(...) Nursery manager Zaiga Apse explained that “Liepas” was one of the first to begin container seedling cultivation and is currently one of the leading nurseries in the Baltics. However, the owner is concerned that container seedling sales could be destroyed by European Union (EU) regulations, which stipulate that peat extraction must be phased out to achieve climate neutrality.

“This means that seedlings would only be available for purchase in spring or autumn. The entire seasonality disappears. This means there will be no jobs. This means there will be no tax revenue for the state,” said Z. Apse. She does not see why peat extraction should hinder the “Green Deal”. “To begin with, in this case, the peat is not being destroyed in any way; rather, added value is being created, and it ends up back in the soil. Plus, jobs are created, taxes are paid, exports are generated, and there is the added benefit of creating a greener environment,” said Zaiga Apse.