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The Construction Works on the Seedling Sorting and Processing Complex of the LVM Mežvidi Nursery are Underway

As the construction works of the seedling sorting and processing complex of the new LVM tree nursery “Mežvidi” in Jaunkalsnava Municipality continue, the ridgepole celebration was held on 12 April. Representatives of JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM), builder SIA “Selva Būve” and Madona Municipality Council took part in the event.

“It is a pleasure to see the progress of the ongoing works. With the completion of the construction of the Mežvidi Nursery complex, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” will stabilize its position as the largest producer of seedlings in the Baltic States. The investments made in the construction and development of LVM nurseries in general until 2027 will allow to increase the number of tree seedlings grown by 21 % or 11.9 million, reaching the total amount – 68 million seedlings per year. Moreover, the Mežvidi Nursery is an excellent example not only of functional wooden construction, but also of the fact that the forest seedlings growing here will in the future become high-value materials for the implementation of nature-friendly and innovative solutions,” Pēters Putniņš, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Latvia's State Forests”, addressed the audience.

“This facility is very important for us: assembling wooden structures by embedding 30-metre continuous wooden beams is an unprecedented experience. About 600 m3 of wood were used in these structures. There are no construction restrictions on the length of continuous wooden beams, the only challenge is the production and transportation of such structures. This facility is a confirmation that the possibilities of using wood are endless. At the moment, the works are going according to plan and we will definitely meet at the opening of the facility before Christmas,” Rolands Orlovskis, Chairman of the Board of SIA “Selva Būve”, commented on the construction progress.

It is planned to build a seedling sorting and processing complex building with an area of 8 000 square metres in the facility, which will house production facilities, seedling freezers, and the nursery's administrative premises. The planned works also include a storage warehouse for equipment with an area of 500 square metres, construction of utility networks and improvement of the area of 2.8 hectares.

“After the completion of the construction, it is planned to install the latest generation alternative treatment line for seedlings in the Mežvidi Nursery, which will ensure the protection of the seedlings against the damage caused by the large pine weevil. At the time of installation, the solution for this processing line will be the latest available: the equipment will work faster, with more power and at the same time will be more energy efficient, thus allowing us to save resources. In 2024, the total capacity of seedlings to be grown at the Mežvidi Nursery will be 15 million seedlings per year, which is approximately twice as much as now,” said Māris Druvaskalns, Director of LVM Sēklas un stādi, about the upcoming process of growing seedlings.

In the spring of 2022, the first pine tree seedlings grown in the Mežvidi Nursery were sold in the amount of 3.2 million, while this year it is planned to sell already 9.6 million pine and spruce tree seedlings. It is expected that the Mežvidi Nursery will reach its full production capacity – 15 million seedlings per year – in 2026.

Seedlings are available to anyone interested

Up until now, the sale of pine and spruce seedlings took place within the framework of long-term contracts; however, this spring, any forest owner who wishes to restore their forest can visit LVM tree nurseries and purchase the necessary number of seedlings without any prior reservation or signing a contract.

In 2023, LVM tree nurseries plan to sell 61.9 million seedlings, and this is currently the largest offer for the Latvian private market to grow the highest quality forest stand from selected material.