"Logging that greets you immediately upon entering some cities and towns even affects the psychological state of residents."
Starting January 1, 2026, amendments to the Law on Special Conditions of Land Use will come into effect in Lithuania, adopted by the Seimas and initiated by Linas Jonauskas, a member of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party faction in the Seimas and chairman of the Seimas Committee on Environmental Protection. These amendments will restrict clear-cutting of large forest areas near the borders of cities and towns.
The law, which will take effect in the new year, will no longer permit clear-cutting of primary forests within 100 meters from the borders of cities and towns.
When conducting selective or arbitrary logging of primary forests, such logging will only be possible if the average height of trees in the restored forest on the logged area is at least 2.5 meters, according to a press release from Linas Jonauskas.
According to L. Jonauskas, such amendments to the law will not only prevent drastic changes to the landscape of cities and towns but will also contribute to national security.
"Logging that greets you immediately upon entering some cities and towns even affects the psychological state of residents. Not to mention that clear-cutting significantly alters forest ecosystems or the landscape of the forest," said the member of the Seimas.
The chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection also emphasized the positive benefits of such a law for national defense.
"The ban on clear-cutting forests within 100 meters from the borders of cities and towns will not only preserve forest areas for recreation but also maintain a natural barrier that protects the entrances to cities and towns for defensive purposes. Some cities are already considering implementing countermeasures such as 'hedgehogs', checkpoints, 'dragon's teeth', cables, barbed wire, thorny barriers, or beams to enhance the protection of city entrances and complicate the movement of potential adversaries. Forests in Lithuania have long served as a natural barrier, helping to halt the movement of the enemy," believes L. Jonauskas.
The new edition of the Law on Special Conditions of Land Use will also prohibit clear-cutting of forests and logging of plantations on non-forest lands within 100 meters in both directions from the road edges near state primary and regional highways starting in 2026. An exception may apply only for the removal of dead trees, trees damaged by diseases and pests, and trees posing a danger to road safety and power lines.
Logging is also restricted along the Russian-Belarusian border. From 2026, clear-cutting of primary forests covering more than 1.5 hectares will be prohibited in areas located 20 kilometers inland from the Lithuanian territory near the Russian (Kaliningrad region) and Belarusian borders.
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