2021

Work Done in 2020: More than 28 Million Trees have been Planted in Latvia's State Forests

In 2020, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) regenerated state forests in an area of 10.7 thousand hectares, by planting 28.5 million young trees, which is almost 16 trees per each inhabitant of Latvia. A total of 16.1 thousand hectares of state forests were restored last year. In order to ensure favourable conditions for the growth of high-quality and healthy forest, a range of different forest maintenance works are performed.

Last year, 62 000 hectares of young stands were tended in the territory managed by LVM, of which agrotechnical tending or removal of herbaceous plants and half-shrubs around the trees of the target species was performed in an area of 30.7 thousand hectares and tending of young forest stands in an area of 31.3 thousand hectares.

The scope of damage caused by ungulates to young stands is also increasing every year, therefore LVM takes measures to protect young trees. Last year, the protection of young tree buds in the restored areas was carried out in 18 thousand hectares, and the protection of trunks of young stands – in an area of 4.4 thousand hectares.

21 years have passed since the establishment of LVM; during these years, sustainable forest management has been implemented in 1.63 million hectares of state forest land, of which 1.41 million hectares are forest. During this time, reforestation has been carried out in an area of 242 thousand hectares.

LVM economic activities are performed by maintaining and recovering forests, taking care of nature conservation, recreation opportunities and increasing timber volumes, as well as investing in expanding forestland and developing forest infrastructure – renovation of drainage systems and forest road construction.