Saeima Rejects Progressive Party's Proposal to Restrict Logging in Protected Forest Habitats
The Latvian Saeima has rejected amendments by the Progressive Party that would have banned logging in areas meeting EU protected forest habitat criteria until the government defines old-growth forests.
Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, has voted down a legislative proposal from the opposition Progressive Party aimed at imposing stricter logging restrictions. The amendments to the Forest Law targeted forest stands that fully or partially meet the criteria for EU protected forest habitats.
The party proposed a ban on issuing logging permits or otherwise allowing tree felling in such areas until the Cabinet of Ministers adopts a definition of old-growth or primary forests and criteria for their application. The prohibition would have applied regardless of ownership, including state research forests, state and municipal enterprises, and locally managed forests.
Under the proposal, if reasonable doubts arose about whether a particular stand met the habitat criteria, the State Forest Service would have been required to request an opinion from the Nature Conservation Agency, which would have to provide it within 30 days. The law was set to take effect the day after its promulgation.
The majority of the Saeima rejected the initiative, thus maintaining the current regulatory framework for forest management. The Progressive Party expressed disappointment, emphasizing the urgent need to protect biologically valuable forests.
