava is open to visitors with significant improvements.lvm.lv
During the works on Pūsēnu Hill, the previous steps were dismantled and new ones installed – wooden stairs more than 100 metres long. To halt the erosion of the dune caused by people walking along its edge, and to reduce the human impact, a new viewing platform of 32 m² has been installed at the top of the hill.lvm.lv
Miscellaneous
On Latvian soldiers through the ages, their remembrance and the spirit of patriotism...diena.lv
Surrounded by Soviet-era buildings, the manor house of the Bērvircava estate has stood half-derelict for years beside the culture centre in Sesava parish; it is said to be the oldest wooden building in Latvia and possibly in the whole of the Baltics. There have been repeated moves to demolish the old house, but the National Heritage Board has not agreed to it.zz.lv
The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia is marking 50 years since the Australian government recognised the incorporation of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union. That decision triggered widespread Baltic protest actions in Australia and shook the government as never before.
A decision taken in secret in Australia that could have complicated the Baltic states’ path to regaining independence.lsm.lv
“The beavers saved us 30 million crowns. They built the dams with no design, no documentation – and completely free of charge,” said the head of the nature reserve administration.nra.lv
Current affairs in cartoons
diena.lv · vadi uz robezas 14331139
diena.lv · marupes cuskas 14331279
lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka naksu pulcina reiz biju komjauniete
lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka zvirbulim palidzes jau sodien
lasi.lv · zime gatis sluka kulturas un izklaides notikumu zurijas pars…
diena.lv · noslepumu atslegas noslepumaina pieskirsana 14331333
