Low value forest stands replacement – improvement of biomass production

Efficient and sustainable production of forest and agricultural biomass is important precondition for successful transition to a low carbon economy. Smart and productive land use produce more food, fiber and other bio-based products with fewer inputs, less environmental impact and by using low-carbon and climate-resilient approaches.
Latvia is 4th forested country in EU, 52% of territory covered with forest. Half of forest belongs to almost 135 000 private owners. Part of small forest owners don’t manage their forest properly. As a result of passive forest management, a significant proportion of overgrown forest stands is accumulated. This leads to increase of unproductive forest stands and unused available biomass potential and also low land management efficiently.
In order to improve the situation, a support measure has been implemented for the replacement of non-productive forest stands. The support measure facilitate unproductive forest stands harvest, compensating cost for reforestation of forest stands and cover costs of use of high-quality forest planting material. According to experts’ evaluation forest restoring with high-quality planting material will give up to 30% more forest biomass in growing circle.
Support measure is a part of Latvia’s Rural Development Programme. Support is granted for private forest owners and implemented in rural areas. Measure directly facilitate improvement of private forest management, biomass production and mobilization.