In the past, the forest was of great importance not only as a source of timber for building houses and ships and for food production, but also as a source of energy as industry developed. In an era when coal and liquid fossil fuels were not imported into Latvian territory, the necessary resources were obtained from the forest. When metalworking began in the territory of Latvia, charcoal was produced for its needs. Charcoal production became particularly significant in the 17th and 18th centuries, but its widespread use continued until 1940.