Commentary by zemeunvalsts.lv

The fact that more than one avenue or tree-lined road disappears during the repair and reconstruction of Latvia's major roads is quite strange, as preservation should be included in the project and—naturally—an avenue on both sides of a highway is not a nest hidden in dense thickets or the depths of a forest that needs to be searched for without knowing whether it exists or not. Therefore, either such avenues are of no interest to Latvia's loudest activists, or they know (and understand) well that saving an avenue might require opening the project's wallet... Moreover, as has been seen more than once, the discussion is not about the situation in nature or a specific valuable object, but about text included in legal acts that does not account for all things we value. It is palpable that in some activists, a policy of obsequiousness and self-interest has taken deep root, understanding what is worth getting worried and shouting about, and what—being equally or more important—is worth expressively keeping silent about. More than one talented actor has had a good, vivid non-speaking role...

To preserve at least part of the lime trees planted by ancestors over a hundred years ago in Galēni parish – this was the appeal that local residents recently addressed to various nature conservation organisations. They are concerned that the local authority has given permission to fell all the trees while road construction works are carried out, yet no opinion from the Nature Conservation Agency was received beforehand, nor was there any public consultation. Past experience, however, suggests that once road repairs have begun, the chance of making changes to the project is slim.

Iveta Seimanova leads us along the property she inherited through several generations at 'Briškas' in Galēni parish. Here, over a hundred years ago, her great-great-grandparents planted a lime tree avenue. It is scheduled to be felled because repair work has begun on the local state road Viļāni-Maltas Trūpi-Lomi. 'Institutions most often refer to articles of the law, to binding regulations. But, my dears, there are also such concepts as ethics and conscience. The Rēzekne department replied that we should turn to Riga. That is exactly what we are doing.' (...)