“Rīgas meži” is monitoring the situation in its territories regarding the spread of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) with extra care and is diligently carrying out control measures. The company is also complying with the government's decision regarding the declared state of emergency and the instructions of the State Forest Service (VMD). “Rīgas meži” fully supports the Ministry of Agriculture's (ZM) initiative to declare a state of emergency and is confident in the positive impact of the planned measures.

To protect forest stands, one of the prevention and beetle control measures at “Rīgas meži” involves placing pheromone traps in coniferous felling areas located near valuable spruce stands. These pheromone placement sites have been identified in good time, taking into account the recommendations of scientists. Furthermore, during 2022 and the 2023 winter period, “Rīgas meži” specialists have intensively removed damaged forest stands in these spruce areas so that the deployed traps can provide the most effective results. These are and will be regularly monitored (at least once a week) to ensure they perform their functions. At the same time, the public is urged not to touch or damage these traps.

“Rīgas meži” is also observing other precautionary measures. For example, it is working to complete planned logging and forest maintenance work near valuable spruce stands as quickly as possible before the start of the beetles' active period.

“Rīgas meži” has also purposefully implemented measures to limit the spread of the European spruce bark beetle in the past. For instance, risk-prone forest stands have been regularly inspected and analysed; wind-damage in stands has been systematically removed; pheromone traps have been installed and monitored; and the recommendations of the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, the VMD, and the ZM regarding logging restrictions in spruce stands during the beetles' active period have been observed.

In the most critical situations and locations, sanitary fellings have also been carried out in accordance with VMD approval. For example, in 2022, the company received VMD permits to carry out approximately 160 sanitary fellings, compared to approximately 50 in 2021.

Last year, from June to August, more than 761 thousand pests were caught in the 150 traps placed in the company's forests (the calculation was made based on the ratio of the volume and number of caught beetles). Scientific sources indicate that as few as 3,000 beetles are enough to destroy one healthy spruce tree. In previous years, depending on the situation regarding the spread of the bark beetle, pheromone traps were placed in “Rīgas meži” forests as follows: 148 in 2019, 245 in 2020, and 245 in 2021.

Of the 32 municipalities whose forests are affected by the government's decision on 28 March to declare a state of emergency, “Rīgas meži” forests are located in the municipalities of Ķekava, Limbaži, Mārupe, Ogre, Olaine, Ropaži, and Salaspils.