State forestry authority explains how to handle storm-damaged protected trees

The Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) has issued guidance for landowners on what to do when a nationally protected tree, known in Latvia as a 'dižkoks' (a large or notable old tree granted special protected status), is broken, split, or uprooted by a storm.

According to DAP, landowners are obliged to report such incidents to the agency. However, the exact steps to follow depend on the specific circumstances of each case — most importantly, whether the damaged tree presents an immediate threat to people or property.

Why reporting matters

Protected old-growth trees in Latvia hold the status of nationally significant natural objects, meaning any change in their condition, including storm damage, must be communicated to the responsible authority. This allows DAP to monitor the condition of protected trees and determine the appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis.

Landowners whose property contains such a protected tree are advised to keep this reporting obligation in mind going forward, so that if strong winds or other weather events cause damage, they know how to proceed in line with legal requirements.