SUSTAINABILITY AND LAND MANAGEMENT RESOURCES:
COOPERATION IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND CHANGE
The 10th International Conference of the Latvian Forest Certification Council will place special emphasis on sustainability factors in the context of European environmental policy, drawing on the experience, opinions, and research of experts from the forestry and related sectors.
DATE: 30 October 2025
VENUE: Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences,
ADDRESS: 11 Akadēmijas Street, Jelgava, LV–3001
TIME: 9:00 – 16:15 (arrival and registration from 8:00)
ONLINE STREAM: zemeunvalsts.lv, db.lv, konferences.db.lv
WORKING LANGUAGES: Latvian and English (simultaneous translation will be provided for in-person participants)
PARTICIPATION: Free of charge, with prior registration
CONFERENCE TOPICS
Forest and land resources – their mobilisation and use in the current context
Sustainability of the forest and related sectors – scientific aspects and differing approaches
Land-use sectors and national security – experience and key conditions
Ensuring public competence in the use of natural resources – trends and solutions
Panel discussion topic:
How can Latvia’s land-use sectors adapt to new political and economic conditions?
Conference motto:
“Rebus sic stantibus” (a legal doctrine allowing for the modification or termination of an agreement due to fundamentally changed circumstances).
PARTICIPATION:
Free of charge, with prior registration [via the registration form below / on this page].
More information:
Santa Butāne
Project Manager
Dienas Bizness Publishing House
+371 26132470 | santa.butane@db.lv
The event is supported by the Forest Development Fund of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia.
08:00 – 09:00 Registration and Morning Coffee
09:00 – 09:20 Conference Opening
Dr. silv. Linards Sisenis, Vice-Rector for Finance, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Dr. sc. ing. Andris Paeglītis, Acting Dean, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
Māris Liopa, Chairman of the Latvian Forest Certification Council, Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture on Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Resources
SESSION 1
Forest and Land Resources – Mobilisation and Use in the Current Context
09:20 – 09:40 Assessment of the Development Potential of Latvia’s Forest Sector and a Billion for Security
Uldis Biķis, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, AS “Latvijas Finieris”
09:40 – 10:00 The Land Use Sector – Economic Growth and National Security
Uldis Ameriks, Chairman of the Board, SIA “Laflora”
10:00 – 10:20 The Key Condition for Wood Industry Development – Planning of Available Resource Volumes
Artūrs Bukonts, Executive Director, Latvian Forest Industry Federation
10:20 – 10:40 Wood Resource Reserves and Availability for Use in Latvia’s State Forests
Representative of AS “Latvijas valsts meži”
SESSION 2
Sustainability of Forestry and Related Sectors – Scientific Aspects and Diverse Approaches
10:40 – 11:00 Economic Assessment of the Balanced Development Potential of Latvia’s Forest Sector and Development Scenarios
M. Soc. Sc. Mārtiņš Danusēvičs, Lecturer, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Latvia
11:00 – 11:20 From Pixels to Pines: How Remote Sensing is Transforming Forestry (presentation in English)
Dr. Meelis Seedre, Head of Forest and Carbon Markets, KappaZeta
11:20 – 11:40 “Life is Salaca” – Harmonisation of the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive
Mg. sc. ing. Mārcis Saklaurs, Research Assistant, Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”
11:40 – 12:00 Scientific Aspects of Increasing the Availability of Forest Resources (topic to be confirmed)
Dr. hab. Mariusz Bembenek, Researcher, Poznań University of Life Sciences (Poland)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Break
SESSION 3
Sustainability of Forestry and Related Sectors – Scientific Aspects and Diverse Approaches
13:00 – 13:20 Latvia’s Forest Resources – The Basis of Economic Resilience in Times of Crisis
Dr. Āris Jansons, Director, Forest Department, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia
13:20 – 13:40 Multifunctional Aspects of Forest Management in the Context of National Security
Valdis Kalns, Head of Real Estate Management, AS “Latvijas valsts meži”
13:40 – 14:00 War. Forest. Sustainability.
Jānis Švirksts, Member of the Board, “STEP UP Certification”
14:00 – 14:30 Coffee Break
SESSION 4
Strengthening Public Competence in Natural Resource Management – Trends and Solutions
14:30 – 14:50 Exploring Wood Resources and Industry Capacity Alignment (presentation in English)
Dr. Nicola Bozzolan, Researcher in Bioeconomy and Climate-smart Forestry
14:50 – 15:10 Biomass and Its Role in Reducing Fossil Resource Consumption
Ieva Medne, Deputy Head of Sector Policy and Planning, Latvian Biomass Association LATbio
15:10 – 15:30 Public Demand for Ecosystem Services in Nature: A 10-Year Comparison
Dr. silv. Līga Liepa, Associate Professor, Institute of Forestry, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
15:30 – 16:00 Panel Discussion – How Can Latvia’s Land-Use Sectors Adapt to New Political and Economic Conditions?
Moderator: Māris Ķirsons, Journalist, “Dienas Bizness”
Participants: Representatives from industry and academia
16:00 – 16:15 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements to Partners and Presenters
Presented by the leadership of the Latvian Forest Certification Council