In response to a request from the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia to support Ukrainian society by donating tree seedlings for the restoration of Ukraine's forest areas, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) is donating high-quality pine and spruce seedlings for the restoration of the parks and green spaces of the Chernihiv region. The seedlings are being transported to Ukraine under the necessary conditions in cooperation with AS “Latvijas Finieris”.
The donation agreement was signed in May by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Anatolii Kutsevol, and the Chairman of the Board of LVM, Pēters Putniņš, who also discussed plans for further cooperation during the meeting. Under the agreement, LVM will donate around 40 thousand seedlings in total for the restoration of the parks of the Chernihiv region.
“Our cooperation with Ukraine and the support provided is based on the letter of expectations from our shareholder, the Ministry of Agriculture, which also envisages LVM's active involvement in strengthening Europe's common security area and in developing a sustainable business model on a European scale, including support for Ukraine's integration into Europe. LVM has assessed the possibility of donating tree seedlings to the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia this spring and autumn, and has concluded that this is feasible, as it cannot in any way jeopardise LVM's operations and objective — to supply Latvian forestry with high-quality forest regeneration material that is available for the continued sustainable improvement of the value and productivity of the forests grown under changing climate conditions. Such a donation is significant in supporting Ukraine's goals of restoring the green spaces of a country devastated by war, and of restoring recreational opportunities for its people and its ecosystems,” explains the Chairman of the Board of LVM, Pēters Putniņš.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AS “Latvijas Finieris”, Uldis Biķis, emphasises: “While the brutal war continues in Ukraine, the priority of our support is, of course, the fight against the invaders. We believe in victory and we are convinced that Ukraine will be free and independent and will become part of the European Union's economic area. As in Latvia, fertile land is a significant natural asset in Ukraine too, and so we regard our cooperation in forestry as a mutual exchange of knowledge and experience in the name of shared future goals.”
LVM has been cooperating with Ukraine for several years now. In December 2021, LVM signed a memorandum of cooperation with the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, under which several exchange-of-experience visits took place before the war began. During these visits, LVM introduced Ukrainian colleagues to the work of tree nurseries, showing how containerised seedlings are grown in Latvia and sharing experience of building tree nurseries as well as of the use of information technology in forestry. LVM remains ready to cooperate and share experience so that a high-quality forest seedling growing system can be established in Ukraine as well. LVM will continue its active involvement in strengthening Europe's common security area and in developing a sustainable business model on a European scale, including support for Ukraine's integration into Europe.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7487-lvm-davina-stadus-cernihivas-regiona-parku-atjaunosanai-ukraina