Sector
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/armands-krauze-ilgtspejiga-mezsaimnieciba-balstas-datos-un-elastiga-saimniekosana
The alliance's goals are to defend national competence in forestry, rejecting a “one size fits all” approach, to balance climate and economic objectives, and to improve forest monitoring and data quality. The member states of “For Forest Group+” are Latvia, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Sweden, France and Italy. Latvia joined the alliance in August 2025.
https://www.zemeunvalsts.lv/latvijas-mezu-sertifikacijas-padomes-atbalsts-saeimas-prezidijam
Latvia's forestry professionals, guided by the principles of sustainable forestry, have managed and cared for Latvia's forests in a quality and sustainable manner, with future generations in mind.
https://mezaipasnieki.lv/lv/latvijas-meza-ipasnieku-biedriba-atbalsta-deputatu-iesniegtos-priekslikumus-meza-likuma
If Latvia's regulatory framework for forest management is compared with that of other European countries, especially the Scandinavian countries, Austria and Germany, Latvia's forest owners are currently placed in an unequal situation.
https://www.db.lv/zinas/savlaiciga-koksnes-izmantosana-ieguvums-klimatam-un-ekonomikai-525849
The current regulations in Latvia lag significantly behind the practice of the Nordic countries and even neighbouring Estonia. Finland and Norway allow forest owners to decide the felling time themselves, while Sweden and Estonia set a felling age that is significantly lower than Latvia's, by several decades in some cases.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7923-lvm-tiekas-ar-mezkopibas-darbu-veiceju-asociacijas-parstavjiem
To discuss current issues in the forestry sector and matters of cooperation, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” met with representatives of the Association of Forestry Works Contractors. To resolve the issues that had arisen successfully, representatives of both sides had prepared thoroughly for the discussions (...)
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/1-aprili-sakas-meza-ugunsnedrosais-periods
In accordance with the Fire Safety, Firefighting and Rescue Work Law, the forest fire-danger period begins on 1 April and will last until 30 September.
Anxiously awaiting the election...
... Saeima rejects (...) proposal to lower the felling age for some trees
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/01.04.2026-saeima-noraida-zzs-centienus-dalai-koku-samazinat-cirsanas-vecumu.a641344/
Worth knowing! Upcoming and current events
From 20 March to 26 April: orienteering game at the manor houses of Valmiera municipality “Catch the Hare at the Manor”
https://www.valmierasnovads.lv/apcelo-valmieras-novadu-kerot-zaki-muizas/
13-15 May: International conference “Education, Innovation and Cooperation for the Future of the Regions” at Malnava College
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-02-03/starptautiska-konference-izglitiba-inovacijas-un-sadarbiba-regionu-nakotnei-lbtu
22 and 23 May: “Latvijas Meža dienas” (Latvia Forest Days)
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7854-latvijas-meza-dienas-tervete-notiks-22-un-23-maija
Garden days and masterclasses at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026
Official
https://www.lbtu.lv/lv/raksts/2026-03-26/zemkopibas-ministrijas-vizite-latvijas-biozinatnu-un-tehnologiju-universitate
Meeting with LBTU rector Irina Arhipova, vice-rector for science Gatis Vītols, vice-rector for finance Linards Sisenis, vice-rector for studies Ilze Beitāne and faculty representatives, the university's development directions were discussed, with particular emphasis on modernising the study environment and strengthening interdisciplinary research.
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/aktualizets-dabas-aizsardzibas-parvaldes-maksas-pakalpojumu-cenradis
(...) the Nature Conservation Agency's public price list of paid services has been updated, combining the services provided by the agency and by the National Botanic Garden, which was attached to the agency this year, into a single system. (...) It will come into force on 1 April this year.
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/zinojums-par-zalo-industrialo-teritoriju-attistibu-baltijas-juras-regiona
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) has prepared a report, drawn up under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme with European Union co-financing for the GreenIndustrialAreas (GIA) project, which analyses opportunities for integrating the project's results into local, regional and national policy-planning documents.
https://www.zm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/aktualizets-partikas-un-veterinara-dienesta-cenradis
For Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) services charged according to actual working time, the hourly rate has been raised from EUR 26.30 to EUR 34.33.
https://www.vaad.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/augsnes-minerala-slapekla-monitoringa-rezultati-2026-gada-pavasari
The State Plant Protection Service carried out monitoring of soil mineral nitrogen from 17 to 24 March in the particularly sensitive areas of Bauska, Dobele, Jelgava, Mārupe, Olaine and Sigulda municipalities.
https://www.kem.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/atzimejot-starptautisko-bezatkritumu-dienu-paraksta-memorandu-par-ilgtspejigas-un-videi-draudzigas-uznemejdarbibas-attistibas-veicinasanu
International Zero Waste Day, proclaimed by the United Nations, this year particularly highlights the problem of food waste. Around 1 billion tonnes of food are wasted worldwide every year (...)
Economy
https://www.makroekonomika.lv/raksti/iranas-notikumu-ietekme-uz-inflaciju-latvija
Our estimates indicate that the military conflict in the Middle East could significantly increase Latvia's inflation in 2026 and 2027. However, scenarios with a fairly moderate impact are not ruled out if the conflict is resolved in the near future.
Science
https://www.silava.lv/aktualitates/baltijas-koks-lvmi-silava-petnieki-skaidro-vilku-un-lauksaimniecibas-dzivnieku-lidzas-pastavesanu
The article looks at the challenges and solutions for the coexistence of wild and farm animals, stressing the need to integrate these issues into landscape-management policy and practice, and to foster cooperation between different interest groups.
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/raza-laboratorija-lvkki-komandai-senotne-izdevies-izaudzet-raibo-taurinpiepi
After three months, the project has reached a significant milestone. Under laboratory conditions, the first fruiting bodies of the variegated tinder polypore have not only been obtained but also harvested.
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/no-alus-daritavas-atlikumiem-lidz-vertigam-kimiskam-vielam-lvkki-turpina-drabinu-parstrades-izpeti
The composition of brewer's spent grain makes it a promising raw material for obtaining various industrially significant compounds, including furfural and lactic acid. This potential is also highlighted by research initiatives in Latvia, where spent grain is being studied as a raw material for developing high-value-added products.
Hunting
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sakas-20262027-gada-medibu-sezona
The State Forest Service reminds hunters that from 1 April they must purchase new hunter season cards for the 2026/2027 hunting season.
https://www.medibam.lv/uzzinai-staltbriezu-skaits-eiropa-pieaug-latvija-nekad-nav-bijis-iznemums
In recent years, claims have been made ever more often in public that the number of red deer here has become an emergency problem and that Latvia has supposedly ended up in a unique situation. Looking at data from elsewhere in Europe, the picture is much calmer and, at the same time, clearer – Latvia is no unique exception. What we are seeing here is part of a broader European trend.
https://www.medibam.lv/katra-medibu-suna-iespeja-satikt-vilku-ir-25-gada-tas-nozime-125-paredzamus-vilku-uzbrukumus-gada-ir-ari-zinatnisks-petijums
The management of the grey wolf population in Latvia is based on a scientifically defined concept – carrying capacity. This indicator describes the maximum number of individuals that a given environment can sustain in the long term (...)
https://www.medibam.lv/juris-nagainis-jabut-parliecibai-ka-sods-par-parkapumu-ir-neizbegams
The outcome of a hunting inspection depends on the hunter, on whether the requirements of the legislation governing hunting have been observed. However, as the inspector himself admits, in his many years of practice there have been only a few isolated cases where, after a violation was established, the hunter still failed to understand the offence and remained resentful.
Roads
https://rekurzeme.lv/vietejas-zinas/tresdien-saks-regionala-autocela-no-priekules-lidz-lietuvas-robezai-parbuvi/
In Dienvidkurzeme municipality, from 1 April the reconstruction of the Ilmāja-Priekule-Plūdoņi (P114) regional road will begin, from Priekule to the Lithuanian border (...)
https://dzirkstele.lv/vietejas-zinas/jaungulbenes-attistibas-biedriba-velas-atgriezt-ikdienas-pasazieru-vilcienu-par-to-ikviens-var-parakstities-lidz-7-aprilim/
A resident signature-collection drive has been launched calling for passenger train services to and from Riga via Cesvaine and Jaungulbene to run daily, and for the train's final stop to be Gulbene rather than Madona. The initiative is supported by Gulbene municipal council.
https://bauskasdzive.lv/vietejas-zinas/no-ritdienas-saks-p87-cela-parbuvi-no-ozolaines-lidz-barbelei-autovaditajiem-jarekinas-ar-satiksmes-ierobezojumiem/
From 1 April, major construction work will begin in Bauska municipality on the Bauska–Aizkraukle regional road, on the section from Ozolaine to Bārbele (...)
Environment
https://bauskasdzive.lv/latvija-un-pasaule/ar-autocisternu-slepus-leja-indigu-skidrumu-bauskas-novada-celmalas-tiesa-piespriez-realus-cietumsodus-un-iespaidigu-naudas-sodu-uznemumam/
(...) the court found that this person had acted in the interests of a joint-stock company (we have previously reported that AS Olaines ķīmiskā rūpnīca “Biolars” is involved in the case).
Agriculture
https://staburags.lv/zinas/pavasaris-sakas-ar-nezinu-daudziem-zemniekiem-galvenais-jautajums-ir-viens-vai-si-sezona-vispar-bus-izdeviga/
(...) farmers are forced to recalculate every step. Many are currently sitting with calculators in hand, and, moreover, EU direct payments for the next planning period will be below the average level for Latvia.
Unfortunately, though...
https://www.delfi.lv/sports/17012621/other_kinds/120113173/andris-usackis-kadel-es-sodien-pametu-ltv-sporta-redakcijas-vaditaja-amatu
But over the course of the year, the processes under way rolled over me like a road roller. People burdened with formal administrative duties no longer had time for basic human communication. As a result, the emotional connection was lost. I was gradually turned into a bureaucratic approvals machine, an administrator whose job was to ensure the editorial staff followed all the instructions, regulations and rules, the number of which grew in arithmetic progression. There is no end in sight. And on top of it all – arrogance towards what had been achieved in previous years.
https://www.delfi.lv/bizness/37264250/biznesa_vide/120112657/rail-baltica-kilnieki-valsts-aptur-gimenes-vieniga-majokla-atpirksanu
In early July the project implementer “Eiropas dzelzceļa līnijas” sent a notice confirming the compensation the family would receive for the property. At the end of the same month, Linda and Madars received another letter – the process was being suspended because the bridge project might change.
Miscellaneous
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/kulturtelpa/27.03.2026-esplanades-atjaunosanas-plans-paliek-gaidisanas-rezima.a640824/
We can also draw very beautiful sketches with, I don't know, very beautiful ponds or whatever else might be there, but if there's no money to carry it further, all of it will remain only on paper.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/31.03.2026-uz-ab-dambja-riga-plano-verienigas-izmainas-bet-naudas-to-istenosanai-nav.a641260/
AB dambis offers a view of the Riga skyline, with an impressive Latvian state flag flying above it, which is why it seems a fitting place to commemorate Jānis Čakste and the values he stood for, such as freedom and the rule of law.
Current affairs in cartoons
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-paspietiekama-valoda.40247
https://www.diena.lv/raksts/diena-citi/karikaturista-skats/nabadzigakie-eiropas-savieniba-14350014
https://www.lasi.lv/par-svarigo/karikatura/zime-gatis-sluka-april-april.40314