The forest sector's contribution to Latvia's gross domestic product is immense – 5.2%. This is money. This is 50,000 jobs. It is also an invaluable contribution to environmental protection. At the moment, this is reasonably balanced with national economic interests, and it should remain that way.

With the start of the so-called nature census project, in which 9.5 million euros of public funding have been invested, a figure appeared in circulation regarding how much protected areas could increase as a result of the project – 7%. This forecast caused alarm among foresters and economists, and for the sake of peace and quiet, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development withdrew it – let's first count the natural riches and then think about what, if anything, to do with them. In 2020. Therefore, at least for now, the thesis of the project's patron, University of Latvia Rector Indriķis Muižnieks, is being respected – the most important thing is to ensure a balance: nature is preserved, but people do not suffer.

A million hectares – for nature

Latvia does not need to become a protected reserve. If the area of protected territories were to be increased in an avalanche-like manner, the forestry sector would be the one to bear the heaviest part of this donation, because forests cover 52% of Latvia's territory and it is precisely in the forests that Latvia's greatest natural riches are found. With a broad base of regulatory acts and restrictions on economic activity, they are already provided with strong protection, and the areas of protected territories are constantly increasing. Moreover, there are currently no known endangered species or sites in Latvia that are not already protected. Nor has there been any observed breakthrough in the national economy that would threaten nature.

In 2011, 12% of Latvia's land territory was specially protected. Now, according to data updated by the Nature Conservation Agency, it is already 18.16%. Furthermore, in compliance with guidelines provided by the European Union, a protection regime has also been introduced for 15.72% of Latvia's marine territory. Thus, Latvia protects the waters and their inhabitants, and it also protects the land with its rich flora and fauna. And forests are protected particularly well. According to data from the State Forest Service, economic activity restrictions are currently set on 9% of private forests and 18% of state-owned forests. The ownership proportion is roughly half and half, with a very small remaining portion held by municipalities.
In more than 100,000 hectares of Latvian forests, there is a total ban on forestry activities. In nearly 212,000 hectares, clear-cutting is prohibited. There are also other restrictions, and overall, about a third of all Latvian forests are subject to various forms of protection from economic activity. That is more than a million hectares.

Micro-reserves are multiplying like mushrooms

The greatest role in preserving the forest environment belongs to state-owned forests. More than 456,000 hectares are protected. However, the contribution of private forest owners to environmental protection is also immense – nearly 384,000 hectares of protected forest.

The Nature Conservation Agency operates with figures similar to those of the Forest Service. According to the agency's estimates, of the total forest volume, economic forests without forestry restrictions account for 71.8%, or 2,193,700 hectares. Furthermore, even within protected territories, there are zones without forestry activity restrictions. Therefore, an additional 14.5% of those areas remain for economic use. However, the fact that new restrictions are constantly being placed on new forest areas cannot be denied – although the simultaneous removal of vast territories from economic circulation is not currently happening. The expansion of the European Union's Natura 2020 protected territories has already been carried out. But the creation of new micro-reserves continues. And in forest lands specifically, since 2000, when this new nature protection regime was introduced, 2,307 micro-reserves have been established in the country, with a total area of 41,700 hectares. Up to 50 micro-reserves appear on the map of Latvia's forests annually, and most of them are created for protected birds – the lesser spotted eagle, the black stork, and the northern goshawk. Also for plants, fungi, and insects.

Balance must be maintained

Unfortunately, the appetite of environmental experts for tapping into taxpayers' money, promoting the creation of ever-new micro-reserves, and finding ever-new excuses for research, is causing skepticism in a large part of society. Especially among foresters, because the prohibitions imposed by the state are not adequately compensated. It leads more to a desire to hide the natural riches on their property, rather than a desire to be proud of them, and that is not right.
With 3.383 million hectares of forest, Latvia is currently the fourth most forested country in the European Union, and our forest area continues to grow, especially in terms of timber stock. And there is enough room for both nature and people. Both for nurturing rare species and for building a prosperous Latvia. While facing various political and economic interests against the backdrop of Latvia's forests, the government has so far taken into account the risks associated with the growing radicalism in environmental protection. In the protocol decision attached to the report on measures for surveying the distribution and quality of protected habitats, which was reviewed at the start of the major nature census, an initially unplanned point was added:
“The area of territories created for the protection of forests and forest-related species and habitats, and the restrictions on economic activity, shall be determined in an amount that does not reduce the areas available for forest cultivation and timber harvesting.” A balance between environmental protection and the national economy must be maintained in the forest.

Forestry activity and restrictions

Total forest area in Latvia 3,056,600 ha
Total restriction on forestry activity 3.3% 100,300 ha
Protected territories with various forestry activity restrictions 10.4% 319,100 ha
Protected territories with forestry activity restrictions 14.5% 443,500 ha
Economic forests without forestry activity restrictions 71.8% 2,193,700 ha

Data: Nature Conservation Agency