Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze invites MPs and ministers from the “Progresīvie” parliamentary group in the Saeima to be open to a professional conversation and, on Friday, 19 September, to meet in the forest together with representatives of the sector's non-governmental organisations, forestry specialists and scientists, in order to discuss current issues in Latvian forest management.

Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze:

“The aim of the Ministry of Agriculture's forest policy is sustainable and balanced forest management that provides for both economic development and nature conservation. Unfortunately, arguments detached from reality can be heard in the public sphere, and they often do not reflect the true situation in the forest. The purpose of the meeting is both to build an open dialogue and to gain a closer understanding of the Latvian forest beyond the usual nature trails, and to listen to specialists who have devoted their lives to studying and tending the forest. Only cooperation between all the parties involved will allow us to take balanced and responsible decisions about the future of Latvia's forests.”

Taking part in the field trip will be experts from AS “Latvijas valsts meži” – Board Member Dr. silv. Dagnis Dubrovskis, Board Member Jānis Krūmiņš, Director of Forest Resource Management Ģirts Abizārs and Head of the Rietumvidzeme Forest Management Planning Region Vilmārs Katkovskis, the Director of the Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. silv. Āris Jansons, and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

The bus will depart from the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday, 19 September, at 10.30. The event is expected to conclude at around 15:30. Media representatives are also invited to take part in the trip, subject to prior registration.

Please register your participation by 12.00 on Thursday, 18 September, by writing to iveta.zarina@zm.gov.lv or calling 67027553.