Recent studies have demonstrated the occurrence of different needle cast (Lophodermium spp.) species in young Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. stands in different regions of Latvia. The impact of these fungi has been known also historically, but is predicted to increase in future due to climate changes that are forecasted to have a positive impact on presence and vigour of various species of fungi. The aim of the study was to characterize the needle cast damage in young Scots pine stands in central Latvia. Material was collected in 12 Scots pine stands at the age of 3 to 26 years in 28 plots with a total area of 8.1 ha in the middle of two consecutive growing seasons (years 2012 and 2013). The impact of disease was visually assessed using a 5 grade scale, depending on the proportion of damaged (brown) one-year old needles. Incidence of damaged trees (P, %) and damage intensity (R, %) was calculated and used to characterize the occurrence and severity of the infection in the stands as well as its link to other stand parameters. Damage incidence (ranging from 20 to 100%), as well as the intensity (from 4 to 35%) was slightly (incidence-also significantly) higher in 2013 in comparison to 2012; correlation between those two parameters was strong in both years (r = 0.94 and r = 0.84, respectively). The stand age, density (ranging from 1200 to 6900 trees haE-1) and tree height did not significantly correlate with the damage incidence or intensity. Forest type (Hylocomiosa or Myrtillosa mel.) was not a significant factor, too.

Wood based ash can be used as a liming material and fertilizer in forest, thus providing a solution for utilization of wood ash and formation of additional increment of trees, especially on organic soils, where lack of potassium and phosphorus is a well-known factor limiting the growth of trees. Yet, many studies have been made with adverse results mostly because of different soil types and species investigated. However, by now the best results on fertilization with wood ash have been found on drained peatlands, where some nutrient deficiencies have emerged. The aim of this study was to find out the growth response of Norway spruce on drained organic soils after spreading of potassium sulphate (K2SO4) and wood ash (WA). The experiment was carried out in three middle aged Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands on drained mineral and peat soil. Experiment consisted of three replications of each treatment in each stand including WA, K2SO4 and the control on 400 square meter sub-sample plots each. The diameter and height of trees were measured. The samples of increment cores were collected 4 years after fertilization to determine the additional volume increment, which varied from 8.5 m**3 haE-1 in WA plots and from 9.7 m**3 ha-1 to 17.2 m**3 haE-1 on K2SO4 plots. Both - the wood ash and potassium application - significantly increased the increment of Norway spruce on drained mineral and peat soil, although no significant differences were found between the treatments (p = 0.82, α = 0.05).

Recently, a renewed interest in non-harmful, environmentally friendly adhesives has ensued among the industry professionals, both environmental and healthcare scientists. In this study, organic rich lake sediments (sapropel) from two lakes located in Latgale Region of Latvia were used as a glue to investigate the potential use of such adhesive for manufacture of composite materials from wood. Sapropel is a valuable resource with multiple areas of application, e.g., agriculture, balneology. Available amount of sapropel in Latvia is estimated at up to 2 billion m**3. Prior the tests, characterization of sapropel samples was done. Properties of the obtained composite material samples from wood and sapropel, as well as the mechanical properties were investigated. Tests involved the assessment of static bending strength and shear strength tests, durability according to their operating performance (D1-D4), as well as dried natural peat tensile strength perpendicular to the grain direction were determined and compared to the literature data; and the opportunities to use new composite materials in accordance with to the standards were discussed. The results of the study revealed an insight into possibilities to develop products of higher added value from sapropel as adhesive in combination with various resources. Results indicated that the samples made from Lake Pilvelis sapropel gain to better results of bending strength determination (parallel bending - 88.7 MPa). The aim of this study was to explore options to produce veneer using two kinds of sapropel as a glue and to determine the optimal properties according to the standards, as well as to characterize properties of the obtained composite material.

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.

The article deals with the issue of rural development in Poland. The aim of the article is to determine the dynamics of change in the level of socio-economic development of rural communes in Poland (NUTS 5) in the years 2004 – 2014 through verification of the hypothesis of the existence of beta-convergence. The beta-convergence approach is verified by econometric modelling techniques. The statistical data came from the Local Data Bank (LDB) of the Central Statistical Office (CSO). Based on the analysis of changes in the development level of the rural areas in Poland it was stated that there is convergence. However, the strength of the convergence process is different depending on the dimensions of development. It reported a strong relationship between the average growth rate of aggregate indicators relating to the financial dimension. In other dimensions, such as labour market, living conditions, health and social care, education, demography and culture, it showed the occurrence of slow convergence processes.

The paper analyses sustainable development situation in Šiauliai and Telšiai counties between 2004 and 2013 and compares it with respective situation in the Republic of Lithuania. In order to provide an integrated assessment of the situation, the analysis employed the method of calculating sustainable development indices, close to the Compass method, often applied in research practice all over the world. The calculated indices of economic and social development and environmental state in Šiauliai and Telšiai counties and in Lithuania have shown changes in sustainable development during the period of 10 years. Integrated sustainable development indices, obtained by summing up economic and social development and environmental state indicators demonstrated that sustainable development situation in Šiauliai and Telšiai counties and the Republic of Lithuania between 2004 and 2013 was very similar. Due to the first EU investments between 2005 and 2007, a huge improvement of economic and social situation took place, environmental protection also improved. However, the global economic crisis of 2008 – 2010 decreased the sustainable development of Lithuania and the mentioned counties. In 2011 – 2012, the sustainable development situation started improving again, however, not in such big proportions as in 2005 – 2007. Recession in 2013, in fact, brought the level of sustainable development of Lithuania, Šiauliai and Telšiai counties down to the level of 2004. Conclusions provide generalisation of the research outcomes and possible sustainable development trends for Šiauliai and Telšiai counties.

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 European Union livestock sector is a major player of the agricultural economy and its land use, and livestock is one of the fastest-growing sectors in agriculture, potentially presenting opportunities for economic growth and poverty reduction in rural areas. In Latvia, the year 2014 was quite difficult for the dairy industry both due to Russia’s embargo on dairy product import and low milk purchase prices and due to concerns that milk quotas had been exceeded. It is therefore important that cows are healthy and no additional losses are suffered from mastitis. Mastitis is a complex disease involving many factors, which is mainly caused by bacteria and there is no simple model that encompasses different possible aspects. Therefore, the research aim is to assess the effects of mastitis in cow herds for farms in Latvia. The research study proceeds in two stages or phases: firstly, to review the scientific literature on mastitis problems and solutions to the problems in other countries, secondly, to survey dairy farms of various sizes in the regions of Latvia in order to examine the real situation concerning mastitis and its effects on the economy of farms. A survey results of 74 farms in Latvia revealed that 90.5% of the farms had problems with mastitis. Consequently, if sick cattle are timely culled, it is possible to keep the herd milk yield without a significant drop. In case of cows with mastitis, farms suffer losses from smaller quantities of milk produced depending on farming intensity and due to cows culled with mastitis.

Considering the deficiencies of social services for the elderly in governmental institutions and growing demand of ensuring services in rural areas, the paper aims to assess the needs of elderly people for social services in the selected rural areas and to propose the social services’ development opportunities in terms of domestic help for the elderly. The social services facilitate support to elderly dependents in their homes, without interrupting their relationships with the family and the community, and improving their quality of life. The survey has shown that the municipality usually satisfies only basic biological needs of old people in rural areas. In order to ensure the well-being of elderly people, a complete cooperation among governmental and non-governmental institutions is required. Development of the services should be focused on the provision of the domestic help services for elderly people who do not receive them, and the diversity of the services for those residents who receive services from the municipality. The implementation of the development project of the domestic help services would enable the elderly residents of the rural municipality to have access to the most necessary services at the required frequency and intensity, considering the recipients’ needs, thus improving the quality of life of the elderly people of local community and ensuring their dignified ageing.

Energy transition from the fossil fuel dominating to the one based on renewable energy sources (RES) takes acceleration with the internationally recognised need to stabilise the global warming. Therefore, there is a general consensus that the initiative of the wide use of RES is manifold in its nature making an impact not only on the environmental issues, but also adding to the so desired customer involvement and rural development as well. Rural dimension in reaching the EU targets should arguably be a priority as RES utilisation is decentralised in its nature. Despite the fact that EU with its main strategic documents gives a clear direction on RES utilisation through wider involvement of citizens, especially in rural places, there are certain grounds for stating that a current situation and future insights among EU Member States still differ. Lithuanian case was chosen to explore the sustainability gaps regarding the RES utilisation development in rural places. Literature review is employed to choose the most suitable way aiming to explore and evaluate the RES utilisation development in rural places regarding the sustainability issues. This article adds to understanding and evaluating the main obstacles of the well balanced RES utilisation development in rural places.