For 24 years now, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) has been carrying out the sustainable management of the state forests – economically sound, environmentally friendly and socially responsible – together with the development of the infrastructure, services and knowledge this requires. Pēters Putniņš, Chairman of the Board of “Latvijas valsts meži”, describes what the company contributes to Latvian society.
Recreational opportunities and economic contribution
Recreation, the preservation of environmental values and economic benefit – that, says LVM Chairman of the Board Putniņš, is how LVM's contribution to Latvian society through its management of state-owned forests can be described.
First, in terms of access to forests Latvia is one of the freest countries in the European Union. Anyone can go for a walk in Latvia's state forests, pick berries and mushrooms, go running and take exercise.
Free access to the forest 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Since the company was founded in 1999, LVM has created and maintains more than 300 free tourism sites – nature trails, cycle trails, viewing towers and platforms, various natural and cultural heritage sites, and equipped recreation areas with tables, benches and shelters both in the forest and by the water, all brought together under the Latvijas valsts meži brand mammadaba, which over the years has become one of the best-known recreation brands in Latvia.
Information about the free and also paid recreation sites located in the state forests can conveniently be found at www.mammadaba.lv.
Second, over 25 years LVM has doubled the extent of the forest areas whose primary purpose is to conserve biological diversity and to safeguard a range of environmental values.
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Will LVM go into the tourism business?
There have been reports that LVM is about to move actively into the tourism business, taking over campsites and guest houses belonging to some Latvians – how true are these rumours?
“No, that is not true. LVM has no plans to develop commercial activity of this kind, because LVM's aim is not to build a campsite business or commercial facilities. Quite the opposite – we have assessed which of the properties we have historically owned contribute to the company's operations and which do not. Those that do not are being closed by LVM, and the site is then leased out so that a private business can run commercial activities there.
LVM creates free recreation areas – nature trails and other sites – that open up opportunities for private business, for example to offer catering or accommodation services, so that people will head out into nature in more remote parts of Latvia as well.”