An interview with Inesis Boķis, President of the Forest Owners Association of Latvia, and Member of the 12th Saeima
We elected the 13th Saeima in October, and there are government formation (???) activities supposedly underway. What is your perspective on these matters – as a citizen and an experienced individual?
You put it correctly – I am a Latvian citizen living in Northern Vidzeme, in Valmiera. I have a fair amount of life and also political experience; I have been involved in political activities since the early 90s. As my relatives say, it is evident that I am interested in political processes. This, however, is always tied to two things: firstly, often being in the spotlight of society or the press, which can be viewed either positively or negatively; secondly – the negative side – unfounded criticism and the search for specific flaws in decisions or actions. I have tried to avoid the latter – the mud of criticism – but occasionally it has hit me quite hard as well.
What is happening right now is logical – generations must change! We have a new Saeima with 65 “new” deputies. I mention the word “new” in quotation marks because not all newly elected deputies are completely without experience in the political field. I think some of them will be productive assets who will work in more than one Saeima, and I am sure a good minister or two will also be found. People have been elected and they must work! The biggest problem is that there is no political force with an absolute majority (I am not including “Saskaņa” here). We feel this “on our own skin” – both civically and politically – agreements on cooperation (a government) are being built with difficulty and taking a long time. I can agree with the view that this case is special: the smallest faction in parliament is invited to form a government. Although – it might be easier for them than inviting a neutral outsider. I assume that during this Saeima convocation, one must seriously count on the possibility of multiple governments. The main thing – what time will show – will be the work that the government and parliament accomplish!
What do the people of Valmiera and the surrounding area know about forests? What is it like?
Varied! If people live outside Valmiera or if their families have had a connection to the forest for generations, their knowledge is sufficient. For city dwellers, it all depends on themselves and those around them. There are people who pick berries, mushrooms, and exercise in the forest, not fearing the forest's inhabitants and not fearing getting lost.
One could say: “The forest is like the Gauja.” Many Valmiera residents do not go swimming in the river, saying: “It is dangerous there!” The Gauja is a treacherous river, but – you don’t need to swim where it is dangerous! It is the same when you are in the forest! Do not go where there might be threats! There are plenty of forests around the city where one can relax and go for a walk to get to know the forest.
Valmiera is often praised for its urban development. How was that achieved?
That could be called a success story! After the restoration of independence, through various forms of business, almost all of the once large, significant companies have survived and continue to operate (the only one that did not continue was the meat-packing plant, the lack of which we still feel today – you can see a ruin on Stacijas Street, and the economic impact is also slightly felt). Views on that time – the early 90s – differed in society and politics: what should be closed, what could not continue operating, what should be liquidated along with Soviet power, what should be kept, etc. I think that in Valmiera, at the dawn of independence, the right people were in the right places, and everything happened; the political factor was also important: when Māris Kučinskis became Mayor of Valmiera (1996) – since those times, one (leading) political force has been in power in the city, which has had a small (one or two-vote) majority, but the development of Valmiera has been consistent and there have not been major disputes between the position and the opposition. As I have noticed and seen, in small or medium-sized regions where discord is based on private or political reasons, economic activity and development suffer the most. Uncertainty, not knowing whether to act or not – all this does not promote development, and people and entrepreneurs see it! In Valmiera, as I mentioned, events developed differently, and development has proceeded evenly. People like the city, and they want to live and work here!
Forests are our wealth and resource. What are the main problems the sector has to face, and what does it gain?
Gains – starting from planting the forest or sowing seeds to timber harvesting – in Latvia, the whole process works at a normal European level, and others can learn from us! I have seen the sector’s work elsewhere. We do not lag behind – rather – we can suggest and teach others ourselves. Even the Scandinavians! Latvian forestry is relatively classical – formed from German and Russian schools – and has developed over centuries and decades.
Secondly – we have a well-developed wood processing industry. Of course, there are small sawmills operating, but – upon entering them – everything is at the necessary level; they develop and work in their own niche. I am not talking about the large companies, where everything is fine anyway! Thirdly – we all live together well! There have been no major disputes between foresters, loggers, and processors!
Problems. I would like better cooperation with the so-called “green group”. Whatever it is called at any given time, we want a non-depletive, or nature-friendly, or sustainable sector. Conversations with various nature conservation organizations do not always succeed or remain reasonable. There are no winners in these disputes!
I also count various European regulations as a downside. As a hunter with experience, I believe that, for example, we are overdoing it with wolves and the restrictions on hunting them. For example, February has not yet arrived, but the wolf hunting quota has already been exhausted.
Another debatable and controversial but significant issue is the level of wages associated with the forestry sector. Of course, all the problem areas I have mentioned are solvable.
Hunters are scolded by both farmers, whose livestock is partially eaten by wolves, and by guardians of wolves and other animals…
I have been hunting since 1983. I like hunting as a process! Whether it is waiting in a hide, ordinary hunting, or another method. I have mastered and practically “gone through” all the hunting methods practiced in Latvia. During the season, I definitely dedicate one day a week to hunting, regardless of my position. Regarding the accusations – I am not the head of a hunting collective, so it affects me less; criticism tends to fall quite heavily on the head of a leader. There will always be someone who blames those who do the work! I think that often it is not worth it for supporters and deniers to start trying to convince each other!
European regulations. Are many things in Latvia not perceived too uncritically? As if to say, if it “comes” from Europe, we just have to accept it!
When I worked in the Saeima, I travelled quite a lot to Brussels and EU presidency countries, listened to discussions, and participated in them. My work in the Economic Commission allowed me to do that; we had to participate and represent the country. The whole system in Europe is built quite cleverly, not cheaply; it is slow, but it works. For example, the latest well-known decision – the ban on plastic bags – was discussed for at least ten years! In ten years, the “noose eventually tightened”. The same happens in other sectors.
Over time, we have become more critical! Bureaucrats prepare documents and overreach, use legal tricks, and sometimes are able to prove absolute nonsense. For example, the Construction Law. A tragedy happened in Zolitūde (2013), and changes to the Construction Law were made that were impossible to implement in some points. Overall, the “over-zealous madness” observed in the first years of EU membership is gradually passing. People in ministries and municipalities are approaching issues critically. Regulations must be followed, but often in Latvia, documents are written in such a way that one does not want to do anything at all.
Overreaching arises from fear: something will happen, and I will be held responsible; I will not have foreseen it! It is human – the concern about consequences, but – can everything always be foreseen? There is one standard, other rules, other laws – sometimes, putting it all together, “one’s hair stands on end”. And also – laws are written by lawyers who see only the legal (document) side. Afterwards, it is very difficult to fix anything! The lawyer has delved into the text of the law, the definition, which a person with practical experience cannot change. It seems logical that “lawyers rule the world and legislation”, but many lawyers have no practical work experience, and they do not want to have any either. These are the biggest woes of the economic side! Latvians, here too – in the writing of documents – are very diligent!
How often did you look at issues important to the forestry sector in the Saeima?
Every now and then. The greatest satisfaction when remembering my work in parliament: I had good relationships with all my colleagues. I spoke a lot in committee meetings, justified my opinion, and often managed to make the intended legal provisions more reasonable or “softened” them. Two sectors – municipal and forestry – in which I worked and which I know, I paid the most attention to in the Saeima. I am and was competent in these matters. I consider the preservation of the personal income tax at the previous level to be a significant achievement. Hopefully, the 13th Saeima will not change it again in the near future, so that we do not return to a situation with significant cash circulation in the sector and inaccurate timber accounting.
The balance between management and nature. How relevant are the so-called “green” environmental problems in Latvia? Is their relevance real and justified?
Often, loud shouting, supposedly making a problem significant, is based on misunderstanding and ignorance, or simply joining in – someone screams loudly or gets worried – and I follow him! This is sad!
Other people scream deliberately – driven by conviction, interest, or lifestyle! A situation arises where the opinion of foresters, industry experts, and forest scientists disappears or is not emphasized – they (the professionals) “are not loud enough”! Loud voices will always find a place close to all industries, not just forests.
The forest is Latvia’s wealth! I think that about 60-70% of the population clearly understand the current situation, and they are not the biggest talkers or screamers; they understand that the forestry sector, as it is in Latvia now, must exist and remain! Of course, if we do not want to lose a few tens or hundreds of millions of euros from the budget, or several billions from the GDP. If that is the goal…
Working in the Saeima and the municipality, I have concluded that a large part of the loud screamers and protesters work in state or municipal structures and… they either do not understand or do not want to understand where the money for their salaries comes from! I can be a very “green-thinking” doctor or policeman, but every year I want an addition to my small salary! Where should it come from? Can a forest be grown for a century without felling it; the stand will be hit by a storm and – what will be left of it? Slowly, slowly, a storm region is “approaching” us – Norway just experienced a storm – wind speeds of about 40 m/s. In Latvia, at wind speeds of 45 m/s, little will be left standing… God forbid we reach such situations, but the signs are there! “What the saver saves and hoards, the robber will take” – in this case – the storm will “take” the trees!
Speaking about the increase in forest area over the last 90 years… I think if we carefully counted all areas, the figure (the volume of forest area in Latvia) would approach 60% (currently estimated at around 52%)… Being in the forest, I often encounter untouched territories both in parishes and along state borders, where people for 30 years or more have not bothered about their properties; there are many such forest stands in the territories of former, now overgrown agricultural lands from the 40s. In my opinion, everyone in Latvia has a place to live and shelter! I think the biggest problem is not the silence of the forestry sector, but the fact that people do not want to listen to us! The silent majority looks on! Foresters get the feeling of fighting windmills!
I believe in common sense! People will realize that, for example, pines on the seaside will not regenerate where there is no such opportunity. If you do not clear small areas or patches for new young pines when cutting down the old ones, pines as a species will disappear; birches and grass will remain! The cubic metre volumes that we have in nature and remain un-harvested show that we are very rich… I believe that logging estimates should be reviewed and forests should be harvested more, not just reaching for pine or spruce alone, but also for other species that we have learned to process excellently. We have large reserves, but for various reasons (technical, political, capacity), we do not use the available resources.