The State Forest Service has slowed down the implementation pace of planned changes, introducing them more gradually than originally intended. As previously reported, changes to the agency's structure and work organisation will not take place on 2 May.
The decision to implement changes to the State Forest Service more gradually was taken following discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture. The current external legal framework is not unambiguously interpretable in the context of the planned changes. To ensure that the intended structural changes to the service are not challenged, it is necessary to amend external regulations – the State Forest Service Law and the regulations of the State Forest Service.
“As an agency, we must change; it is the only way to resolve the problems pointed out by our employees, clients and partners. Although the implementation of changes is not proceeding as we initially planned, the priorities and goals set out in the State Forest Service's operational strategy remain on the agenda. We will seek solutions to the identified problems, such as the lack of objective and equal treatment of clients across all structural units and the uneven workload of employees, while maintaining the existing structure. One of the tasks to be carried out in the near future will be the creation of a unified customer service, and we also plan to relieve forest rangers of certain duties as far as possible,” emphasises Aina Stašāne, Director General of the State Forest Service.
Changes to the State Forest Service are necessary to achieve the goals set out in the agency's 2021 – 2027 operational strategy. The operational strategy has been approved by the Minister of Agriculture, and all leading staff of the service participated in its development. For the coming years, the State Forest Service has set priorities of creating an excellent client experience when receiving services, strengthening the service's capacity by improving process and resource management, and promoting staff professionalism and motivation.