Land management sector organizations sign memorandum of cooperation with leading political parties

The "Farmers' Council", the "Latvian Forest Owners' Association" and the "Latvian Peat Association" have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the leading political parties and their associations, ahead of the 14th Saeima elections, introducing issues important for the development of the sectors and discussing specific tasks to ensure understanding of issues important to the Latvian agriculture, forestry and peat sectors and their resolution in the future. 

Land management is an important area in the Latvian economy, therefore representatives of the sectors met with leaders of leading political parties, discussed common issues and issues important to each sector, and signed a memorandum of cooperation.

Ingrīda Krīgere, board member of the Latvian Peat Association indicates that "The joint initiative of land managers is the basis for further sustainable land management and a better understanding of the sectors from the point of view of politicians. Latvia is rich in resources, but in order to manage them in a far-reaching way, before making decisions on the introduction of various regulatory norms, it is important to assess the local situation, listen to experts and rely on scientific data. We will achieve the best results if there is a common understanding. Then we will also be able to contribute to the common growth of Latvia and sustainable management of the country's subsoil."

In the coming years, within the framework of the Green Deal, several European Union-led regulations will be adopted, which will also seriously affect various aspects of land use in Latvia. It is now very important that the political parties forming the Latvian government gain understanding and realize that if hasty decisions are made without assessing the local situation and without taking into account the geographical peculiarities of each country, what damage can be done to the socio-economic environment of Latvia.

The main goal of the memorandum is to achieve a national level of understanding and change of attitude towards land management sectors in Latvia and to promote the efficient use of land as a resource for agricultural, forestry and peat production.

Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Board of the Association “Farmers' Council”: “In recent years, we have been faced with such global issues as: food self-sufficiency, self-sufficiency and energy resource adequacy. This shows that we must be able to use the resources available in Latvia more efficiently – land, forest and water. We are able to produce our own food and provide ourselves with wood. The next parliament must implement a policy that ensures the rational use of these resources in order to increase our independence.”

In turn Chairman of the Board of the Association “Latvian Forest Owners Association” Arnis Muižnieks points out “Bioeconomy is the main way to move towards climate neutrality and resource self-sufficiency, using local, renewable resources in Latvia. Forestry plays a crucial role in achieving these goals, therefore decisions made in the Saeima must be those that move us towards prosperity and energy independence, ensuring a good quality of life in Latvia in the future. The mission set out in the strategy of forest sector organizations is to create a tidy, independent and prosperous Latvia!”

By signing the memorandum, the parties commit to implementing the EU Green Deal in a reasonable, socially and economically sound manner, consistent with national interests, ensuring access to local resources for all population groups, as well as introducing a fair compensation system for restrictions on economic activity in agricultural, forest lands and mineral deposits.

The parties also pledged to base their decisions on scientific, applicable and repeatable research relevant to Latvian conditions, as well as to conduct a socio-economic assessment and consult with the sectors before making decisions that are important for the sectors.

The memorandum can be found at:

https://zemniekusaeima.lv/aktualitates/zsa-ar-politiskajam-partijam-nosledz-sadarbibas-memorandus/