During the discussion held on 23 August with local residents and associations, representatives of SIA “Rīgas meži” heard the desire to keep the horses in Mangaļsala. The company invites further talks regarding safety in the area, animal housing, and the preservation of natural values. Currently, in the “Rīgas meži” property in Mangaļsala, within the “Piejūra” nature park, the “Equestrian Sports Club ‘Īriss’” association operates and houses several dozen horses.

The Nature Conservation Agency (DAP), the State Environmental Service, and the State Forest Service have acknowledged that an excessive concentration of horses in one place, as is the case here, significantly and possibly irreversibly degrades the environment.

“Rīgas meži”, in cooperation with the competent authorities, has concluded that the environment and the area where the horses are currently located are degraded, and damage has been caused to natural values.

Artūrs Jansons, Deputy Director of the DAP Pierīga Regional Administration, emphasised during the discussion: “This is the ‘Piejūra’ nature park, which was established more than 60 years ago to ensure the preservation of seaside wooded dunes and other values. Horses are permitted in this territory, but not in the numbers present currently. It is unknown whether the habitat, which has suffered as a result of significant overload, will be able to recover (regenerate), or if it is irreversibly lost. Therefore, from the perspective of nature and environmental protection, the “Rīgas meži” initiative to organise this area is supported.”

It must be emphasised that the buildings on the site – a former student camp – are a legacy of the Soviet era and are dangerous for visitors, including the children and young people who are the primary users and visitors of the area. Furthermore, electrical safety measures have not been observed in the territory. The company will address these issues in the near future.

“Rīgas meži”, as the owner of the territory, must ensure not only the preservation of natural values and environmental accessibility for the entire public but also compliance with regulatory enactments.

Understanding the concerns and anxiety of the residents, “Rīgas meži” has identified a potential area where some of the horses could spend the winter. Discussions regarding this are planned for next week with representatives of the club and residents' associations. This does not preclude the fact that the sports club must tidy up the degraded environment, pay “Rīgas meži” for the actual use of the territory, and make real estate tax payments.

“Rīgas meži” assures residents that a concept for the future use of the territory will be developed. Both the equestrian club, neighborhood resident associations, and other interested parties will be involved in this process. Until the territory is tidied up and the development of the concept is concluded, “Rīgas meži” will not carry out any other activities in the territory, except for safety measures.

On Wednesday, 23 August, “Rīgas meži”, in cooperation with the municipality, held a meeting in Mangaļsala with local residents and users of the territory, which had been announced at the beginning of June. The purpose of the meeting: to discuss the further development of the territory in person and directly, in order to ensure environmental, safety, good governance, as well as the interests of residents and visitors in Mangaļsala, in the “Piejūra” nature park (Natura 2000 territory), at Mangaļsalas iela 2, Riga.

Real estate under the management of “Rīgas meži”

Since the end of 2021, “Rīgas meži” has been actively working on settling property issues that have gone unresolved for years, identifying concluded lease agreements, inspecting territories on-site, and reviewing the terms and fees of existing lease agreements. The company is also working on clearing territories in properties where lease legal relations have ended. By 31 December 2022, the company had sorted out 73 previously degraded territories, and by July 2023 – already 120 territories, out of a total of more than 300 property units.

The property at Mangaļsalas iela 2, Riga, and related issues are also among those that “Rīgas meži” is addressing. The environmental state here has been significantly worsened, the existing infrastructure is not safe, and there is long-term use of the property without a legal basis, among other issues.

Additional information

History: Cooperation between “Rīgas meži” and the equestrian club

The contract concluded in 2017 for one year provided for the use of 0.33 ha. Moreover, since 2021, the association has been using the territory without a valid lease agreement.

The 10.53 ha territory and the buildings on it are in the company's equity capital. When investing the territory into the equity capital, its use was determined – improvement, establishment and maintenance of green zones, primarily using it for organising children's and youth recreation and extracurricular activities, as well as ensuring cultural and recreational opportunities for residents. The territory is also to be used to ensure the implementation of recreation, sports, tourism, high-quality nature, cultural environment, and other functions.

Therefore, it is especially important to address issues related to the future and development of the territory carefully and responsibly, including by involving the public. It is also essential to prevent actions that do not comply with legal regulations and their potential consequences.

Future of the territory

“Rīgas meži” emphasises that it is important for the company that in the future, the requirements of regulatory enactments are fully observed, that the territory is appropriately managed, that it becomes more accessible to as wide a public as possible and meets the interests of the widest possible public, and that natural values are preserved, etc.

Therefore, within the next six months, “Rīgas meži” plans to announce a competition for the development of a territory development concept. The goal of the concept is to make the territory accessible to as wide a public as possible and suitable for the widest possible range of interested parties, including sports, active recreation, horses, etc.

In accordance with the regulatory framework, recreational opportunities, development of green zones, education activities and camps for children and young people, small cafes, etc., are permitted here. On the other hand, to ensure such services, it is necessary to hold auctions. The regulatory framework also provides for exceptions.

At the same time, in accordance with regulatory enactments, even without the opinion of a certified appraiser, “Rīgas meži” does not have the right to simply conclude a contract with any tenant.

Legal framework

Section 3 of the Law on Prevention of Squandering of Financial Resources and Property of a Public Person (the Law) stipulates that a capital company, in this case – “Rīgas meži”, has a duty to act usefully with financial resources and property: 1) the action must be such that the goal is achieved with the least expenditure of financial resources and property; 2) the property must be alienated and transferred to the ownership or use of another person for the highest possible price.

Taking into account that the legal lease relations regarding the use of the part of the land plot ended on 31.12.2020 and the concluded lease agreement is no longer in effect, it is legally no longer possible to extend it. For a new lease agreement regarding the use of the mentioned territory to be concluded, an auction must be announced, determining the starting price of the lease object (in accordance with the valuation determined by a certified real estate appraiser). The regulatory framework also provides for exceptions.

Every applicant is entitled to participate in such an auction and, accordingly, by bidding the highest lease fee, obtain the right to conclude a lease agreement.

The procedures for leasing land or parts thereof belonging to a public person, the procedures for calculating the lease fee, as well as specific standard conditions to be included in the lease agreement are regulated by Cabinet of Ministers (MK) Regulation No. 350 “Regulations on Lease and Building Rights of Public Person's Land” (the Regulations).

In addition to the lease fee, in accordance with the Regulations, the tenant must pay real estate tax in proportion to the leased area.

According to the graphic part of the Riga spatial plan “Functional zoning”, the land plot is located in a nature and greenery area (DA2). According to Point 1024 of the rules for the use and development of this territory (approved by Riga City Council mandatory regulation No. 103 of 15.12.2021) (TIAN): “Nature and greenery area (DA2) is a functional zone determined to ensure the implementation of recreation, sports, tourism, high-quality nature and cultural environment, etc., functions in natural or partially transformed natural areas, including buildings and engineering structures related to the relevant function. A wide spectrum of recreation-related usage types is permitted in the territory. It includes existing forest parks, parks, other improved and unimproved nature and greenery areas, where provisions are made for the creation of new forest parks, parks, squares, and other improved territories.”

In turn, according to Point 1042 of TIAN, the following usage types are permitted in the land unit with cadastral designation 01001200688, which is located in the “Piejūra” nature park:

• 1042.1. construction of trade or service objects (12002): construction consisting of shops, pharmacies, public catering establishments, seasonal trade or service objects (trade kiosks and covered trade stands), restaurants, bars, cafes,

• 1042.2. construction of cultural institutions (12004),

• 1042.3. construction of sports structures (12005),

• 1042.4. improved outdoor space (24001): improved outdoor space, excluding cemeteries and animal cemeteries.

“Piejūra” Nature Park

The “Piejūra” nature park was established as a protected territory in 1962 to ensure the preservation of the coastal ecosystem complex and protected habitats and species of national and, later, European Union (EU) importance.

It was also created to ensure public education and recreation opportunities that do not conflict with the protection of natural values. The nature park is located on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, including territory on both banks of the Daugava – from Vecāķi to the mouth of the Gauja river into the sea. In 1999, the nature park was expanded to include the territory from Vakarbuļļi to Inčupe.

The goal of this specially protected nature territory is to preserve the coastal habitat complex, especially wooded dunes, grey dunes, seaside meadows, and lakes.

The territory has significant scenic value. This is mainly determined by the dune relief, the unfragmented forest cover with particularly old pine trees, and the relatively unmodified coastline.

24 EU-importance habitats have been identified in the nature park, occupying 84% of the territory – most of these values are wooded seaside dunes, herb-rich grey dunes, and old or natural boreal forests. A special value in the nature park is the seaside grasslands.

The operation of the nature park is regulated by Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 740 “Individual protection and use regulations of the ‘Piejūra’ nature park”.

Throughout the territory of the nature park, regardless of the functional zone, various restrictions and prohibitions are determined, including the prohibition of moving with animals (e.g., horses) outside designated routes or those established in a specially determined manner.

In turn, in 2020, the document “Nature protection plan for the ‘Piejūra’ nature park for 2020-2031” was approved. It specifies routes for horse riding. Evidence found by “Rīgas meži” specialists shows that these routes are not being observed.