“re:baltica” allegations

ZM clarification

Claims that tree felling based on a lower diameter than currently permitted will only affect 5% of all Latvian forests.

Neither a survey nor the actual situation allows for the claim that owners will behave in the same way after the amendments are passed, when it will be permissible to fell forests much sooner and it will be significantly more profitable. This is not based on calculations regarding what area will be legally available for earlier felling.

It cannot be claimed that after the amendments are passed, it will be more profitable to fell trees in final felling. On the contrary, it will be less profitable to fell trees in final felling based on diameter, because the forest will have to be regenerated with more expensive planting material.

In a managed forest, 300-400 trees are felled per hectare during a regeneration felling, or about 600 trees in an unmanaged forest. Following the change in regulations, instead of these felled trees, 2000 pines or 1500 spruces or birches must be planted per hectare. This will be a mandatory additional investment for the forest owner in the amount of 800-1000 euros per hectare of regenerated forest.

According to State Forest Service (VMD) data, on average per year (2014-2018), about 4000 hectares, or 4% of the total area where tree felling is carried out, are felled in private forests during final felling based on diameter.

Currently, the area of stands that have reached the current diameter parameters for final felling in forests is 205,200 hectares. Of this, 4000 hectares are felled per year, which is 1.94% of the volume available for felling based on diameter.

In the event of the proposed changes, the area of stands that have reached the parameters for final felling would increase by 82,100 hectares, which is 2.5% of Latvian forests (the possible tree felling of up to 5% of the felling volume based on a lower diameter was the maximum forecast).

If the felling intensity remains at the current level, i.e., 1.94% of the available forest area for felling based on diameter, 5600 hectares will be felled within a year. This is the 4000 hectares already being felled now, plus approximately 1600 hectares.

The fact that an area becomes available for felling does not mean that the owner will immediately fell it.

The “re:baltica” claim that forest owners will suddenly change their habits and fell everything that is available is not based on calculations or facts.

Questions whether the changes in regulations do not affect the maximum allowable felling volume in state-owned forests.

These amendments do not affect the maximum allowable felling volume in state-owned forests. The maximum allowable volume of tree felling in state forests is determined by Section 45, Paragraph one of the Forest Law and the Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 718 of 16 November 2015, “On the Maximum Allowable Tree Felling Volume for 2016-2020”.

The procedure for calculating the maximum tree felling volume is determined by Section 4.2, “Basic Principles for Determining Maximum Allowable Tree Felling Volumes”, of the Guidelines for the Development of the Forest and Related Sectors for 2015-2020.

The State Forest Service (VMD) performs calculations by applying the historically used equations for calculating final felling volumes, which are based on the age of forest stands, taking into account the areas of mature and over-mature stands.

Even if all other regulations set out in the Forest Law were repealed and only Section 45 and the Cabinet of Ministers order regarding the maximum allowable tree felling volume remained, it would not be possible to fell more in final felling in state-owned forests than is stipulated in the Cabinet of Ministers order.

It is not true that nearly 30% of all Latvian forests are protected areas where tree felling based on diameter does not and will not take place.

28.2% of forests are protected from the total forest area in Latvia due to various restrictions. There are 683 specially protected nature areas in the forests. Some of these areas are included in the uniform “Natura 2000” network of protected areas of European importance. In specially protected nature areas and micro-reserves, which make up about 15% of the total forest area, final felling based on diameter is not permitted. There, trees are felled in final felling (if permitted) when the trees have reached the age for final felling, not based on diameter.

Questions the claim regarding the increase in forest cover in Latvia and that forests currently cover 52% of Latvia's territory. The European Environment Agency published statistics showing otherwise – in Latvia, forest cover is only slightly less than 38% of the territory.

It cannot be denied that various forest definitions exist, and there are also various methods for determining forest cover. Likewise, there are different definitions for what is considered forest cover and what is land covered by trees. On the European Environment Agency's statistics website, Latvia's forest area is clearly visible according to various definitions, including those based on “Forest Europe 2015”, which uses the FAO forest definition, where Latvia's forest area at 3.39 million hectares, or 53.6%, even exceeds the 52% forest area mentioned by the ZM.