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forest certification in latvia
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Table 2
Forestland ownership
Owner Size (hectares) Percent of Total
State (total) 1,430,000 50
– Latvia’s State Forests (LVM) 1,370,000 47
– Scientific 10,000 1
– Environment Ministry 50,000 2
Private 1,200,000 42
Other 220,000 8
TOTAL 2,850,000 100
Source: Ministry of Agriculture 2003
Figure 2
Individual land ownership structure
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Percent of total parcels
Percent of total forested
land
< 3 3 to 5 5 to 10 10 to
20
20 to
50
50 to
100
100 to
500
Forest parcel size (ha)
Source: Ministry of Agriculture 2003
Forest Licenses
Licenses for timber cutting are granted to private forest owners upon completion of
a forest inventory and management plan, usually completed with the assistance of the
local State Forest Service (SFS) ranger. Latvian forestry law prescribes minimum ages
for felling of each tree species, as well as maximum sizes for clearcuts and other environmental
restrictions. Forest owners or legal managers can remove up to 10 m 3 of
firewood annually without a cutting permit.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies