Innovations are very important condition and tool for competitive entrepreneurship. To obtain more effective approaches, researchers are devoting deepened analysis for many factors influencing innovations and innovative activities indicating that there is an important influence on different sources of information on innovations — own company, co-operation with universities and business incubators, with research organisations. Empirical research results were based on survey results of entrepreneurs and on analysis of obtained survey results by use of descriptive statistics indicators confirmed that entrepreneurs in Kurzeme region biggest inspiration get in their own company as well as from suppliers of equipment, programs and materials but they have less influence on information about innovations from universities and other higher education institutions as well as private organisations, also research organisations.

A regional analysis of performance indicators for Latvian business incubators provides a valuable insight into the performance of the business incubator ecosystem in various regions and helps to make future policy decisions on providing funding for the incubators that aim to support the growth and success of start-ups. The present research performed a regional analysis of operational programmes for two periods from 2007 to 2021. The strengths and weaknesses of Latvian business incubators across various regions of Latvia could be identified based on the analysis. This can help to make policy decisions and guide resource allocation to contribute to the development of the business incubator ecosystem in the future.

The topic of this article is relevant because in Lithuania the assessment of the area occupied by plantations and green spaces has shown that the area standards do not meet the requirements and recommendations of the World Health Organization. Green spaces are regulated differently in different countries of the European Union. Lithuania has also developed a legal framework for the protection, management and establishment of new plantations and green spaces. However, this legal framework is improving and new laws are being added to it. Comparative, analytical, as well as statistical, and logical analysis methods were used for the investigation. The data of the Land Fund of the Republic of Lithuania for 2002–2022 were used for comparative investigation. The aim of this article is to perform an analysis of the change in the trees and shrubs greenery area of Lithuania in 2002–2022. In Lithuania, for example, trees and shrubs occupied 84,687.48 ha in 2002. In 2022, the plantation area amounted to 208,609.48 ha. From 2002 to 2022 the area of tree and shrub plantations in Lithuania increased by 123,922.00 ha or 146.33%. The analysis shows that in the period between the years 2002 and 2022 the biggest increase in the area of shrubs and plantations took place in Utena County (32,715.83 ha or 395.27%), but the smallest increase in Tauragė County (2,642.93 ha or 37.69%) and Marijampolė County (4,581.39 ha or 72.25%). The development of plantation areas has been positively influenced by the creation of an appropriate legislative framework and the implementation of plantation programs in counties and municipalities.

Tourists’ environmentally responsible behaviour (ERB) in response to climate change is a topic that is becoming increasingly important during the Covid-19 pandemic as people’s values change. Tourism is facing an economic downturn and now is the time to prepare for a new upswing. Meanwhile, a new narrative is needed in response to climate change, as tourism is a net polluter of the environment. That is why tourist ERB studies are becoming more and more relevant in the world, including Latvia, too. The objective of this paper is to determine the ERB of tourists in response to climate change. The questionnaire included 30 research questions and generated 383 answers from respondents from the Vidzeme region of Latvia. Several research methods were used in the study: descriptive and correlation method, KMO and BARLETT’S, Cohen’s Kappa and Cronbach’s alpha tests, Exploratory factor analysis and Principal Components Analysis. The study found that the factors attitude, behaviour, awareness, control, environmental knowledge, experience and values influence tourists’ ERB; however, environmental knowledge and experience show a slight advantage. To direct the continuation of the research towards the creation of the tourism ERB model in Latvia.

Lowering emissions expelled from internal combustion engines has been the focus of researchers worldwide. Adding hydroxy gas to current internal combustion engines can be an effective way of lowering CO2, CO, HC and particle emissions, as well as improve combustion. Because of this, a review of previously conducted research on the addition of hydroxy gas to different internal combustion engines has been produced. During this review, it was concluded that addition of hydroxy gas can be an effective way of lowering fuel consumption and CO, CO2 and HC emissions in petrol engines, as well as fuel consumption and CO and HC emissions in diesel engines.

Universities play an important role in providing a wide range of services and connecting all stakeholders, such as employers, alumni, and other community members to prepare students for future employment, establish networking with labour market representatives, assist them in integrating into the labour market, and develop students’ as potential specialists’ employability skills, thereby fostering their career development in the university educational environment. The aim of this study is to analyse the career related theories and propose a career development model for economics and business-focused universities. The following research methods were used: desk study, analysis and evaluation of scientific literature (theoretical research method); reflection of personal experience (empirical research method). The theoretical research emphasised modern career-related theories and resulted in a proposal for a career development model for a university. A mandatory course that formally prepares students as prospective specialists for employment and internship, exposure to the labour market via internship, networking events, and mental support provided by qualified psychologists, university teachers as part of an academic advising programme and alumni organized in the form of an alumni mentorship programme, are the main pillars of the proposed career development model.

Forests play a significant role in the mitigation of climate change through carbon storage and sequestration. However, a forest’s capacity to absorb carbon is influenced by a number of factors, such as soil characteristics, the selection of tree species, and the application of silvicultural practices. A study in Latvia was conducted to evaluate the carbon stock and sequestration potential of birch, common aspen, black alder and grey alder growing on periodically waterlogged and drained organic soils. Empirical data of forest resources were obtained from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) from 2016 to 2020. The findings indicate that black alder may thrive in both soil types, as it showed the best increase in carbon stock in periodically waterlogged soils, reaching a maximum of 129 t C haE−1 at the age of 61–70 years. Greater carbon sequestration in tree biomass occurs on drained soils compared to periodically waterlogged. Birch, aspen, and black alder stands may store between 106 and 119 t C haE−1 at age of 61 and 70 years, which is similar to grey alder stands at ages of 31–40 (114 ± 0.73 t C haE−1). Therefore, a short rotation for grey alder growing on drained organic soils could maximize carbon accumulation and add substitution value. These results suggest that different types of deciduous trees have varying capacities for carbon storage and sequestration, and that it’s important to consider site-specific factors, rotation age and silvicultural practices when aiming to maximize carbon sequestration in tree biomass.

Northern Europe will be one of the locations where the renewable energy from forests could displace fossil fuels as a result of climate change: therefore, it will become more crucial to maintain renewable materials that also collect CO2. By taking tree biomass out of forest stands, we could create more renewable resources to use in practice, but this has certain negative effects on the forest ecology, including nitrogen leaching and vegetation degradation. The goal of the study is to investigate the effects of full biomass removal (FBR) in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) forest stands and how this forest management affects vegetation regeneration, tree stock and carbon storage overall. The aforementioned structures were assessed at various forest ages. The central region of Latvia contains Norway spruce stands with all of the sample sites under study situated on drained peaty mineral soils and weakly aerated gleyic soils. As a result of the long-term evaluation, it was determined that the forest vegetation in FBR was similar to that in the same-age control stand (SAC) and that vegetation can successfully regenerate. The average tree height and DBH is lower in areas where stump removal and understory biomass was not carried out. Statistically significant (p<0.05) long-term influence of stump removal on the average height and diameter of Norway spruce can be identified in all parameters, except, tree height in Myrtillosa mel. forest type. Total biomass removal in long term has almost no significant effect on tree stand and vegetation regeneration.

Nowadays, different sun protective creams are available in the market, but most of them contain harmful synthetic chemicals and minerals which can induce skin allergies and premature ageing. Usage of sunscreens and photoprotectors of natural origin and natural antioxidants can reduce skin damage caused by excessive sun exposure. The effectiveness of the use of β-carotene — vitamin’s A precursor against excessive irradiation caused by oxidative stress cell damages has been proven of its very good antioxidative properties and leading to sooner regeneration of the skin after several environmental damages. Carotenoids and high value oil can be extracted from pumpkin (Cucurbitta spp.) by-products — peel and seeds with SC CO2. The objective of this study was to incorporate pumpkin seed oil (PSO) and carotenoid extract (CE) from pumpkin by-products in to facial creams for UV protection. Two types of creams with PSO and CE were prepared emulsion o/w and w/o. A cream without extracts and natural ingredients was used as control sample. The sun protection factor values in vitro (SPF = 0.92 to 1.18), total content of carotenoids (TCC = 1.08–17.95 µg mLE−1), β-carotene content (0.64–0.72 µg mLE−1), total phenolic content (TPC = 62.64–95.82 mg GAE gE−1), antiradical scavenging activity (11.26–43.66 %) and rheological behaviour of facial creams were determined. Although creams with CE and PSO show comparatively low SPF values, ß-carotene and phenolic compounds found in samples demonstrated very high antioxidant abilities valuable for skin protection.