The industry

https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/izmainas-meza-ugunsdrosibas-un-ugunsdzesibas-joma
On 13 November 2025 a new Fire Safety, Firefighting and Rescue Operations Law came into force. It also brings changes to forest fire safety, including the setting of a fixed forest fire hazard period – every year from 1 April to 30 September.

https://www.finieris.com/lv/ar-latvijas-finiera-atbalstu-izveidots-baltija-lielakais-iekstelpu-mikro-klases-taktisko-dronu-macibu-centrs/
The centre's main target audience is members of Jaunsardze, secondary school pupils, students, National Guard members, soldiers of the National Armed Forces, State Police officers and anyone else who wishes to learn drone piloting skills.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/investicijas-inovacijas-galvenais-meza-nozares-dzinejspeks-524000
The forest sector is one of the strategically most important pillars of the Latvian economy, making a substantial contribution both to gross domestic product and to the structure of the country's exports.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/zemes-nozares-var-dot-papildu-pienesumu-latvijai-524001
Latvia's two misfortunes are over-regulation, where we try to adopt everything that is recommended to us without thinking for ourselves or adapting those recommendations to Latvian conditions, and excessive democracy, where projects are held up because of objections from a few small groups.

https://inc-baltics.com/investiciju-cena-vienam-igaunim-garante-koksni-desmit-gadiem-bez-izsoles-par-vienosanas-cenu/
In selling timber under long-term contracts, it has unjustifiably granted advantages to certain contractual partners by setting special terms for them and selling timber at a more favourable price.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/07.11.2025-olaine-atklaj-finierskaidu-razotni-zlm-birch-investeti-3-miljoni-eiro-raditas-20-darbavietas.a621589/
Birch veneer chips are used in further production processes. They are used to make birch plywood, parquet, bent laminated furniture components, environmentally friendly disposable kitchen utensils, and in the manufacture of other everyday objects and devices.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/07.11.2025-cesu-mezsaimniecibas-uznemums-timbro-attistiba-ieguldis-5-miljonus-eiro-plano-iekarot-igaunijas-un-lietuvas-tirgu.a620586/
The company's main areas of activity are wholesale timber trading, logging and logistics, trading in forest and agricultural land, and the management of rural properties.

https://www.db.lv/zinas/sadales-tikls-piegada-koka-balstus-igaunijas-sadales-sistemas-operatoram-523997
Sadales tīkls has completed an export pilot project on the supply of wooden poles produced by the company to the Estonian distribution system operator Elektrilevi.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/darzs-un-majas/13.11.2025-lu-rododendru-audzetava-babite-registrejusi-piecas-jaunas-rododendru-skirnes.a622391/
Four of the new varieties – Gundega, Zanda, Mana Madona and Kalsnavas arborētums – have been developed from the legacy of hybrids created by Professor Rihards Kondratovičs, while the variety Ingmārs was bred by Gunita Riekstiņa.

The industry supports

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7792-vidusskolenus-aicina-piedalities-stipendiju-konkursa-lvm-bioekonomikas-skola
“Latvijas valsts meži”, in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the State Education Development Agency and AS “Latvijas finieris”, invites secondary school students to take part in the “LVM Bioeconomy School” scholarship competition this academic year.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7786-atklata-jauno-makslinieku-darbu-izstade-latvijas-valsts-mezu-stipendija-maksla-2025
The 15 works by the finalists of the art scholarship competition are interesting in their diversity: from painting to graphic art and sculpture. There are no limits to what young artists can do creatively in visual language.

Official

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/viens-miljons-eiro-paredzets-meza-aizsardzibas-profilaksei
On 4 November the government approved the procedure for granting state and EU support for the measure “Support for the prevention of forest damage”, allocating 1 million euros from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to improve preventive forest protection measures.

https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/atbalstam-biologiski-vertigu-zalaju-atjaunosanai-pieteiksanas-no-1-decembra
The Ministry of Agriculture is urging farmers to take stock of their unmanaged permanent grassland habitats with thick dead grass, shrubs and trees, so that they can be cleared before the start of the next area payments season in 2026 (or the season after that, depending on how complex the restoration work is), with the aim of bringing this land back into agricultural production in the years following restoration and receiving agri-environmental support...

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/latvijas-nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-ar-2026-gadu-tiks-pievienots-dabas-aizsardzibas-parvaldei
On 1 November the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft order prepared by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development on the incorporation of the National Botanic Garden of Latvia into the Nature Conservation Agency as of 1 January 2026.

The economy

https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/37264250/biznesa_vide/120094931/pieci-latvijas-uznemumi-iekluvusi-500-lielako-regiona-kompaniju-topa-rezultati-gan-neiepriecina
Historically, Latvia had the most developed traditional manufacturing sector of the Baltic states, but because of globalisation and high costs this sector has gradually lost its competitiveness and its place in the global market.

https://www.makroekonomika.lv/raksti/tris-velejumi-latvijai-inflacijas-joma
Why did that happen? Evidently, players in the food sector (both producers and retailers) noticed that raising prices did not significantly reduce the turnover of goods.

Education, research and knowledge

https://www.finieris.com/lv/m-bumbieris-laiks-atjaunot-interesi-par-tehniskajam-profesijam/
...the work of a mechanical engineering specialist is no longer just tightening screws or replacing mechanical parts. It is an engineering, analytical and creative profession.

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/uzsakts-petijums-peattransform-latvijas-kudras-nozares-klimatneitralitatei
The overarching aim of the study is to help transform the peat sector from a significant source of emissions into a climate-neutral branch of the economy by 2050, while at the same time strengthening Latvia's research capacity and innovation potential.

https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/lvmi-silava-vadosa-petniece-zane-libiete-piedalas-pasaules-meza-terapijas-foruma-dienvidkoreja
Latvia too has several certified forest therapy guides and therapists, as well as a purpose-built forest therapy trail.

Hunting

https://www.medibam.lv/vai-var-saut-ja-uzbruk-lacis-latvijas-likumu-pretrunas-un-iespejamas-sekas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEguFTOzAK8
Pepper spray has been proven to be very effective when used correctly. A 2008 study of bear attacks in Alaska (USA) between 1985 and 2006 found that pepper spray stopped unwanted bear behaviour in 92% of cases.

Transport

https://www.sam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/salacas-tilts-salacgriva-atverts-satiksmei
From 12 November, traffic across the Salaca on the new bridge in Salacgrīva, on the Tallinn highway (A1), is open in both lanes with no traffic lights, and heavy vehicles, including military equipment, can cross the bridge without restrictions.

https://www.sam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valdiba-apstiprina-indikativo-dzelzcela-infrastrukturas-attistibas-planu
The Cabinet of Ministers has reviewed and approved the indicative railway infrastructure development plan for 2025–2029. The plan sets out the directions for developing and renewing railway infrastructure, giving priority to passenger transport in order to improve connectivity between regions and meet residents' future mobility needs.

The environment

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/atkritumi-ka-resurss-jauni-macibu-materiali-skoleniem-par-biologisko-atkritumu-nozimi-aprites-ekonomika
The Ministry of Climate and Energy has produced modern and engaging teaching materials and a video series on how biowaste can become a valuable resource and be given a new life through the principles of the circular economy.

https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/vvd-informe-par-pastiprinatu-udens-monitoringu-daugava-latvijas-pierobeza
At present there are no reports of pollution in the Daugava either on Latvian or on Belarusian territory. Together with the State Fire and Rescue Service and the State Border Guard, the State Environmental Service is continuing to take water samples in the upper reaches of the Daugava, test water quality and carry out visual observations.

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/13.11.2025-ar-attirisanu-netiri-notekudeni-kadel-salacgriva-aizvien-piesarno-juras-piekrasti.a622190/
...why did Salacgrīva local authority, in order to save money, build a wastewater treatment plant that still pollutes the local beach?

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/13.11.2025-tiesa-jurmalas-lemums-paplasinat-apbuves-teritorijas-meza-platibas-neatbilst-satversmei.a622326/
In the association's view, the changes to the functional zoning of certain land units in Stirnurags, Bulduri, Jaundubulti and Pumpuri are at odds with environmental protection principles.

https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/palidziba-loti-retai-sugai-igaunijas-rugtlapei
The Estonian saw-wort is a species of European Union importance included in the Habitats Directive and therefore protected throughout Europe. Its range is very narrow – it is found only in Estonia and Latvia.

The lecturers

A note: Satori has gradually become a site that lectures the forest sector and related industries, a home for “high-minded know-it-alls”, following in the traditions of the Communist Party newspapers Pravda and Cīņa – that is, talking about a problem while avoiding the people who deal with it every day, or zealously calling for battle against self-invented enemies... What is more, while emphasising competence and diversity of opinion, the portal clearly divides people into us and them, all the while fretting about the supposed division of society.
To put it figuratively: what intentions drive people who are supposedly green-minded to fight so fiercely against Latvia's economic and energy independence, harnessing both local and Brussels-bred colts to the war chariot of militant folly.

https://satori.lv/article/sargajosie-mezi-un-maldugunis
The discussion about the role of environmental services in defence should not be seen as naive. It is clear that neither forests nor bogs are a panacea.

https://nra.lv/latvija/regionos/liepaja/506729-liepaja-nocirsts-simtgadigs-ozols-iedzivotaji-sero.htm
The people of Liepāja and the surrounding area are taking what happened so much to heart...

Miscellaneous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUmJn7GybGs
Forest stories. Dagnija and Andis Lazdiņi

https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/13.11.2025-desmit-gadu-laika-atjauno-abgunstes-muizu.a622425/
Seven years ago the manor's farm building was also saved from ruin.

https://inc-baltics.com/iesaistitie-bazijas-par-siles-likvidesanu/
It appears that the Civic Alliance acts as a large common denominator for representatives of the Prime Minister's party “Jaunā Vienotība”, whose associations have received at least one million euros over the past three years – they are united not only by the people involved but also by a shared address.

https://nra.lv/neatkariga/komentari/bens-latkovskis/506530-bbc-skandals-kritikas-vilnis-sasniedz-latviju.htm
For many years the BBC was not merely one of the world's most respected media outlets. It was considered the gold standard. A model to be emulated.

Current affairs in cartoons

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/kekatnieki-martindiena-14344045

https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/maksliga-intelekta-tiesnesis-14344170

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-izveidot-likvidacijas-ministriju.34428

https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-eiropas-savienibas-solidaritates-rezerve.34476

https://www.lasi.lv/mednieks-makskernieks/cope/zime-gatis-sluka-pienakums-zinot-par-nokerto-lomu.34305