The Nature Conservation Agency (the agency) is accepting applications from private forest owners until 15 May for annual compensation from the state budget for restrictions on forestry activity. Applications may be sent to the agency's e-address, by post, or submitted in person at one of the agency's offices.

The agency pays compensation for restrictions on forestry activity in specially protected nature territories that lie outside the Natura 2000 network of territories. The agency likewise pays compensation for restrictions on forest properties in micro-reserves outside the Natura 2000 network of territories where the property area within them is less than 1 ha. To receive compensation, the forest inventory data must be included in the State Forest Register.

In 2024, annual compensation from the state budget may also be claimed by those private landowners whose properties were included in 2023 in the new nature reserves of Iecavas paliene, Pečora ezera meži, Asaru ezers, Ķivuļurga, Elkšķenes meži, Lobes ezera meži, Birzes purvi, Davelnīša ezera meži, Miltiņu platlapju meži, Ostupes meži, Pilskalnu meži, Ponakstes upes meži, Skursteņu platlapju meži, Vedzes meži and others.

The application form, along with more detailed information, can be found on the agency's website www.daba.gov.lv in the section Services – Compensation.

The amount of compensation depends on the type of restriction and the location of the territory. Compensation from the state budget will be paid in the following amounts: (1) for a ban on clear-cutting – €43/ha, (2) for a ban on final felling – €128/ha, (3) for a ban on forestry activity, final felling and thinning – €157/ha.

The amounts and conditions of compensation are set out in Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 891 of 17 September 2013, “Regulations on restrictions to economic activity for which compensation is due, and on the conditions, procedure and amount of its payment”.

The agency reminds owners that annual compensation in Natura 2000 network territories and in micro-reserves where the area within the property is at least 1 ha is paid by the Rural Support Service (LAD). This compensation must be applied for by completing the single application in the LAD Electronic Application System, in accordance with the procedure and deadline set by LAD.

Specially protected nature territories and micro-reserves help to conserve biological diversity. Although forest covers 51% of the country's territory in Latvia (Central Statistical Bureau, 2023), more than half of the forests are younger than 60 years. The nature census found that at present only 10% of all forests are biologically valuable and only 0.6% are forests of outstanding quality. To secure a greater share of biologically valuable forest, forests must be allowed to grow while retaining their characteristic features – trees of varying ages and dimensions, standing and fallen deadwood, and a mosaic stand structure.