The Progressives oppose amendments to forest logging regulations that are due to be considered by the government on Tuesday, the 18th of August, arguing that the changes would allow forests to be logged earlier and more extensively.
According to the agenda of the Cabinet of Ministers meeting, the government will on Tuesday consider amendments prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture to the regulations governing tree felling in forests, as well as amendments to the regulations on forest inventory and the circulation of information in the State Forest Register.
The ministry states that the aim of the amendments is to reduce the administrative burden in the forestry sector by ensuring that requirements laid down in legislation for accessing public administration services can be fulfilled more quickly, conveniently and easily.
The Ministry of Agriculture proposes that, in future, data from the State Forest Register be used to determine the average tree diameter for final felling if the forest inventory was carried out after the 31st of December, 2025. In forest stands where the inventory was conducted earlier, as well as in disputed cases, the diameter would continue to be determined using the measurement methods currently prescribed.
The amendments also provide for simplifying the procedure for classifying forest stands as unproductive
by making greater use of data from the State Forest Register. They would also allow aspen stands aged between 31 and 40 years to be classified as unproductive if signs of heart rot are detected.
The amendments would also establish an allowable deviation in the average tree diameter of plus or minus 10%, or no more than two centimetres.
The Progressives argue that, under the stated objectives of tackling timber pests and reducing bureaucracy, several important provisions have also been changed in ways that would allow forests to be logged earlier and more extensively.
According to the Progressives, the Ministry of Agriculture initially submitted the amendments for consideration at the government meeting on the 11th of August, but their consideration was postponed for a week.
The party notes that environmental organisations have objected to the proposed changes.
The party says the changes are being pursued despite a 2024 ruling by Latvia’s Constitutional Court stating that any significant changes concerning forest logging may only be advanced after the forestry sector policy guidelines have undergone public consultation and been approved. Several of the proposed changes would allow younger forests to be logged more extensively, the party argues.
“The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and the Ministry of Agriculture were counting the hours until the Progressives were no longer in government so that they could once again push through unlawful decisions in the forestry sector. They are also continuing the tradition of advancing such decisions during the summer holiday period – in order to avoid public involvement in the decision-making process as much as possible,” said Andris Šuvajevs, chairman of the Progressives’ parliamentary group.
The Progressives are calling for any further changes in the forestry sector to be suspended at least until the Forest and Related Sectors Development Guidelines have been approved.
As previously reported,
several organisations have submitted objections to the Ministry of Agriculture’s proposed amendments
to the regulations on tree felling in forests, as well as to the amendments concerning forest inventory and the circulation of information in the State Forest Register.
Objections to the amendments concerning tree felling have been submitted by the environmental organisation Green Liberty, the Latvian Fund for Nature, the Latvian Ornithological Society, WWF Latvia, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development.
Objections to the amendments concerning forest inventory and the circulation of information in the State Forest Register have been submitted by forest inventory service provider Silvasert, the Latvian Association of Wood Quality Experts, the Association of Forest Inventory Professionals, Green Liberty, the Latvian Fund for Nature, the Latvian Ornithological Society, WWF Latvia, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, and the State Chancellery.
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