Criminal case opened over felling of nearly 400-year-old forest in Rucava
The State Police have opened a criminal case over the felling of an ancient forest stand near Rucava, where a pine at least 377 years old grew. Police are assessing whether a crime took place.
The State Police in Latvia have opened a criminal case over the felling of a forest nearly 400 years old in the Rucava area in the country's southwest, according to the Latvian Radio programme "Atvērtie faili". Police are now assessing whether a crime was committed. The case matters because, according to nature experts, the destroyed stand may have been one of the oldest pine stands in Latvia.
What the experts found
This summer, nature experts established that a forest stand had been cut down in an area managed by the Forest Research Station. It had contained a pine at least 377 years old and other trees of similar age. Data from the Latvian Fund for Nature indicate that a European Union-protected habitat and several sites of specially protected species were registered there.
The logging came to light when experts surveyed a known black stork nesting site and found a fresh clearing where forest had stood. The tree holding the stork's nest had been one of many very old pines in the stand.
Jānis Ķuze, chairman of the council of the Latvian Fund for Nature, said at the time that the events raise serious questions about compliance with requirements to protect species and habitats, about decision-making and about the use of scientific information. He said it was especially worrying because the area is managed by a public institution, which should set an example in preserving natural values.
Complaint to police
In mid-October the association "Puse Latvijas", which aims to preserve and promote forest biodiversity in Latvian society, filed a complaint with police about the destruction of the old boreal forest. It asked for a criminal case under Article 115 of the Criminal Law, which provides for up to five years in prison for destroying or damaging the habitat of specially protected species or specially protected habitats, where significant harm has been caused.
A spokesman for the company "Latvijas Valsts meži", Tomass Kotovičs, claimed last week that the company knew nothing about the complaint to police.
