To find answers to pressing questions from State Forest Service (VMD) employees regarding the future of forest monitoring and opportunities for improving the VMD, the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) and the Trade Union of Latvian Forestry Workers (LMNA) are organising a conference titled “Sustainability of forest monitoring – where are we heading?”. It will take place on 2 September from 11.00 to 15.15 at the Faculty of Forestry of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU) in Jelgava, Akadēmijas iela 11. VMD staff from all regions of Latvia will participate in the conference.

The conference will be opened by Egils Baldzēns, Chair of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS), Inguna Siņica, Chair of the Trade Union of Latvian Forestry Workers, and Linards Sisenis, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry. The Minister for Agriculture, Kaspars Gerhards, has also been invited to attend the opening of the conference.

“The decision to organise a trade union conference in cooperation with the VMD was taken at a general meeting of the VMD trade union,” says LMNA Chair Inguna Siņica, “because there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding the future of the VMD in light of the structural reform initiated in 2021, and how it will affect the well-being and social guarantees of VMD employees. Furthermore, VMD management has so far failed to honour and has openly ignored the general agreement concluded with the LMNA.”

Edvards Kušners, advisor to the Bank of Latvia and head of the sustainability division, will speak at the conference on the challenges of sustainable development in the context of Latvian forest policy. A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture will provide information on the role of forest monitoring in ensuring the sustainability of forests. Gints Kaminskis, Chair of the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, will discuss the importance of the VMD in strengthening the capacity of municipalities in the field of civil protection. Meanwhile, Mārtiņš Baltmanis, Deputy Chief of the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD), will outline the cooperation and perspectives between the VMD and VUGD in the context of civil protection.

Anda Grīnfelde, Vice-Chair of LBAS, will present the results of an LBAS survey titled “Professional quality of life of VMD employees in the context of structural reforms”. A. Grīnfelde highlights: “It is significant that 486 of the approximately 600 VMD employees who participated in the survey rated their professional quality of life at an average of 5.47 points, which is two points lower than two years ago. The survey shows that uncertainty about the future of the VMD service in connection with the planned structural changes and insufficient remuneration are hindering VMD employees from performing their daily work as effectively as possible.”

The conference will conclude with a panel discussion on opportunities for improving the development of the VMD, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the VMD, the VUGD, and the LMNA.