2019

LVM Hosts a Training Seminar for Tenants of Peat Extraction Areas

In assessing the need to improve mutual cooperation, fire safety and environmental compliance in day-to-day work in peat extraction areas, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) organised a training seminar for its long-term cooperation partners - tenants of peat extraction areas.  

“We first introduced the cooperation partners with the results of the survey of the leased areas in 2018, the violations found, the experience gained during the survey and the planned changes in the lease agreements in the field of fire safety,” says Kristīne Kiršbauma, LVM Senior Lease Specialist.

The seminar was attended by 28 partner companies for the acquisition of peat land. During the further training process, Edmunds Nastajs, LVM Labour Protection Manager, encouraged the partners to pay more attention to the environmental, labour and fire safety requirements that must be observed in the extraction of milled peat and sod peat, as well as in the course of loading. Hosts showed examples of violations, indicating the risks that the workers may face.

In turn, Edijs Leišavnieks, LVM Forest Protection and Fire Safety Manager, informed those present about the LVM criteria for the establishment of water abstraction sites and the options for using water abstraction facilities. An evaluation of the external boundaries of the leased areas was provided and options for action were proposed in cases where the extension of the lanes and overgrowth were necessary for the management of the lease area.

At the end of the training seminar, the participants discussed mutual cooperation in the field of fire safety to be implemented in the near future, the topicalities of normative acts in extending the term of land lease agreements, as well as the aspects of the recultivation of the developed areas. They also shared their opinions about the procedure of granting new lease areas.

The seminar was held in a positive, mutually interested atmosphere, and LVM cooperation partners made recommendations for improving the management of lease areas, and shared positive feedback on the learning process as a whole, agreeing to organize a joint training in 2020 as well. LVM expresses its gratitude for cooperation, wishing good weather conditions for peat extraction!