Interview with Ivo Liepnieks, forest management specialist (23 years of experience in the sector), from the company “Dižozols”
How have the processes and work taking place in forests changed over the last 23 years or so?
Fundamentally, the tasks that need to be carried out in forest management have not changed, but the way they are implemented has changed very significantly. Technologies and machinery have evolved; GPS systems have appeared, and management has become much more precise. Over the years, the sector has seen many “optimisations, mergers and reorganisations”. The biggest change, of course, is the separation of forest monitoring from forest management. The “Dižozols” team is currently implementing significant changes in the sector, and I would like to say that we are the pioneers of revolutionary changes in the local forest management system.
What exactly is meant by “revolutionary changes”?
We want to completely transform the sector and hope that all forest management companies will eventually follow our example. We see it as a combination of Scandinavian and local experience – all the best that has existed until now. This includes a clear vision for the forest, for sustainable management of it, complete transparency in all forest management processes – both before starting felling and during it, as well as a clearly defined scope of service and costs, and the opportunity to track every piece of work, resulting in the forest owner receiving the maximum – both in the short and long term. If a forest owner has decided not to manage their own forest (property) themselves, but to entrust it to professionals, they first gain a clear picture of developments, processes, benefits, etc. Of course, decisions are solely up to the owner – how to manage it, what to do in one plot or another, and other nuances that the owner expects from us as the manager. The collaboration is based on a long-term relationship between us and the owner. It is based on an investment in the future – so that today the forest can be cleaned up and utilised to the maximum extent so that it is better and of higher quality in many respects in the future.
For how many years (on average) is management planned?
Roughly speaking – for one inventory period, which is currently 20 years. We plan for such a period. Of course, there are a number of circumstances that affect plans – if only the situation in the timber market. But a plan is created, and, if I may say so, the next five years have a “very clear” perspective, which could evolve over the next 15! It should be taken into account that forest owners own forest areas of various sizes – it can be one or two hectares, or it can be tens or thousands of hectares. Furthermore, the management plan and offer we develop is only one side of the coin; the other must also be taken into account – the owner’s plans, wishes and knowledge. Often, the forest owner needs to be educated and their knowledge supplemented so that they can truly get the maximum from their forest both today and in the future.
Well said! What is people’s knowledge or understanding of the forest located on their property?
Unfortunately, experience shows that knowledge about inherited or owned forest is very poor. Both about the forest itself and the legislation related to the forest – when you can, if you can, what you can, how much you can… These things that a professional knows, forest owners often do not! I have met farmers who at one time tried to do something with their forests, to manage them somehow on their own – their understanding is at a minimal level at best. But I have also met people who do not understand what condition their property is in. A forest is a forest (in the owner's understanding)! That's all… What should be changed, improved, maintained or felled – they have no idea! Of course, I can only judge by my own experience, but the level of knowledge, in my opinion, is often small!
Border forests. What are they like?
My region of work is Latgale, and I know it quite well – Alūksne, Balvi, Viļaka, Rēzekne, Ludza. In many cases, the forests have not been managed or maintained. A peculiar belief has been observed – “it is better to do nothing in the forest, let it grow itself!”. Of course, this is not correct, because by maintaining the forest, the benefit in the future will be greater! In a forest left “to its own devices”, we observe all natural processes, self-thinning, small growth; if one can put it this way – “the forest is fighting with itself”. By managing it professionally, many processes can be accelerated, and the benefit from this will only be greater! Quite large areas of forest are in poor condition.
Are there financial reasons for this, or is it a lack of knowledge, which we already talked about?
Most likely – a lack of knowledge! By maintaining the forest, the gain will exceed the investment! Just looking at current timber prices – they are high. Undoubtedly, some investment in forest maintenance is initially necessary, but the owner will receive it back many times over!
Who are the largest forest owners in the region you oversee (Latgale)?
Approximately half are state forests. In the private sector, the largest forests in the Latgale region now belong to the Scandinavians – Södra (last year’s major forest transaction). Regarding these forests – there is no doubt – everything will be fine, because the Scandinavians are continuing their traditions in forest management. Scandinavians, with their experience, understand well that a forest is a secure investment – it is not for nothing that most of their pension funds are invested in them. Then there are a number of small forest owners.
Speaking of other experiences, in Scandinavia, forest management traditions are older and the system itself is different. There, the forest owner and the forest manager have long been separate. The owner may have no knowledge of the forest and the activities around it, but the Scandinavian forest owner trusts the manager to act in their forest. The owner has the confidence that such a partnership will “bring” them both a well-maintained forest and, over time, money from it. That is the essence of a professional forest manager: not every owner needs to have a degree in forestry.
The most common species in the Latgale region?
In private forests, unfortunately, conifers are not the dominant species – most likely, it will be birch or aspen. Pine and spruce might be in third or fourth place. Regeneration – in 95% of cases – occurs naturally and results in new deciduous trees. A small part of the area is regenerated artificially, mainly by planting spruce, birch and pine. There are not many managers in Latgale who can professionally and qualitatively prepare the soil for planting a forest for an owner. We offer forest planting to owners; of course, the decision-maker (whether and what) is the forest owner themselves, and we suggest several options so that the owners can choose what is most suitable for them.
As a forester yourself, what do you prefer – conifers or deciduous trees?
Looking with a professional eye, one must evaluate the forest growth site type – what would be most suitable for the specific location! My preference is conifers, and if possible, I choose or recommend them. One must not forget that there are forest types where legislation stipulates the regeneration of pine (so-called “pine types”, where at least 80% must be regenerated as pine!). A conifer has always been more valuable, but its growth period is longer than that of a deciduous tree. If there is no damage from forest animals, one can grow two generations of deciduous trees, such as aspen, in the lifetime of one conifer. It is a matter of evaluation!
Forest ageing in the territories you oversee – overgrown forests that are slowly collapsing, losing value… Are there many of them?
Unfortunately, I have seen enough overgrown forests. When advising owners, I often have to repeatedly emphasise the high risk of keeping such forests untouched. Trees fall, decay, rot, which means that the forest value is lost and there is practically no wood increment! My “field” of activity is not homogeneous in terms of territory; my plots are scattered over a wider area, but, as I said, I have seen enough old forests. I do not know the reason why people do not really want to believe that forests in Latvia are ageing, but by talking and showing examples, understanding is gradually emerging.
What are the reasons for forests becoming overgrown?
Various. Basically, once again – lack of knowledge. It also happens that a forest is inherited; the new owners receive the inheritance but do not look at it, do not take an interest in it – they have a forest, great, let it be!
If, for example, I see a 150-year-old pine stand, I say: “The trees are over-mature by at least 50% of their lifespan. This pine must be felled!” If only to give room for the new stand to grow and to use the forest area so that it can bear fruit once again! Of course, there are various protected areas and restricted areas or protection zones where clear-felling is prohibited. Here, the generational change of trees can be achieved through selective felling.
I have to repeat the question – are forests being frighteningly over-felled in Latvia? Soon the landscape will change and everything will be bare…
Such talk has been going on for many years. There are people who think and say exactly that, but most likely it is again the fault of ignorance. In Latvia, forests are not “over-felled”; in Latvian forests, wood is accumulating and should be used! Of course, it happens that the time has come for the forest closest to a country house, and it is felled. Then there is room for emotion! There is a certain negative undertone to all of this. But – if a person plants potatoes or sows wheat in their backyard garden or field – they have a definite goal – when the harvest arrives, they gather it. Part can be kept for personal consumption, part can be sold, but – parallels can certainly be drawn with the forest. The forest – if you can put it this way – performs three tasks – economic, social and ecological. The idea of excessive forest felling is incorrect; the State Forest Service (VMD) prepares a statistical report every year. You can see what is happening there! Forest areas and timber stocks are only increasing!
“A person who has graduated from the Faculty of Forestry is greener than green”
The view of “green organisations” is primarily expressed in draft laws. This happens in meetings and sessions in Riga. I am for balance and agreement! In any business environment, economic principles and interests are fundamentally set, and these must be in balance with environmental conservation matters, which are important for Latvia as a country. There are things that are only found in Latvia in Europe, and it is good that the rest of Europe is interested in preserving them!
But – if something is forbidden – if a person cannot get what is due, expected or planned from their forest, they need compensation at least at the level of average market prices, as they are today! The current compensation system is flawed.
For example, regarding the ongoing “nature census”. Farmers have had several difficult years – too much rain, too much drought… A farmer has a so-called “emergency fund”, let's say, 50 ha of forest. If this fund cannot be used, the losses will be around EUR 250,000 because “something has been found” in the forest for which it cannot be used! If Europe or Latvia wants to preserve it, it must be properly compensated!
In practice, I have experienced a situation where a protected species is found in a plot, the plot is designated as a restricted area, and after a while, the “reason for the restriction” disappears from the territory. It (bird or plant) did not like it there, or it is better elsewhere! I think a schedule is needed, a time period after which restricted areas can be surveyed again. I have heard that “the environment must be preserved in such a way that the animal can return to this territory.” We can wait a year, five, seven, ten – what is the guarantee or possibility that the bird or plant will “return” there in twenty or twenty-five years? Meanwhile, the forest “stands untouched” and waits… Regular surveying of the territory would be necessary, because – it happens – the protected object lives in a neighbouring territory, where, for example, thinning is in full swing, no one knows about the inhabitant, and human activity does not bother the bird! It is possible that the bird did not feel good in the “abandoned restricted forest”, but in the managed one, its living conditions are much better! There must undoubtedly be a mechanism for how restricted areas are surveyed in order to understand what is happening there!
Your hunting experiences. What about rare birds and animals encountered?
I haven’t encountered anything exclusive! I assume that my area of responsibility consists of common, commercially usable areas… I have seen bear tracks, I haven’t happened to meet one alive! Not far away in Estonia, the bear population is quite large; bears can be hunted there, and the chance of encountering a bear in the Estonian border area is greater. In my area, bears “visit” by coming in from Russia, although now there are fences in many places on the border, where animal migration corridors have been left.