2016

Green initiative: to explore and restore the Forest

Foto: Edgars Gļaņenko

Forest Days have become an important part of the spring activities, gathering and educating everyone interested on the importance of sustainable forest management. Next to the extensive programme of the Forest Days activities for school students and teachers, JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) also offers corporate teams an opportunity to head to the forest and explore it together with experienced LVM specialists. Last weekend, employees of the international company "DNV GL" together with their families and children went to Skaistkalne forests to learn how the state forest property is managed, to get some simple tips how to get one's bearings in a forest, as well as to restore a forest area, which last year was destroyed in a heavy windfall. Going to the forest was the "green initiative" of the company's strategy.

"We are very happy about the opportunity to see how the company which is responsible for our national forest areas works, and thanks to skilful and sustainable forest management, directly and indirectly gives a job to 140 thousand people in Latvia. We were not only kindly welcomed and hosted, all day long the knowledgeable and experienced LVM experts answered our questions, and, more over, we were given a wonderful opportunity to plant small pine trees for future forest. It was an exciting activity for all forest friends, big or small, young or old, especially for those who in their daily life are more used to the city's hustle and bustle," says Daiga Vekmane, Head of the company's Riga Maritime Office, looking back at the events of that day.

Foto: Edgars Gļaņenko

Two active forest walks

The Forest Day began with a walk in the woods, learning about such LVM infrastructure facilities as water points, ditches and paths which are created for safety purposes and which are very important for good forest management. Participants successfully identified tree species in a given forest area. "They were given a task to recognise eight species of trees, and they almost succeeded. Trees are still bare; therefore it was not an easy task, especially with the rowan. But the result is really good," says Kaspars Riže, LVM Senior Forest Expert, who not only takes an active part in the organisation of the Forest Days events, but also guides educational tours for both  - curious school students and motivated teachers, as well as for others interested.

While parents were busy guessing the number of tree species, the youth were given a task to find three flowers; it was not an easy thing to do, given that it was early spring. "I thought that there were no flowers in the forest to be found at this time of the year, but the kids were so excited, they were running along the forest paths, and came back with some very beautiful findings. You just have to take a closer look at nature - it is all there," says Daiga Vekmane.

To determine the age of pine trees, measuring by the number of whorls, to estimate the age of growing trees with a Presler's auger, and to calculate a distance - these were just a few of the tasks prepared by the LVM experts, to be solved in the forest exploration event.

In the forest one cannot ignore the animals whose traces can be seen nearly anywhere. "We managed to find traces of almost all the even-toed ungulates: the roe, deer, wild boar, and elk," notes Kaspars Riže. The presence of animals may also be seen in the young stands, where forest animals like to feed. If a bud of a young tree is bitten off, or its trunk is damaged, further growth of the tree is endangered, and it dies. Therefore the young tree tops and lateral branches are treated with special plant protection products.

"Not everyone will go to such places as coastal caves or sand quarry. The LVM Senior Forest Expert took us along the forest trails, and told so many interesting things, dispelling a number of myths about forest management. For example, one of such misconceptions was that trees and branches are left in clear fellings accidentally, when in fact they are there with a purpose - they serve as home and nutrients for living creatures and new trees to be planted," says Daiga Vekmane, who often goes to forest for peace and tranquillity.

To ensure the best possible growing conditions for trees, the forest is taken care of on a regular basis - first by removing shrub and herbaceous competitors, and later - growth retarded trees. The participants of the Forest Days events had an opportunity to have a look at a forest stand, which had been intensively cultivated for 32 years, and was growing with straight and strong stems, reaching a greater trunk girth as compared to a nearly twice as old forest stand, which had not experienced such an intense cultivation.

Foto: Edgars Gļaņenko

Breathing in plenty of fresh air

Forest restoration works took place in the territory, which was destroyed by last year's strong windfall. In the area of almost 0.2 hectares 20 enthusiastic planters of the new forest planted high-quality pine container seedlings, grown in the LVM nursery. "Planting of a new forest gives a very special feeling. Our team would be happy to return to this place after five years, to see how our forest is growing. The result here is not to be seen immediately, there will still be a plenty of challenges for the trees to overcome; but we are very happy and proud of the work done, of this new forest area. We were doing the best we could, and we hope that the trees will be doing fine," says Daiga Vekmane.

A growing forest is a provider of fresh air. The clean air produced by the Latvian forests would be enough for 30 million people all over the world. With skilful use of wood products, a growing site for new trees is ensured, and they are able to produce oxygen much quicker. All participants agreed that the day spent in the forest was very successful and rewarding.

Foto: Edgars Gļaņenko

At the end of the day after the active forest planting activities, the participants went to see the nearby coastal caves. Here they could have a look at different nest boxes. "The greatest danger to nest boxes is not imposed by animals, but rather than by a human being who is too eager to set up, check and clean the nest boxes in an inappropriate time," says the forest expert.

The interest about the forest and forestry does not end with the educational and forest panting event. The representatives of the company were interested to see how seeds are obtained from cones, how they are sown, and how the new forest seedlings are schooled in the LVM tree nurseries.

See you in the forest!