Since discovering that signals of random waves submit to the known laws of probability, this became widely used in engineering and energetics for probability distributions analysis of wave height. From an energetic point of view, it is necessary to know the average wave height in, for example, highly wavy (1% probability), medium wavy (25% probability) or non-wavy (95% probability) years. Whereas, maximum multi-year value of wave height characteristics is essential for engineering resistant wave energy converters that could withstand severe marine conditions. Average and maximum annual values of wave height data collected from Klaipėda coastal hydrometeorological station are used for this study. Probability distributions of average and maximum wave heights in the Lithuanian coast are analyzed in this paper. The best fitting is obtained using HYFRAN and EASY FIT software. Both, a test for independence (Wald- Wolfowitz) and stationarity test (Kendall) are carried out for every time series using HYFRAN software. Maximum like hood method is selected for distribution estimation. Fitting is determined using chi-square test and the best fitting is verified with comparison (BIC and AIC) criterion. Fitting for one of the most commonly used distributions in the analysis of wave climate – Rayleigh distribution – cannot be determined with HYFRAN software. For this purpose, EASY FIT software is used additionally. The fit of the distribution is evaluated via the chi-square test similarly. Calculated wave heights based on lognormal probability distribution that fits best according to HYFRAN software are similar to those calculated using Rayleigh probability distribution.

Farm financial distress can be determined by many factors. Farm failure can be the result of macroeconomic environment, unsuccessful farmer’s management decisions, and even natural forces. Different financial distress determinants may have different influence on a farm financial position. This study presents average financial ratios (leverage, return on assets, and return on equity) and single ratio of rental equivalent to gross margin according to farm size, land quality, economic size, farmer’s age and type of farming in Lithuania. The new approach to financial distress diagnosis requires classifying farms into financial positions. Considering average financial ratios and single ratio of rental equivalent to gross margin, farms were classified according to financial positions in order to estimate these methods’ suitability for financial distress diagnoses. Using study results, farmers can identify their position according to the average ratios. This study could be a guide for farmers making the financial management decisions.

Food consumption becomes an increasingly important topic considering global and local environmental problems as well as health issues and wellbeing of nations in general. Also in Latvia people are becoming more aware of importance of food and its direct and indirect impact on their everyday life. Therefore it is very important to evaluate sustainable aspects of food consumption and look for the barriers and drivers in order to form more sustainable consumption patterns which are based on information, knowledge and consciousness. The aim of the study is to investigate the perspective of sustainable food consumption in Latvia. The tasks of the study are: 1. to review present food consumption patterns from sustainability perspective; 2. to elucidate consumers’ understandings, attitudes and behaviour towards sustainable food consumption. The empirical research was based on the online survey with a sample of 82 women in the age group from 19-35. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results of the questionnaire and data obtained from Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. The results of the study indicate the gap between positive attitudes towards sustainable food and stated purchasing behaviour. There is an obvious perspective of growth of sustainable food market if we increase the awareness of consumers regarding sustainable consumption issues.

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.

Severe damages of spruce stands were found during recent years in several countries of the Baltic sea region. Characteristic indications of these damages are trees with brownish drying tops distributed across the whole compartment. During the first year only forests on drained organic soils suffer. In the second and third years, according to experiences gained in Lithuania, the damages move to other stand types. In Latvia, the first signals about the damages of spruce stands arrived from the company ''Rīgas meži'' in May, 2010. ''Rīgas meži'' found damaged stands in 2 forestries. The most of the damaged stands were on organic soils. The inspection of other forests by the State forest service identified similar damages in Southern part of Latvia as well as in other regions with considerable areas of organic soils. In August, 2010 ''Rīgas meži'' did their own inspection in Olaine and Tīreļi forestries and found out that 24% of spruce stands has characteristic signs of damages, and in 10% of stands dead or significantly damaged trees were found. Due to theses damages, about 300 ha of spruce stands were harvested in sanitary clear-felling in 2010. Spreading of spruce bud scale, Physokermes piceae (Schrnk.), is found to correlate with damages of spruce stands in Latvia and Lithuania. This pest is well known in both countries, but never before it caused any serious damages to spruce stands. In Sweden another bud scale insect (Physokermes inopinatus Danzig and Kozár) is found to be the reason for spruce damages.

The forests in Latvia occupy 49.9% of territory and they have significant economic, ecologic and social functions. The notion ‘forest value’ is frequently understood as the value of wood only but non-wood values are often neglected because there are methodological and practical difficulties to estimate them in monetary terms. The list of forest plant non-wood product (FPNWP) groups potentially important for Latvia was made and the significance of them in Latvia’s national economy was estimated. To obtain the information about FPNWP in Latvia (kinds, amounts, value, own-consumption) the public opinion poll was carried out. 77% of the residents of Latvia aged 18 - 74 have gathered the nature products in Latvia in 2010. The most significant FPNWP are mushrooms, wild berries of family Ericaceae - Vaccinium myrtillus L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., Oxycoccus palustris Pers. and birch sap. The contribution of FPNWP in the Latvia’s national economy in 2010 was 66.8 million LVL, including 8.9 million LVL for the products sold in the market or exchanged among households.

The role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the development of economics becomes more important, as they can quickly re-orientate in the rapidly changing economic situation, and they are the main guarantee of wellbeing on the regional scale. Although these enterprises are different, still the SME in the European Union meet several similar difficulties. One of the main problems of the SME is lack of management competences that causes difficulties in ensuring efficient management of the enterprises. The aim of the research was to investigate the competences that are necessary for the employees to carry out their duties from the point of view of small and medium-sized forest enterprises (SMFE). The task of the research was to identify problems faced by the SMFE management in daily business. To get results, the qualitative interview method was used as well as, survey was carried out, and the obtained data from well-established methodology and criteria were evaluated. The research results show that the distribution at the SME is specific professional competence with 40%, social competence with 23%, methodical and individual competence with 19% and 18%. The results show that necessary management competences in SME and large enterprises are equal, but the kind of their application and topicality differ; therefore, it is essential to organize activities of professional development concerning the definite model and type of business. The professional teaching models for SMFEs should be according to enterprises management specifics, focusing on the fact that managers of SMFEs to combine the competences.

Forest industry consists of two related industries forestry and wood processing. Wood processing industry, which is a direct consumer of timber resources generated by forestry sector is eager to search for an answer about kind and amount of round wood they can count on in long term period. In Latvia for every five years State Forest Service calculates cutting volumes for the state owned forests based on models which do not guarantee safe long term income maximization. Long term cutting volumes and assortments in privately owned forests have not been analyzed very deeply. The aim of the research was to estimate the hypothetic amount of different timber resources available in the territory of Latvia for wood processing industry within next hundred years and look at geographic location of timber resources and woodworking companies. Research results showed that forests in Latvia are not being depleted and current annual cutting volumes could be increased. Geographic observation of primary wood processing companies showed that most of them are located close to large cities or near main roads of Latvia. This location makes easier round wood deliveries to factory and facilitates transportation of produced goods to an end customer. To clarify where and what profile (softwood or hardwood) production volumes should be increased, model of timber resource demand indicator was implemented.

Due to currently aggravating problems of global warming, more and more alternatives are being developed using a mixture of different fuels. The rapid development of science and engineering solutions can be the most efficient burning of the local biofuels to a minimum harmful substances from combustion process - including the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The research concerns fuel problem of choice between cost-effective, but environmentally harmful fuels. Research data will help further studies on the fuel in order to increase energy efficiency and rational use. The research was done in 2010, in Riga Technical University laboratories. An aspen wood and hard coal was used to create this fuel mixture. During the research, sampling, grinding, sifting and blending of different proportions, moisture and calorific value determination were carried out. It was determined that the calorific value of the mixture would increase linearly, exactly in the proportion of coal quantities added.

The social enterprise features are well known in the world history while in Latvia there is a lack of studies and understanding about it. The aim of the research paper is to study the influencing factors of social entrepreneurship in Latvia. In the research the essence of social entrepreneurship and the main principles for definition of social enterprises – social mission, business orientation and involvement of marginalized groups are described. The analysis to determine the most important internal and external factors influencing development of social entrepreneurship was carried out. It was found out that the main external factors are political and legal environment, lack of knowledge about significance of social entrepreneurship, dominating values in society and such internal factors as access to finances, recruitment of professional and well motivated personnel.