The State Forest Service was established 30 years ago, on 3 August 1993, by an order of the Cabinet of Ministers. To mark the occasion, look back at achievements and outline development prospects, the service is organising a conference entitled “Challenges for the Development of the State Forest Service” on 4 August this year at the LBTU Faculty of Forestry in Jelgava.
Over its 30 years of operation, the State Forest Service has ensured the sustainable management of forests and forest lands, thereby ensuring that forest areas do not decrease, that the value of forest land increases, and making a contribution to the national economy of Latvia.
Throughout the service’s history, there have been significant changes to its structure, functions and tasks, the technologies used, and the technical equipment and professional qualifications of its staff. The service continues to develop while simultaneously facing challenges determined by general trends in public administration and forest policy development in Latvia, the European Union, and globally. The conference will cover the growth of the service, aspects of cooperation, and the development of the State Forest Register—a national information system maintained by the service—including a customer portal that will allow forest owners, hunters, and forest inventory surveyors to use the State Forest Service’s services more conveniently.
In this anniversary year, Arvīds Ozols, Director General of the State Forest Service, identifies three main directions for future development: the optimisation of the service’s internal structure, functions, and resources; the development of the forest fire protection system; and the advancement of digital solutions. “In recent years, the service has consistently moved towards digital document circulation. We have developed the State Forest Register and are currently working on creating a customer-friendly and intuitive customer portal, while simultaneously continuously improving the system’s functionality for the service’s staff themselves,” informs A. Ozols.
https://www.vmd.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/valsts-meza-dienestam-30-gadi