2016

Latvia Wins in the Biggest European Forest Industry Youth Contest

Already the sixth year in a row, the most knowledgeable youth from Europe will meet at the international contest “Young People in European Forests” to find out not only the sharpest country representatives but also to gain new experience and friends. This autumn, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” had the honor to hold the contest in Latvia, maybe this was the reason to buck up the local participants and show excellent knowledge both in theoretical questions about the European forests and in the creative presentation about the interaction between forest and people.

Although from each country – Austria, Portugal, Romania, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Slovenia, Germany, and Latvia – participated three youngsters – the national contest winners competed in mixed teams to promote communication between youth. Latvia was represented by students from Mammadaba Embassy schools – Jelgava Spīdola Gymnasium and Ogre State Technical College, who won the competition within the school.

In the competition between 12 European countries, Kristīne Krastiņa representing Jelgavas Spīdoka Gymnasium together in a team with students from Germany and Hungary took the first place and received skateboard “Lokalboards” made in Latvia, besides Mārtiņš Robežnieks from the same school in a team with students from Lithuania and Romania got the second place.

In the final opening, participants were addressed by Jānis Dūklavs, the Minister of Agriculture: “Did you know that in Latvia’s State Forests Nature Park Tērvete grows the highest pines in Latvia? Besides, you can explore the forest not only from the ecological and economical aspect but also from the cultural! All these aspects ensure sustainable development and in the future, they will take a progressive role, for that reason I hope that thanks to this day and contest, all you will be wiser sustainable development messengers in European forests”.

This year’s contest final that took place in Latvia from 28th till 30th of September, consisted of two parts – active and creative. In the active part, the participants had to find 45 checkpoints in the LVM Nature Park Tērvete, where they had to show their knowledge and skills about the European forests. One of the checkpoints was located on the new wooden bridge in Tērvete, and the task was to recognize things that were produced from wood. Whereas, in the Dwarf Forest playground, they had to recognize by touch what kind of wood products are in the box – woodchips, peat, pellets, and other, however in the Witch Pine Forest, the participants had to find the answers to Latvian folk puzzles and sayings.

In the creative part of the contest, the participants had to show the poster – a story about “The Relationship Between Forest and Human” and including one of 12 random objects, for example, “Husqvarna” helmet, an instrument for measuring the stand basal area, bubble blower, mushroom basket, etc.

  Open gallery 

The award ceremony of “Young People in European Forests” winners took place in LVM Jaunmoku Castle, and Dagnis Dubrovskis, the dean of Latvia University of Agriculture Forest Faculty attended the ceremony. The contest jury was international and it represented 12 different countries – each state’s national forest industry representatives. Latvian folk dance group performance was prepared as a special surprise for the participants.

“Young People in European Forests” is the biggest contest for youth about forest and forestry in Europe that happened for the sixth time. The contest will continue next year in the forests of Hungary.