2015

JSC “Latvian State Forests” receives award for facilitating accessibilty to environment

JSC “Latvian State Forests” (LVM) has received the “Atbildīga attieksme” (Responsible Attitude) Award from the organization “Apeirons” for making the environment more accessible in establishing recreation areas, boat docks, and tourist sights.

“We want to prove that making the environment more accessible is not an extra, but a necessity. It is important for 80 percent of the population – not only those with disabilities, but also for senior citizens and mothers with baby carriages –, and it significantly influences their everyday life,” points out Ivars Balodis, the head of “Apeirons”. After inspecting more than 20,000 entities in all of Latvia, “Apeirons” held an award ceremony with seven nominations for contributions in a specific field – facilitation of access to the environment.

“One of the tasks of our company is to balance societal, environmental, and economic needs. In collaboration with “Apeirons” and other organizations, we invite everyone to observe and evaluate our sights so that we can hear feedback on how to improve environmental accessibility. It is a way to achieve better results,” says Tomass  Kotovičs, the head of LVM Communications Department. Normunds Namnieks, project manager at “LVM Rekreācija un medības” (LVM Recreation and Hunting), expressed appreciation at the acclaim during the award ceremony, and stressed the company's responsible stance on social issues, focusing on people as the main value.

LVM Nature Park in Tērvete values the availability of the information center, as well as visitors' ability to “reach” a number of the park's trails. Furthermore, the newly-established bridge – laboratory was designed, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities. Meanwhile, LVM Pokaiņi Forest offers an information center and a number of forest trails. LVM Kalsnava Arboretum is currently building a new information center, which will be suitable for people with disabilities. The arboretum's territory and current information center is designed in a way to allow anyone to move around it – including mothers with baby carriages and people in wheelchairs. Meanwhile, Skrīveri Dendrological Park brings you uninterrupted recreation and lessons about foreign tree plantations while treading the park's trails.

LVM recreation areas that offer vacation opportunities and shelter for the night – at “Ezernieki” and “Spāre”, as well as in LVM Jaunmoku Palace –, have specially-designed suites, bathrooms, and shower stalls designed for those with disabilities. LVM lakes and the adjacent boat docks at Tērvete Reservoir, Zebrus Lake or Kaņieris Lake offer an opportunity to relax by taking a boat ride.

Forest is a place for walks, active recreation, mushroom hunting, berry picking, and other activities. The company carries out forest management in 5 percent of said territories in order to provide these recreation opportunities. The company has also created more than 350 free recreation areas for Latvian residents, at the same time implementing environmental availability for every holidaymaker to the best of the company's ability.