With the holidays approaching and many likely planning to look for their green Christmas decorations, SIA “Rīgas meži” urges you not to cut down Christmas trees in the forests of Riga and Pierīga! At the same time, the company offers its vast territories for recreation, walks, and enjoying the winter!
“Rīgas meži” territories are located in the capital and within a radius of approximately 40-50 km around it, mainly in the Ādaži, Ķekava, Mārupe, Ogre, Olaine, Ropaži, and Salaspils municipalities, as well as in the Limbaži region. Forests managed by the company can also be found at www.mdps.rigasmezi.lv.
“Rīgas meži” areas possess biodiversity and values rarely found in forests located within or near large cities. Spruce trees are also rarely found in the company’s forests – they account for just under 10%. Furthermore, they are specially grown in our “Norupe” tree nursery, mostly planted in the forest by our staff, maintained, and protected from attacks by the European spruce bark beetle.
Long-term and sustainable solutions
At the same time, “Rīgas meži” invites you to think about longer-term and more sustainable solutions so that as many residents as possible can celebrate Christmas with a growing, rather than a cut-down, green decoration. For example, where possible, plant a spruce tree in the courtyard of an apartment building, in a private garden, or in a recreation and gathering place popular with local residents.
Recreational opportunities in “Rīgas meži” territories
We invite you to dress appropriately for the weather, head out to our areas in both Riga and Pierīga to relax, enjoy the winter, go cross-country skiing, or build snowmen!
For example, walk our #RadiTakasRīgasMežos project trails in both Riga and Pierīga: https://ej.uz/wyb7 (the Komoot app is required); go skiing in the forests or in the Riga parks managed by us (Lucavsala, Mežaparks, Uzvaras parks); or sign up for an informative nature excursion at our snowy environmental education centre “EkVidO2”, or “ECOLOGY. ENVIRONMENT. AIR.”, near Ogre.
The forests are beautifully covered in snow, but the snow has become “heavier”, which is why bending branches or snow-loading can be seen in some places. Therefore, we urge you not to approach trees if their branches are bent too low. It is also important not to park cars under such trees.
