The aim of the research is to prepare proposals for assurance of the business clusters formation regarding the regional development potential upon study of the clusterization of Lithuanian regional companies. After extensive analysis of scientific literature, the qualification of the cluster, their structure, main features, goals and benefits to its members, region, and sector where cluster is based, are observed. From analysis of relevant secondary data the main problems that hinder the development of clusters in distinct regions of Lithuania are distinguished. It is revealed that clusterization in Lithuanian regions lags far behind big cities, it is much more passive and clusters there often reach only the level of a micro-cluster. Clusters are most developed in the tourism and food industries, using traditional means instead of high-techs, failing to benefit from EU support for clustering development. In order to improve the clusterization situation in Lithuania and its development in the regions, more attention and investment are to be allocated for promoting cooperation between the companies and the business and science, research sectors, and joining the international cluster. The state support should be prioritized in the rural regions locating less clusters, forming a reliable means and communication network for these clusters’ development.

The paper presents an approach for the analysis of rural areas’ socio-economic development. Rural regions include spheres of human activity: institutional, environmental, social, labour, industrial, economic, technological development spheres. Under the development of the rural regions, changes in the variables of different spheres of human activity in the region, increasing the potential for human development, is understood. Human Development Index measures the potential for human development measurement. The model of socio-economic development of the rural regions presented in the article is characterized by both endogenous and exogenous variables of the model. Model of socioeconomic development of the rural regions is presented in the form of six econometric equations, each of which is an ADL-model. Each ADL-model contains endogenous and exogenous variables. The article presents the structural form of a system of economical equations in each one equation there is more than one endogenous variable. It shows the transition from the structural form to the form of the system of economical equations, where each equation has only one endogenous variable. The system of equations was developed for the rural regions of Russia. Baseline data were obtained from the database of the State Statistics Committee of Russia. The article provides a solution to the system of equations. The solutions to the model can be used for developing strategic development of each separate rural region or a combination of all the rural regions.

Foreign trade as part of the main economic relationship between a country and the global market, its regions and super-players is a significant research object. This paper deals with a particular case, exploring Latvian import in first one and a half decade of the 21st century. Since in Latvian academic society economic issues are largely dominated by economic scientist, this is an attempt by geographer to look at special aspects of mentioned ties and relationships. Research is focused around main producing sectors of economy such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry. With the aim of establishing clear ties between Latvia and its major import markets, the statistics of foreign trade was analysed using frequency analysis. The research shows that Latvian major import markets, although, similarly with its export markets, are located in the Baltic Sea region and have some differences. Major import markets are usually countries with bigger internal market, than Latvia’s. Import does follow the pattern of export markets in its separation into East and West groups with similar characteristics. Major difference, however, is differentiation of markets, where majority of high quality goods are being imported from a wider variety of markets, in contrast to export, where consolidation was a major pattern. This shows a rather close competition on world markets for potential clients, and a way for further economic change in Latvian industrial structure and operations.

Entrepreneurship education is a relevant topic in today’s study programs of higher education at two levels: as research object and as development of skills while preparing students. In fact, the latter is one of the most important objectives in Lithuanian universities aiming together with other disciplines at developing students’ entrepreneurial skills. The main aim of the article is to analyse theoretical and practical models of entrepreneurship education applied in universities and introduce development trends. Teaching process involves various methods, internships, consultation and instruction, but usually all activities are not systematically applied. From the behavioural perspective, this study analyses students towards entrepreneurship through the opportunity identification, motivational factors, information source, resources impact and entrepreneurial ability. Hypothetical deductive approach was used through a population sample of 194 students of Aleksandras Stulginskis University Faculty of Economics and management. The research summarized in this paper students attitude toward motives, factors encouraging and preventing entrepreneurship and information sources in the higher education institutions. The gap between teaching methods and student attitude towards at entrepreneurship educations can be reduced supplementing collaboration among stakeholders in the entrepreneurship education. In final part of the article, trends of entrepreneurship education in university enabling to assess dimensions of the development of entrepreneurship education are presented.

Private forestry and forest owners in Estonia have become more profound research subjects in the last decade. One of the most common research topics has been the identification of private forest owners’ (PFO) values and objectives. However, much of the existing studies rely on quantitative data which usually describes more active owners and owners whose forest property is larger than the average. Thus, the aim of the present study is to identify the management objectives and motives of non-industrial private forest owners using a qualitative approach – something that has been rarely used in forest owners’ research in Estonia. Eight forest owner interviews form the dataset, which is analysed in order to identify PFO forestry objectives and forest use. The results of our qualitative content analysis show, in principle, similar generalized forest owner types of motivations. However, the qualitative approach opens up these generalized types even more. Income motive goes beyond just continuous financial returns and means in many cases a sense of security. Forest ownership is closely linked with “home” interpretations. We conclude that qualitative methods in small-scale forestry research provide new insights to forest ownership and its meanings to private forest owners.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of models developed by Repola (2006) to estimate the vertical changes of the basic density of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst), and birch spp. (mainly Betula pendula Roth) stemwood in the forests of Latvia and to develop a model for the estimation of average knot-free stem density with bark (SD) using diameter at breast height as an independent variable. The study material comprised a total of 81 spruce, 102 pine, and 105 birch stems representing a wide range of tree growing conditions in Latvia and covering all age classes. The knot-free stemwood density (SWD) of pine and birch demonstrate strong vertical dependence along the stem, while for spruce the variation pattern was less pronounced and seemed to be nearly constant along the stem. The SWD estimated by Repola’s models was 4.3% lower for spruce, but 3.4% higher for pine and 2.2% for birch comparing to average values obtained in this study. Sigmoidal regression equations constructed in our study explained 67%, 27% and 54% of variations for predicting SD for pine, spruce and birch, respectively. Birch stemwood has a highest basic SWD – 470 kg mE-3, followed by pine – 397 kg mE-3 and spruce – 385 kg mE-3. According to our results, the birch bark turned to be denser than the birch stemwood, being vice versa for the studied coniferous species.

Importance of the study is determined by increasing consumption of woody biomass as a renewable energy source. Whole-tree harvesting is commonly applied for bioenergy use, however intensified biomass removal from forests can cause significant nutrient loss in soil. Nutrients can be returned to forest ecosystem by fertilizing soil with wood ash, which is generated as a by-product of combustion in wood-burning power plants and heating plants. Studies on ash spreading technological processes and costs so far have been insufficient. Aim of the study is to compare the productivity and prime cost of ash spreading with modular spreading trailer and Amazone mineral fertilizer spreader. According to study results productivity of modular trailer is 0.57 ha hE-1 and the spreading costs are 88 EUR haE-1, but that of mineral fertilizer spreader Amazone – 0.61 ha hE-1 and 41 EUR haE-1, respectively. Despite lower productivity modular trailer is more suitable for spreading wood ash, because a larger amount can be delivered and ash is applied more evenly. Productivity of modular trailer can be increased by technical improvements, like equipping the tractor with a crane and a small excavator bucket. Comparing costs of ash spreading and deposition, additional 8.72 EUR haE-1 were required, when using modular trailer, whereas, when using mineral fertilizer spreader, 77.52 EUR haE-1 can be saved. The main reason for the difference is smaller dosage when using modular spreader and additional loading costs.

The biological control agent Rotstop, composed of spores of Phlebiopsis gigantea, is used for treatment of conifer stumps to reduce the spread of Heterobasidion root rot in commercial forests. Two experiments were conducted to compare the antagonistic ability of the Rotstop isolate and nine Latvian isolates of P. gigantea against root rot fungus Heterobasidion, in wood of Scots pine and Norway spruce. Billets of conifer trees were first sprayed with a spore suspension of P. gigantea and then with Heterobasidion at different concentrations. The presence of fungi in billets was evaluated by morphological characteristics of mycelium. The Latvian isolates of P. gigantea showed similar or even higher values of efficacy against Heterobasidion (average efficacy 84% in spruce and 89% in pine) than the commercially manufactured Finnish preparation Rotstop (61% in spruce and 90% in pine). Latvian isolates of P. gigantea have a potential to be used for preparation of biological control agents in the future.

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) timber value is high in southern Europe due to a great demand from Asia. Since the timber market is global, over a long time we can expect gradual increase in demand also in other countries, including Latvia, where climatic conditions becomes increasingly more suitable for this species due to ongoing climatic changes. In order to develop recommendation for the use of beech in our country, the aim of the study was to assess the potential financial gain from Fagus sylvatica stands in Latvia. Assortment structure, defined by topdiameter and length, as well as their prices was set based on the literature survey. Results showed higher income from older (115 years) than form younger (58 years) stands: 9108 EUR haE-1, and 7939 EUR haE-1, respectively. However, the opposite was true for the net present value (r = 3%): 1423 EUR haE-1 and 304 EUR haE-1, respectively.

The aim of this study is to improve the practice of mechanical forest site preparation (FSP) by identifying typical characteristics of FSP, including the direction of FSP machinery, manoeuvre count depending on configuration of parcel and forest type and width of manoeuvre track; to evaluate the productivity depending on different forest growing conditions; to create schemes of technological corridors for commercial thinning; to improve scheme of FSP according to the scheme of technical corridors for commercial thinning and to evaluate changes in the count of manoeuvres and total distance travelled. In this study, we have developed methods to evaluate the quality of FSP. Methods used in this study include GIS analysis of vector data from FSP machinery tracking devices and LiDAR (Light detecting and ranging) data analysis for terrain information. Study shows that there is a significant difference in productivity when the machinery of FSP is driving in different angles to the longitudinal axis of parcel. Reduced productivity is justified by prioritizing topography of the forest floor. Slope is a decisive factor in the ground water movement and should be considered in FSP planning. Study shows that the developed method could be implemented in practice of forest management in 41% of sampled forest stands.