In the 30ies of the 20th century stump extraction was identified as one of the most prospective technologies of forest sector to secure deliveries of solid biofuel. Now we are returning to the same challenges having the same targets – to secure energy independence and competitiveness of forest sector. MCR 500 is the prototype of combined stump extraction and mounding bucket for caterpillar excavator produced in Latvia by the LSFRI Silava and engineering company Orvi SIA. The device is made for extraction of stumps with diameter up to 50 cm. Additional benefit of the device is its ability to prepare soil for the forest regeneration by making mounds. The article summarizes results of productivity trials of stump extraction using the MCR 500 head and following forwarding of the material. Data from earlier studies are used to characterize comminution and road transport of stumps and chips. In total 3.5 ha were extracted during the studies. A harvested amount of stumps was estimated using biomass equations. It will be updated in further comminution studies. Average stock of extractable biomass (stumps and coarse roots) on the experimental sites was 28 tons ha-1. Productivity of stump extraction was 2.4...3.4 tons per efficient hour. Consumption of efficient time for scarification of soil was 3.4...4.3 hours per ha. Forwarding took 30 min per load (2.6 tons per efficient working hour). Prime cost of chips according to biomass equations is 9.78 Ls LV mE-3, according to expert judgement based harvested stock is 6.38 Ls LV mE-3.

In society, discussions occasionally raise whether current level of wood cutting in Latvia is not too high to maintain sustainable forest industry and biodiversity. Cutting volumes for the state owned forests are calculated based on the model whose aim is to even the timber stock of each tree species in a long term period. The wood resource extraction in the private forests takes place according to free market conditions and depending on market prices. Therefore amount of round wood delivered from private forests can shift in a large range. The research had two main tasks. First task was to survey primary wood processing companies in Latvia and gather information about their round wood processing volumes, how their processing volumes divides between softwoods and hardwoods, dimensions of round wood companies demand for production and assortment of produced materials. Second task was to evaluate round wood utilization balance in the territory of Latvia and estimate if current use of timber resources in Latvia corresponds to amounts that are sustainable. Research results showed that consumption of softwood timber in Latvia is close to maximum to perform sustainable forestry, but consumption of hardwoods is possible to increase at least by 20–25%. Survey of primary wood processing companies showed that round wood processing volumes in Latvia vary from 6 to 7 million m3 annually and that large enterprises, which count only for 4% from total number of primary wood processing entities, process two thirds from annual round wood volume in country.

Latvia uses average moisture content and density indexes obtained in Russia and European countries; though, these indexes are different, and there is no information about the most suitable one for conditions in Latvia. Research complex on Latvia’s industrially important tree species - Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stemwood and bark moisture and density changes, depending on influencing factors, is being conducted at Forestry Faculty of Latvian University of Agriculture. The research results on Scots pine, obtained during the year 2011 in the whole territory of Latvia, are outlined in this article. Wood and bark moisture and density were analyzed in 21 sampling plots, arranged in middle aged and cutting-aged reached forest stands, depending on tree age, cutting time and location place in the tree stem. The average moisture content of pine wood mostly depends on heartwood specific weight and age of the tree. With an increase of tree age, average wood moisture content value decreases from 111% (40-year-old trees) to 77% (145-year-old trees). Scots pine heartwood moisture content changes a little during the year: 30– 34% for 71 to 146-year-old trees; and 34-41% for 37–70-year-old trees. Sapwood moisture content is changes from 113% (in the summer) to 130% (in the winter), without any reference to the age of the tree. The average density of oven dry timber obtained from 71–146-year-old trees in the research is 0.501 g cmE-3, whereas in freshly cut condition – 0.848 g cmE-3.

The aim of air pollution monitoring is a regular and continuous collection of information on air pollution to prevent hazards influencing ecosystem and its components, including humans. Nowadays, the main technology used for this purpose is electronic sensors. As they are designed for specific measurements, a lot of important factors cannot be evaluated – various pollutants diffusion or cumulative effect, exposure, dose, and bioaccumulation. As an alternative solution – bioindication – pollution level determination from its effect on certain indicator species can be used. So far potential usage of bioindication as current air pollution monitoring network’s equivalent solution has not been studied. Therefore, the aim of the research was to assess a variety of bioindication methods for air pollution determination and their applications in air pollution monitoring. During the research, commonly used bioindication methods based on their popularity in scientific literature in 2012 were selected, as well as they were assessed using theoretical analysis method in order to determine their strong and weak points in air pollution monitoring. Research results demonstrate that current bioindication methods are not suitable for monitoring purposes. Therefore, bioindication can be combined with citizen science approach. To incorporate citizen science approach in bioindication based air pollution monitoring, development of special, for this purpose designed bioindication methodology is needed.

The negative impact of agricultural pollution with biogenic materials on surface water bodies is a relevant problem. This problem is addressed by limiting or prohibiting certain activities in the so called buffer areas. The biogenic materials are carried by surface or groundwater runoff. Water infiltration is influenced by the lithological composition of sediments. River basins of sandy lithological structure were selected throughout the territory of Lithuania. An installed system of lysimeters in the boreholes allowed monitoring the change of water quality of sediments over time. The migration patterns of nutrients where identified during the investigation in the spring, summer and autumn seasons.

This article analyses the advantages of applicable measures of motivation, taking into consideration the internal environment of an organization as a whole and focuses on the impact of internal environmental factors upon the results of the organization. The paper is based on the survey results obtained by inquiring, municipal administration employees in Lithuanian districts in February-June 2010. The goal of the research was to propose and justify theoretical components for the motivation model of municipal administration employees. The major integrated groups of motivation measures that are the most influential to the factors of internal environment as the main results of research were identified. The authors focus on the positional adjustment of the combinations of motivation measures, in order to improve the motivation of municipal administration employees.

Short rotation forests (SRF) can be used for biomass production for energy applications in Latvia. Establishment of plantations could be one of possibilities how to reach targets of renewable energy resource (RES) consumption of 40% in 2020. In Latvia’s conditions, one of most suitable species that could be used for SRF is willow (Salix sp.). Abandoned agricultural lands are suitable for establishment of plantations. Productivity of 8 oven- dried tons (ODT) ha-1 year -1 can lead to Rate of Return (IRR) of 17.1% and Net Present Value (NPV) 1099 Latvian Lats (LVL) if the biomass price is 33 LVL ODT-1. Establishment, harvesting and transporting costs account for 88% of the total cost of production. Price of wood chip and fuel plays the most important role in economics of plantation.

One can reasonably argue that issues related to the increased use of renewable energy resources in the energy production processes in Latvia, are at the forefront and will remain there in the future. This relates to the aspect that Latvia is not rich in non-renewable energy resources (around 70% of total primary energy consumption in Latvia is ensured by import, which can lead to undesired effects in many areas), but at the same time, there are available renewable energy resources in Latvia, with an untapped potential to be recognized. In particular this applies to fuel wood, which is already (year 2012) the most important domestic fuel in Latvia. In this context it is important to emphasize that, according to the particular study results, if unexpected socio-economic developments do not take place, raw wood material resources required for different types of fuel wood production in Latvia should be available in the same amount as it is now if not more. As for increasing the amount of fuel wood use in Latvia, an enormous ‘potential’ can be seen in general use boiler houses, where there are currently no technological limitations to utilize this ‘potential’. General use cogeneration plants can be recognized as an even greater ‘potential’ for greater use of fuel wood in Latvia, but given the circumstances of energy supply in Latvia, the ‘potential’ is currently available on a very limited basis. At the same time it is important to note that both of these ‘potentials’ could be significantly reduced in the next few years.

The Baltic Sea problems in context of erosion always have been very topical and since ancient times have been caused by uncontrollable and unpredictable natural factors (storms). These factors combine with the impact of human economic activities of the direct effect of factors -building offshore and aquatorium, deficit of sediment and marine dredging and growth of recreational tourism growth that promote load of coastal vegetation and dune relief. The identification of costs and benefits is significant step for evaluation of the impact of the Project and usefulness of the costs. The positive impact or benefits can occur at once, after a while or long term perspective. The economic evaluation techniques particularly cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis for coastal protection in this case used for ascertain the most effective alternative. The sensitivity analysis was made for verifying impact of alternatives on taken solution. The aim of research is to verify the economic methods for application to coastal management in Latvia. The world’s coastal scientists believe that the future of coastal policy will become increasingly polarized and discussed; therefore, gradual implementation of the assessment process and development of socio-economic indicators is recommended.

The yield and quality (1000 kernel weight, protein, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content) of peas was studied in cultivar 'Madonna'. The peas (Pisum Sativum L.) were part of the five-year crop rotation experiment where red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), peas, potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), were following each other. There were two production variants which followed the crop rotation. In one variant mineral fertilizers and pesticides were used, and the other variant was conversion to organic without any synthetic agrochemicals. In mineral fertilizing variants the background in all variants was N20, P25, and K95 kg haE-1. The previous crop was winter wheat which received in fertilized variants mineral fertilizers with the background of P25 and K95 kg haE-1, the N amount varied from 0 to 150 kg haE-1. The aim of this paper was to study a mineral fertilizing after-effect on the peas which followed the winter wheat. Herbicide MCPA 750 was used. In conversion to organic, the pea grains which followed the crop rotation and mineral fertilizing Nl50 after-effect variants had higher yield, protein and nitrogen content compared to the other variants where mineral fertilizing after-effect was investigated. Phosphorus contents were higher in NO, and conversion to organic variants. Potassium content remained lower in Nl00, and Nl50 mineral fertilizing after-effect variants. The 1000 kernel weight was significantly higher in the variant of conversion to organic compared to the other variants.