To introduce the public to the planned maintenance of the Ziepniekkalns forest, SIA “Rīgas meži” is inviting residents and interested parties to a meeting on 9 January. During the session, information will be provided regarding the scheduled forest maintenance work and its objectives, alongside explanations and answers to questions.

About the event:

Time: Tuesday, 9 January, at 14:00 (approx. 1 hour).

Location: at the Ziepniekkalns forest: https://ej.uz/xcwu (by the forest, on Rītausmas Street).

Participants: Representatives of “Rīgas meži” and the Riga City Council departments.

For publicity purposes, photography and/or filming will take place during the event.

Comments and reasoned proposals regarding the planned work may also be submitted until Friday, 19 January (inclusive). The most convenient way to submit proposals and follow future updates on the Ziepniekkalns forest is via the “Rīgas meži” Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/RigasMezi), using the hashtag #ZiepniekkalnaMežaKopšana.

About Ziepniekkalns forest maintenance:

– Purpose of the work: to help the forest’s primary tree species – the pine – grow and develop; to preserve biological diversity; to diversify the forest landscape, including preserving undisturbed areas for forest wildlife to take shelter; and to highlight visually appealing terrain features.

Although “Rīgas meži” uses surveillance cameras in the Ziepniekkalns forest and monitors the area daily, it remains one of the forests “favoured” by illegal waste dumpers. The need for forest maintenance is also confirmed by the results of a survey of forests in Riga and the surrounding Pierīga region conducted by the research centre SKDS in the autumn of 2023. For instance, regarding the Ziepniekkalns forest, it states: “The forest is overgrown, paths are muddy, and there are mountains of waste at the roadsides”.

– Planned area of work: approx. 75 ha (the area between Ozolciema gatve and the border of Ķekava Municipality, as well as between Rītausmas Street and the “Celtnieks” gardening cooperative).

The work will only be carried out in areas included in the approved “Rīgas meži” Forest Management Plan “Riga Municipal Forests within the Riga City Territory, 2018–2026”.

Scheduled time: February – April 2024.

When planning work in the Ziepniekkalns forest, four main zones were identified:

o   City green zone forest (green colour): the objective of the work is to maintain undisturbed zones in the forest where no maintenance work or human intervention will occur.

o   Recreational area (salmon colour): located in the part of the forest with the most extensive network of trails and the highest density of residents. Here, the aim of the work is to make these more actively visited parts of the forest brighter, more pleasant, clearer, and safer for visitors. Additionally, openings (up to 0.2 ha) will be created to provide conditions for new pine trees to grow.

o   Scenically valuable area (yellow colour): the aim of the work here is to help the forest’s main tree – the pine – grow, including trees that are 100 years old or older, and to highlight particularly beautiful parts of the landscape. It is planned to clear away undergrowth bushes and trees that are hindering the pine forest, as well as create openings (up to 0.2 ha) to provide conditions for the growth of new pine trees.

o   Particularly scenic spot (pink colour): the aim of the work is to emphasise the diversity and unique features of the forest’s terrain, such as hills, hollows, visually beautiful hazelnut trees, and specific groups of undergrowth bushes. In part of this area, no activities will be carried out.