2016

Jaunjelgava and 60 Other Latvian Local Governments Join Pigman's Wooden Manifesto

On 2 September, a regular meeting of the the Association of Executive Directors of Latvian Local Governments was held in Jaunjelgava. Kristaps Klauss, Executive Director of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation, presented the latest trends in the timber industry and in the use of wooden constructions, while Pigman (Cūkmens), our nature friend and patron of clean forests, continued the discussion with Latvian local governments started this summer and presented his wooden manifesto to Guntis Libeks, Chairman of Jaunjelgava Municipality Council. Together with Jaunjelgava, 60 other Latvian local governments joined the wooden manifesto that promotes the value of wood and encourages people to honour wood as the best material in daily life, as well as in construction.  

By signing this manifesto, the Mayor of Jaunjelgava Municipality undertook to continue the work started by Pigman - to praise wood as the best material that is used in the living space.

"Wood has been honoured and highly valued in Jaunjelgava already for a very, very long time. Jaunjelgava has a long history, which is reflected in its wooden architecture. The List of State-protected Cultural Monuments includes the historic centre of Jaunjelgava, which is made of wood. It is a responsible and challenging task - to preserve wooden buildings in urban settings. Therefore, also this summer we decorated Jaunjelgava town centre with wooden sculptures, such as the Duke's Chair, which pleases locals and visitors, as well as recalls the historical events. Jaunjelgava Municipality Vīgante Nature Park hosts sculptures dedicated to the characters of the famous Latvian children's book "The Children of Staburags". Also, younger generations are educated on forest-related issues. School students take part in the Forest Days organised by JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM), as well as are involved in the 4H organisation" says Guntis Libeks, Chairman of Jaunjelgava Municipality Council.

With the development of the timber industry and the production of more technologically complex and expensive (in monetary terms) timber products, also the value of the Latvian "green gold" is growing every year. Kristaps Klauss points out that since 2000 the forest sector export value has increased three times, and it keeps growing. The expert also gave recommendations on how to promote the use of wood in construction.

As the results of a survey conducted on the family portal mammamuntetiem.lv show, 65.2 % of the respondents would like have more wood in their living space - from building materials to furniture for home furnishings and children's toys. Parents would be very happy, if local governments chose wood, an ecological and healthy material, for renovation and construction of educational institutions where children spend most of the day.

  Open gallery 

This summer, Pigman with his Pigman's Wood Enthusiast Workshop visited five cities in Latvia: Jelgava, Rēzekne, Liepāja, Valmiera and Riga, teaching to appreciate wood, to take care of it and use it properly. The cities, visited by Pigman, received a special wooden manifesto. By signing this manifesto, its recipients promised to promote, love and respect wood as the best and most valuable natural resource in Latvia. Each visitor of the wood-enthusiast workshop had an opportunity to get to know the good qualities of wood, by creating wooden toys, playing board games and watching the short film "Wood - a Healthy Material".