Nature versus economy — this week on the TV3 discussion program “Spēles noteikumi” (Rules of the Game), the topic of whether we are cutting down too many forests in Latvia is being discussed. Proposed amendments by the Ministry of Agriculture that would allow for broader clear-cutting and reduce environmental protection requirements have sparked sharp debates between representatives of the forestry industry and environmental organizations.
“It should be remembered that half of the forests belong to the state, which means that the owners of the forest are us! But here, somehow, the opinion of the public is not taken into account, and the Ministry of Agriculture, together with Latvijas Valsts meži (Latvian State Forests), is figuring out how to cut down trees. And it is not visible that the State Forests are developing forest management without clear-cutting. I wouldn’t particularly rely on the common sense of this agency,” said Viesturs Kerus, a board member of the Latvian Ornithological Society, ornithologist, and writer.
The expert continued: “When it comes to private owners, most of them do not agree that the cutting age should be reduced. Such owners can be relied upon. But large plots belong to companies that are focused on timber production rather than forest management. There is constant propaganda for clear-cutting from the industry. If you don’t cut down, the ‘greens’ will come, impose restrictions, so — cut, cut.”
The director of the World Wildlife Fund, Janis Rozitis, noted that there are more than 100,000 forest owners in Latvia, and not all of them are “professionals.”
During the discussion, there were complaints that forest owners are not sufficiently trained in climate- and nature-friendly forest management. However, this is not agreed upon by the head of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Aris Jansons.
“Owners undergo training; we invest in their education,” Jansons said.
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