Latvia: Sustainability Updates No.8

Latvian Nature Fund Launches Campaign 'Let's Make Meadows Together!

The Latvian Nature Fund has prepared a list of plants whose seeds will be collected this summer, which is available on the fund's website.

Latvian Nature Fund has launched the campaign "Let's Make Meadows Together!" to engage residents in collecting wild plant seeds during the summer. The aim is to enrich urban lawns and restore natural meadows, addressing the decline of Latvia's meadows, which now cover only 0.9% of the country's territory. Participants will explore areas and mark locations where meadow plants grow.

Seed collection will take place from June to September, and collected seeds will be delivered to the Latvian Nature Fund. The campaign includes workshops, a meadow festival in August, and gratitude awards for seed contributors. The initiative is part of the project "Strengthening the Latvian Civil Society for the Implementation of the EU Green Deal and the Biodiversity Strategy" (LFN4GD), supported by the EU LIFE program. ldf.lv

Campaign participants collect and package the seeds gathered during the campaign in a single box. Until September 15, they are requested to deliver/send the seeds to the Latvian Nature Fund.

Birch bough-decorated houses are an essential part of Midsummer celebrations in Latvia

• Each resident can cut no more than 5 boughs in state-managed forests free of charge.
• It is allowed to cut boughs on forest edges, trails, ditch edges, under power lines, and in mature forests under large trees.
• Birch boughs should be cut along with the ground.
• It is strictly prohibited to cut birch boughs in young stands, except for pine seedlings where birch trees that suppress the growth of pine can be cut.

Latvian company "Not Hot Environmental Solutions" promotes planting birch trees instead of cutting them down during Midsummer celebrations. Birch trees are essential for the country's landscape and contribute to ecological cleanliness by purifying the air and absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). By planting trees, individuals and businesses can offset their CO2 emissions and become carbon-neutral. The company owns eight birch plantations in Latvia, totaling 57,770 trees, which will offset 12,175.25 tonnes of CO2 over a 40-year period. It is recommended to reconsider traditions and opt for tree planting instead of cutting birch boughs. Cutting restrictions include limiting residents to five boughs and avoiding cutting birch boughs in young stands. www.tvnet.lv

Introduction of Daily Passenger Train Services from Riga to Liepaja (to be discussed)

"At present, trains to Liepaja run only twice a week, and they are often so crowded that passengers have to stand. The residents of Liepaja and city guests deserve comfortable trips and good connectivity. The trains will operate in a way that people can travel to Riga in the morning and return to Liepaja in the evening. The residents of Skrunda, Saldus, Dobele, and nearby districts will also benefit," said J. Vitenbergs.

Taking into account the demand from the public, the Minister of Transport, Jānis Vitenbergs, has instructed to start passenger train services from Riga to Liepaja and vice versa every day. This issue is planned to be discussed and approved on July 14th at the Public Transport Council, with the expectation that the new services will start operating in the coming months.

According to the company "Pasa?ieru vilciens," the trips could be carried out by three-car diesel trains with 210 seating places.

Compared to other forms of transportation, such as cars or airplanes, trains have a lower carbon footprint and contribute less to air pollution. They are generally more energy-efficient, especially when operated by modern electric or diesel-electric engines.