2016

Spring season reforestation works are coming to an end

The reforestation works to be carried out in the spring season in the areas managed by JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) are now almost completed by planting more than 20 million high-quality tree seedlings. Dace Ozola, LVM Head of Forest Regeneration and Tending, says that the remaining forest restoration works are scheduled to be completed in early June.

High quality reforestation with tree species suitable for each specific clearing is a key prerequisite for cultivation of a productive and environmentally sustainable forest. Upon planning reforestation by type of restoration, by renewable species and deadlines for renewal works, also the decision is made on seamless renewal felling (clear felling) in the respective stand.

For forest restoration, both container plants and bare root plants with an improved root system are used; they are grown in „LVM Sēklas un stādi” (LVM Seeds and Plants) nurseries from the seeds obtained in plantations. Timely planning allows nurseries to grow the necessary species of seedlings in the required amount.

Mainly the young tree seedlings will be planted in clearings - in the areas where timber has been harvested. However, in small amounts they will be planted also in the areas where it is necessary to supplement the plantings of the previous year, which have suffered from frost, diseases, damage caused by insects or even-toed ungulates, as well as in forest areas, which are not naturally fully recovered. When supplementing the areas with new seedlings, it should be taken into account that time and additional seedlings will be needed for reforestation. In some regions of Latvia the damage done by even-toed ungulates this year is much greater than in other years.

By 23 May, close to 7.1 thousand hectares of forest have been restored, planting the following tree species: 3.8 thousand hectares of pines, 2.7 thousand hectares of spruce, 476 hectares of birch trees, 59 hectares of oaks and black alders. The major planting works are carried out in the spring months.

"Mostly pines and spruces are planted in the Latvian forests. Historically it has turned out that the state mostly manages coniferous forests. Much work has been done in terms of selection of these species - they grow faster and give a greater standing timber increase per hectare. Since birch trees are naturally very well restored, they are planted in the Latvian state forests in smaller amounts. However, not all areas are restored with seedlings grown in nurseries; there is a number of areas in the state forests that are left for natural regeneration," says Dace Ozola.

Thanks to the favourable weather conditions and the hard work done by our regional employees, to timely enter into contracts for forest planting and manage the execution of these contracts, reforestation works in the regions are coming to an end. The remaining works will be continued in autumn. Follow the planting progress using the "tree counter" available on the http://www.lvm.lv/en/ homepage.