Interview with Jānis Eglīts, Head of the Office of the Minister of Agriculture
Even during the Covid crisis, the dissemination of simplistic and false texts about sectors that are crucial to the Latvian economy (and therefore, society) has not abated…
If we forget about the events surrounding Covid for a moment, an important and current issue is the attitude towards those who manage Latvian land – farmers, foresters, and peat producers! An attitude that, unfortunately, is also being formed by long-standing and misleading information about the so-called "green lifestyle" and the spread of such information. There is a range of non-governmental organizations that actively use false information to promote their "pseudo-values". In Latvia, there are many lies and inaccuracies regarding forests, which hinder work, because a forester (and a farmer) should be working in the forest (and on the field), not on social media!
If we look at history, for centuries and decades, the Latvian way of life and rhythm of life have been inextricably linked with nature! We have always been ahead of others in our land management skills. By the way, we can talk not only about working the land but also about the sea (fisheries), for Krišjānis Valdemārs urged: "Latvians! Set sail to the sea!" Let us remember our first nautical school in Ainaži. Both historically and today, there have been great farmers, great foresters, and great sailors!
At present, there are visible attempts to distort these traditions and experiences, moving towards a foreign style of living and understanding that is actively promoted in countries with serious environmental problems!! Moreover, if we speak about problems, many are caused by climatic conditions; for instance, forests in Central Europe, Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and the European islands differ greatly (in some places, they do not exist at all!).
In terms of pesticide use, we are the country that uses the fewest pesticides! Despite this, the use of pesticides is mentioned and circulated as a huge shame!
When it comes to forestry, we hear texts and theses about nature, birds, animals, moss, and mushrooms, but… in this story, the human being has completely disappeared! Whether you like it or not, the forest as we know and recognize it in Latvia has been formed, preserved, and renewed with the direct involvement of humans! Without maintenance and purposeful work, the forest will not be the "known, familiar, and customary forest" we have! The trend of "forgetting the person" is very dangerous. Moreover, as we can see, even in serious media outlets that emphasize the accuracy and correctness of information, articles and information appear that are completely false! Because often it is enough to mention an incorrect figure or point to a non-existent problem in a text for the impression of what is being described to change drastically!
For example, at the recent (April 29) meeting of the Saeima Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee, Jānis Rozītis, a representative of the World Wide Fund for Nature in Latvia, proposed creating "reserve territories for protected areas". What does that mean? It means a call to double the areas where "nothing happens"! The territories would somehow count and somehow not – they are managed forests and at the same time are not… I want to compare this to a proposal for married couples to introduce a reserve spouse! If something suddenly happens (hopefully it won't), there is a reserve! Both, and… Many, logically, will not understand my comparison; foresters and industry professionals, meanwhile, do not understand the idea of "reserve territories". Besides, what is their purpose?
These (and not only these) are issues on which public opinion is quite blurred and unclear! If we look into social media, a large part of the "forest defenders" (it is not clearly defined who they are!) have not been in a forest for the last five years or more! Yes, exactly – they have not been in the forest – yet they are actively judging what is happening there! The problem lies in making statements without knowledge! It would be premature to call them views!
Over time, anger has "accumulated", and when reading how foresters are being fooled and how part of the public is being deceived, it becomes strange…
The forest industry representatives I know, who work in their family forests, say: "We want to look after our properties!" Properties have various meanings and values, one of which is economic! To restrict the rights of a master (owner) to act on their property, without specific justification or clear objectives, based on the idea that "something protectable might be there or arrive there"… That is very, very wrong! That is skewed!
The owner also wants to maintain their forest in accordance with high environmental quality! When managing a forest, not only material values are preserved, but also environmental (natural) values! I see a problem in the situation where, by speaking or writing false slogans that seem or sound popular to some, we might lose what is essential! We must not forget that birds and animals live in forests that have been tended and cared for! Therefore!
On experts. A year ago, we addressed the use of the word "expert". Forest scientists are often replaced by those who talk about the forest, but for whom forest science is a closed book…
I have been thinking about this question (regarding experts) for quite some time! The beginnings of these thoughts were around 2009, during the financial crisis of that time, when almost everyone who wasn't lazy commented on and explained the financial situation in Latvia and the steps or paths that should be taken to resolve the situation! Often, these "explanations" were not based on data or information: a person would talk about "something" and call themselves (or be called by others) an "expert"! That is a huge problem that is spreading! Moreover, it should be noted that there is a part of society that does not dispute or check what an "expert" says.
Some of our fellow citizens live in certain information "bubbles". By that, I mean the problem is not just local – on a Latvian scale! Social media has made this "bubble" principle much more targeted! It happens that we do not receive information that does not fit or fall within our "bubble". It must be sought out! It does not "come to us"! A social media user, an educated person, follows someone who knows how to express themselves (speak, write) and who has had a rather good public image created for them. That would be understandable, but often the "follower" does not think about what ideas or "background" this "good speaker" has! What is their goal? Step by step, such a character with many followers is already calling themselves an expert! How to change that? I have no ideas, but the trend is very dangerous! This has, by the way, also been proven by the current time, when quite a few "know-it-alls, experts" are talking about Covid…
The situation I have described is not new; there is statistics: quite a few people who have not been in a forest in the last five years or more are actively defending "forest interests" on social media. Such "defenders" are formed thanks to "experts" because only a one-sided, narrow message is known – one piece of information, and the person does not reach or get to another! Or – which is the worst – they do not want to know!
On the national economy. It will be a month or two since there has been louder talk about an obstacle to Latvia's development: "We need money and work – but in the neighbor's backyard!"
Here, people are guided by other motives: they want to live in the environment that is around them! Still, some (perhaps many) are "stuck" in Soviet times…
Often, someone thinks that "someone will take something and give it to me!" Entrepreneurs understand the situation best: "In order for something to come into being, you have to work!" Work is at the heart of many things! To get something, I have to work! For there to be jobs, there must be business! It does not happen otherwise! Business takes place in a specific location! In many places, residents, unfortunately, think: "There should be business! Of course! …but – in the next municipality or parish…"
Municipal leaders had long kept this as an axiom! If an idea needed to be "killed" (I speak from personal experience), it was submitted for public discussion, and people would "whistle down" quite successful plans! If a municipal leader, who should be thinking about economic growth, jobs, and people, thinks and acts like that… It is sad!
A local resident often does not think about development because, as I already mentioned, they believe that "someone somewhere will work and someone else will pay for something". That is not how it happens!
Good examples in Latvia! Cēsis, Valmiera, Smiltene
Yes, but… Local development is often linked to decisions that are very unpopular with the local community! If we talk about Smiltene, the municipality's growth happened during the time of the previous mayor, Gints Kukainis: Gints is young, with a different view on processes. Moreover, he acted in this political position with a specific goal – to accomplish certain tasks! Similar things are happening now that Gints is the head of ZAAO! He has specific things in his plans that need to be done!
By the way, now Smiltene's growth (development) is appreciated by the municipality's residents – it wasn't always like that! To get there, there were many unpopular decisions. For example, school reform! Latvia is a very interesting land, where in many places around 50% (somewhere 43%, somewhere 47%, somewhere 53%, etc.) of the municipal budget expenditure is made up of education! At the same time, teacher salaries are low. Moreover, there is a lack of money for investments in infrastructure, which is vitally necessary (it actually gives taxes to the state)! Deciding on the liquidation of a school is something municipal mayors often do not dare to do; they fear the public reaction – teachers, those are jobs, and they are voters, and voters' families… The choice – better to spend on a school than fix a road! The next step – they cannot attract an investor because… there are no roads, there are no other infrastructure objects! The wheel keeps turning!
Gints Kukainis in Smiltene started with school reform; funds were freed up, and they could get to work on infrastructure improvements!
Briefly about the Ministry of Agriculture's current work, if we are not talking about the virus!
Serious and time-consuming work is underway on the next European Union funding planning period, so that Latvian farmers and foresters can receive European money for development and be more competitive!
We are working so that forestry cooperatives can receive funding, so that the Covid crisis has the smallest possible impact on their operations!
To summarize – we are thinking and acting to deal with the crisis and develop further!