Prolonged summer drought periods are forecasted for the Baltic Sea region during the 21st century, thus increasing the risk of drought stress of saplings used in forest regeneration. Nevertheless, the vitality of young stands might be increased by the selection of suitable planting material. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of changes in distribution of summer precipitation on height increment, biomass distribution and root morphology of Scots pine and silver birch planting material commonly used in the forest regeneration in Latvia. Containerized pine and bare rooted birch saplings, planted in three different soil types, were subjected to altered distribution of summer precipitation, provided by the use of automated shelter. Sheltered saplings were weekly irrigated with the sum of precipitation of a corresponding period, while afield planted saplings had an unchanged precipitation regime and served as control. Height increment was measured once per week and estimation of morphology of saplings was done after the end of every vegetation season. Significant (p is less than 0.05) differences in height increment, and shoot and root biomass were observed among the same planting material in different irrigation regimes and soil types. In the control plots of peat soil, pine had a significantly (p is less than 0.05) larger height increment while birch-significantly (p is less than 0.05) smaller compared to experiment. Forecasted longer drought periods might reduce the growth of Scots pine in fertile forest types but silver birch growth might be affected in fertile mineral soils in future.

The impact of climatic and genetic factors on needle cast damage, as well as relationship between the degree of damage and survival and growth of trees was evaluated in the study. The analysis was done in two series of experiments, both established in two locations in Latvia (central and eastern part). Needle cast damage (in 5 grade scale) as well as the height and height increment, diameter of root collar and survival of trees were assessed. Results suggest that the degree of needle cast damage was influenced by the genetic, as well as climatic factors, and also their interaction. The average degree of needle cast damage in experiment of open-pollinated families was 4.7 ± 0.01 in central and 4.6 ± 0.03 in eastern Latvia; in the experiment of control-crossed families it was 4.6 ± 0.02 in central and 3.4 ± 0.04 in eastern Latvia. The impact of genetics on the needle cast damage degree was statistically significant (p is less than 0.05), and this effect was observed when any of growth traits (diameter, height or height increment) was used as a covariate in analysis. Results suggest the potential to select more resistant families, since the genetic correlation of grade of the damage between locations was significant (r = 0.40 - 0.72) and therefore improve also the growth of trees, since the grade of the damage had a negative correlation with growth traits both at provenance and family mean level (r = -0.69 and r = -0.42; p is less than 0.01).

Impact of a variety of forestry machine types on soil compaction is evaluated in this study according to the measurement of soil penetration resistance at 0 to 80 cm depth. It is concluded in the study that soils with poor bearing capacity (PBC), comparably small penetration resistance and organic layer thicker than 5 cm are less vulnerable to soil compaction. The use of small-size forwarder Vimek 610 allows to reduce soil compaction to an insignificant level in comparison to the control sites, and most or ruts disappear within a few days in PBC conditions. Whereas John Deere 810E, which belongs to the middle-size class of forwarders, significantly compacts soil through the whole measured depth in similar conditions. Rottne F10B and John Deere 810E forwarders represent the same weight category, and soil compaction due to the use of these machines on soils with moderate bearing capacity (MBC) is similar too; however, on soils with weak (WBC) and good (GBC) conditions results are different, mostly due to a different amount of extracted roundwood in both trials. Tracked forwarder was used only in GBC conditions and the results demonstrated significant compaction only down to 22 cm depth. The trials confirm that the depth of the intensity of impact depends on the weight of the machine and amount of material extracted; however, additional measurement data are necessary to characterize the impact quantitatively in different conditions.

As worldwide trends are changing gradually and sustainable resources economy and reduction of hazardous emissions are coming to the forefront, several industry sectors are forced to revalue their resource consumption. The main emphasis is currently placed on the recycling of by-products. One of the methods, definitely, includes burning of by-products to generate power, however it is not always the most efficient one. By-products must be used in the manner that ensures that they provide high added value for the operation of the company and are environmentally friendly. This research focuses on the use of the by-products of birch (Betula) veneer manufacturing, in order to obtain thermal insulation material. The following characteristics of the wood fibre insulation material were determined: thermal conductivity, water absorption, vapour permeability, and prototype reaction to fire. The characteristics of the obtained wood fibre thermal insulation material: thermal conductivity 0.038 W•mE-1•kE-1; water absorption 12 kg•mE-2; the conformity of the material even to D fire reaction class was not determined. The principal conclusion: the wood fibre thermal insulation material conforms to the requirements set for thermal insulation materials.

People in their lives are divided into different social groups that cooperate with each other; all people are involved in many social groups at one time that may depend and mutually cooperate. The article shows how regional development centres Talsi and Cesis cooperate with other society groups in their territory to develop a smart public administration. The cooperation level was determined by a survey that was provided to the municipality workers, NGO members, and employees in higher education institutions, companies and mass media. The results show that the cooperation is above average, though a lot of work should be done to provide smart public administration in territories. Both municipalities are similar in their size, municipality structure and used cooperation approaches, therefore it is essential to learn from each other to receive greater loyalty from residents and improve cooperation that is significant for smart administration.

Challenges for modern society encourage the interest of how the regions could increase opportunities to accelerate social and economic development and reach the level of developed regions. Especially it is important for rural areas. There is a search for new answers (ideas and innovations) on creating a competitive advantage of regions. Seeking for a better systematic (not chaotic) result of innovative activities various organizations (even working in different sectors) are tied up with other organisations by tight links in their regional innovation system. The collaboration among different organizations is argued to be the main axis for the stimulation of innovativeness. Besides, all innovative activities must be reinforced by organizations’ absorptive capacity (i.e. abilities to access external knowledge, anchor and diffuse it) that leads to innovativeness. This article argues the theoretical and empirical approach of how the regional development could be accelerated by empowered innovativeness as a capacity of participants of a regional innovation system. Lithuania as a modern country and the EU member declares the importance of the reduction of internal regional disparities. Consequently, the analysis of a particular regional innovation system, i.e. Šiauliai region, allows disclosing the regional peculiarities and weaknesses of its innovative activities limiting the development process. The goal of this article is to reveal the current situation of innovativeness in Šiauliai region and draw the directions of its empowerment for further regional development. The article consists of two parts: theoretical insights and explanation of methodological approach; and the presentation and discussion of quantitative research results.

The objective of the research paper is to explore the competitiveness of Latvian dairy sector from the aspect of productivity and export indicators, as well as to examine some of the possibilities to improve the sector competitiveness. The authors explore the productivity and export indicators of Latvian dairy sector, and the link between productivity and export (within the EU context), as well as analyse the impact of farm investment support within RDP 2007 – 2013. Value added per labour unit has been chosen as the productivity indicator; suitable qualitative and quantitative research methods have been applied to the studies. Based on the introduced indices of relative position of dairy industry productivity and exports, dairy processing in Latvia has strong inter-branch position in the domestic food industry. However, the inter-country comparison shows that Latvian dairy processing is behind the EU average level, when its productivity and export volume are considered. It has been found that productivity and export of dairy processing are positively related; rather strong positive correlation also exists between productivity in dairy farming and dairy processing. Therefore, the development of Latvian dairy sector, which mainly depends on the development of exports, can be more successfully achieved by the increase in its productivity; and relatively the largest productivity gap to close is in the dairy farming in Latvia. The direct investment support effect on NVA/AWU of dairy farms is found to be significant and positive, indicating that farm modernisation support of RDP 2007 – 2013 has facilitated the improvement of overall dairy farm productivity in Latvia.

The purpose of this article is to address the quality assurance challenges for local governments in long-term elderly care. The research is based on the qualitative approach. Theoretical approach is based on active aging ideas and quality assurance principles. Authors have started analysis on how to adapt the quality principles of European Quality Framework for Long-Term Care Services in the Latvian elderly long-term care institutions. The experts’ view on evaluation is one of the methods of how to assess the quality principles in long-term care for elderly. The research results show different approaches to quality assurance principles and evaluation at the level of local and central government and the necessity to move towards a unified understanding. Experts emphasised the necessity to discuss quality principles in long-term care institutions and the division of responsibility for elderly care between the local and central government. The main findings are that none of the experts would like to spend the rest of their life, when they reach an old age, in a long-term institution. Principle ranking was successfully used in semi-structured expert interviews. The results show a great extent of variety in evaluating the quality principles of European Quality Framework for Long-Term Care Services in Latvian elderly long-term care institutions.

The aim of the research is to elaborate the competitiveness assessment system for fisheries sector cluster, using which it could be possible to assess the competitiveness of fisheries sector cluster in time and space. On the basis of scientific literature study, the authors provide solutions of how to assess the competitiveness of the fisheries sector cluster. As a result of analysis, it was discovered that the best way to assess the competitiveness of the fisheries sector cluster is by using a comprehensive complex indicator – the Index of the Fisheries Sector Cluster Competitiveness. The created Index of the Fisheries Sector Cluster Competitiveness helps the institutions involved in the creation of fisheries policy more successfully elaborate and improve the common policy of fisheries.

Two studies were conducted: the first study evaluated the production potential of indigenous (Tswana) chickens under an extensive free-range management system in the Gaborone agricultural region of Botswanal; and the second study was a survey of 25 randomly selected, commercial small-scale broiler farms in the Southern region of Botswana. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire, interviews and direct observations of the birds and their management in the two systems. Study 1 involved 85 farmers. Ten different common supplementary feeds fed to the free-range chickens together with soil samples from where the chickens roost were collected. The feeds were: sorghum grain (Sorghum bicolor), maize grain (Zea mays), jugo bean, also known as bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius), millet grain (Pennisetum glaucum), melon seeds (Colocynthis citrullus [Citrullus lanatus]), Tswana water melon fruit (whole), sorghum milo, maize bran and sorghum beer residue (moroko). Mean adult body weight of the birds (n=713) was 2.2 and 2.0 kg for cocks and hens respectively. Average egg weight (n=188) was 48 g with an annual production of 34 eggs laid in 2 to 3 clutches. Production varied little among flocks. Sexual maturity was attained at about 6 months for females. The crude protein content of the feeds (as-fed basis) given as supplements was: maize grain 9.8%, millet 6.5%, sorghum 11.1%, tepary bean 18.5% and jugo bean 15.8%. All the feeds had a low level of calcium, for example 0.22% for melon seeds. The farmers kept the chickens for home consumption and occasional sales. In study 2, all the farmers practiced intensive housing on deep litter. The number and size of the poultry houses ranged from one to eight, with floor area of less than 100m2 to 1000m2. Numbers of chickens in each batch ranged from less than 1000 to 10000 with about 4 batches in a year. The broiler strains were Ross hybrid, Indian River and Cobb with 56% of the farmers keeping Ross hybrid. Various heating methods were used for brooding with more than 40% using gas as a source of heat. Vaccinations for either gumboro and/or Newcastle were used by 76% of the farmers. Feed was provided ad libitum in all instances.