Belonging to the minority of Latvian society that cannot translate the English word “deal” as a “course” that we should humbly follow, Latvian forest scientists are happy to participate in shaping the national position on forest matters. While fully supporting and considering the initiatives of the thinking world to limit climate change as inevitable, Latvia's proposal (position) in the Green Deal process should be formed in accordance with our national interests, knowledge, and uniqueness. Or at least, we should try.

A small but seemingly foreboding sign of doom is the task given by the Latvian government last year, in the lead-up to the Midsummer holidays, to create an informative report examining aspects of specific forestry techniques (for example, regeneration felling, or so-called clear-cutting). Specifically, the government was interested in their regulatory framework and practice in Latvia, as well as their impact on the economy, the environment, and its biodiversity (Minutes No. 33, paragraph 79 of the Cabinet of Ministers meeting on 21.06.2022).

It must be admitted that scientific research into the impact of different tree-felling techniques has been quite fragmentary. Small (up to 2 ha) regeneration felling areas are a typical Latvian forestry technique, which has been tested over many decades and has fully proven itself in practice. As a result of these small felling areas, Latvia has one of the highest levels of forest biodiversity in Europe, although there is no shortage of people in Latvia who emotionally question this fact. However, in the author's opinion, a brief overview or version of Latvian land use, from which the choice of various forestry methods follows, is never superfluous.
https://www.delfi.lv/news/versijas/jurgis-jansons-eiropas-zalais-darijums-latvijas-mezsaimnieciba-nolemtiba-vai-iespeja-tam-pielagoties.d?id=55250476