Both forestry theory and practice have proved that amelioration favours the growth of forest stands significantly. The growing stock increases even 10 times, if the amelioration system is well-functioning. Joint Stock Company Latvia State Forests that is managing half of forests in Latvia has started renovation of old amelioration systems aiming to improve the productivity of state owned forests in Latvia. In order to evaluate the impact of the renovation of the old amelioration systems, a tree ring width in 7 pine stands, 5 spruce stands and 3 birch stands was analysed. This study shows that the renovation itself has not affected the productivity of mature pine, spruce and birch significantly 3-4 years after the renovation. Authors have come to a conclusion that the reason for that could be too short observation period or particularities of a stand structure and age.

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.

Pine, spruce and birch stem’s quality is different in regions of Latvia, but the differences are not included in the tables and models of assortment outcome. Therefore, it is not possible to predict accurately the outcome of round wood assortments. The aim of the research was to evaluate the regional differences of final felling sawlog outcome for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and birch (Betula spp.) in Latvia and to set the regions with a different sawlog outcome. Data from 1645 final felling areas was used for pine, 1202 for spruce and 1531 for birch from the years 2010 – 2012. Firstly, the sawlog outcome of 97 territorial units was set by using the data of the final felling areas sawlog outcome of pine, spruce and birch. Secondly, territorial units with a similar sawlog outcome were consolidated in regions. The smallest regional difference of sawlog outcome was found for spruce (9.4%), slightly larger for pine (10.5%) and the largest difference for birch (16.2%). Three regions with the different sawlog outcome were found for Scot pine, six for Norway spruce and seven for birch. Several spruces and birch regions have similar sawlog outcome but those do not have borders. They are between regions with higher or lower sawlog outcome. Sawlog outcome of neighbouring regions differ for at least 4 – 5%.

This brief review of the recent birch studies is focused on different aspects, such as species distribution, growing conditions, species identification, changes due to environmental factors. All mentioned investigations were carried out in Lithuania. This analytical study summarises the results and increases knowledge dissemination to the international audience. When reviewed and summarized considerable part of relevant literature sources, we realised new problems and challenges; for example, aiming to clarify the peculiarities of the growth and crown condition of the dominant birch species (Betula pendula Roth. and B. pubescens Ehrh.) under the changing climate and anthropogenic pollution.

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.

No simple method has yet been found for satisfactory wood bio-resistance improvement regarding material performance in its end-use. An attempt to obtain material with proper strength and bio-durability by combined wood thermal modification and impregnation with a biocide is being researched. To select the most appropriate treatment conditions for the combined process, changes in wood physical and mechanical properties depending on the treatment temperature were investigated in the present study. For the investigation, in Latvia the most widespread wood – softwood pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and hardwood birch (Betula spp.) was used. Changes of wood mechanical and physical properties due to thermal modification were investigated and effect of treatment temperature and relative humidity on wood characteristics evaluated. It was found that, due to different degree of changes, no identical treatment conditions suit for birch and pine wood. Birch wood is considerably more sensitive to temperature and acceptable strength was maintained only for birch wood treated at 150 °C and for pine wood treated at 160 °C. Nevertheless at higher environmental humidity equilibrium moisture content and consequently radial and tangential swelling increased for all studied wood types, substantially smaller changes due to elevated humidity were detected for modified wood.

Birch plywood has proved itself to be one of the most rational ways of wood processing. Growing demand of high performance birch plywood products requires a complex numerical analysis based on Finite Element Method (FEM), instead of using simple analytical assumptions, which prevent optimization of plywood construction (lay-up). In the research samples of birch plywood of several thicknesses, both sanded and non-sanded, with fibre direction of external veneer both in the longitudinal and transverse directions were tested. An extensometer and optical strain gauge were used for strain measurement. The FEM analysis, using commercial software SolidWorks Simulation Premium (SW), versus experimental bending and tension testing according to LVS EN 789 was carried out in this paper. The analysis of results indicates that there is a high correlation between the results of the experiments and the FEM. Particularly for in tension loaded specimens one can be tested up to the maximum ply strength (100 MPa); meanwhile, in bending up to 71MPa – the average stress in load bearing ply at the proportionality limit. Due to software restrictions, shear stresses cannot be evaluated. Future studies are considered to investigate terms for designing plywood with dynamic properties of strength and stiffness to be taken into account.

Forestry in Latvia in the 20th century was strongly focused on the establishment and management of pure Scots pine and Norway spruce stands trying to avoid any admixture of other tree species. Knowledge on the economic feasibility of the mixed stands’ management is still rather poor in Latvia, while at the same time the establishment of mixed stands of Norway spruce and birch species has become an attractive management objective in Finland and Sweden. This paper used the data from the Latvian National Forest inventory to quantify the amount of birch stands with the second layer of spruce, as the first step to justify the development of recommendations for alternative management options in this type of stands. According to the results, there are 121 752 ha of birch stands with the second layer of Norway spruce, and most of those are located in Hylocomiosa, Oxalidosa, Myrtillosa mel. and Myrtillosa turf.mel. site types. The mean standing volume of birch stands with Norway spruce understorey was higher than in birch stands with no spruce understorey, and Hylocomiosa, Oxalidosa, Myrtillosa mel. were the most productive site types both in terms of total standing volume and that of the Norway spruce growing in the second layer. Analysed data also revealed that the management of birch stands already now differs strongly in state and private forests, in the latter being more focused on selective fellings. It is possible to develop and test alternative management methods of birch stands with the second layer of Norway spruce to maximise yield and reduce expenses of forest regeneration.

In Latvia, P.abies (L.) H. Karst stands occupy about 18% of the total forest area (3.01 million) forming pure and mixed stands. Regardless of the main goals, productivity of the future forest stands must be preserved; therefore, it is very important for forest management to identify risk factors. P.abies often suffers from various risk factors. The aim of the research was – to assess the sanitary state of Picea abies (L.) H. Karst in Oxalidosa, where the area of forest stands has been restored both anthropogenically and naturally. Selected young stands are located in Limbazi district of Latvia. Empirical data was collected in 5 spruce stands with the total area of 9.2 ha in Oxalidosa. In total, 67 sample plots were installed with radius of 3.99 m, measuring 799 trees. Diameter was measured for all trees in the sample plot. For sanitary state of P.abies young stands characterization damage caused by biotic factors was assessed visually after four-point scale: health tree (0), minor damage to 25% (1), moderately damaged 26 – 50% (2), severely damaged or dried – from 51% (3). Damage caused by P.abietina and browsing was found in several stands, while damage produced by P.abietina larvae was detected only in one pure stand. Occurrence of browsing damage is 10 – 28%, while damage intensity – 7.7 – 21.8%. There are significant differences between occurrence of browsing damage (p=0.001) and also between damaged tree damage intensity (p=0.003). Nature of browsing damage depends on the size of pure and mixed stand area, the location in forest massif and adjoining territory.

The manufacturers of wood-based panels are interested to get easy and cheap method for determination of characteristic values of panels. The correlation between European standards EN 789 and EN 310 tests results can be used as an alternative procedure for determination of characteristic values of bending properties. The correlations between two results of bending properties determined by testing methods of European standards EN 789 and EN 310 are studied in this paper. The ratio of EN 789 test results divided with EN 310 test results (ratio of EN 789/EN 310), depending on panel thickness and glue type, was examined. Samples from 846 panels of birch (Betula sp.) plywood with thickness ranging from 6.5 to 30 mm and two glue types - phenol formaldehyde and melamine urea formaldehyde resin - were used for verification of the correlations. The results show that the panel thickness influences the ratio of EN 789/EN 310 and the highest ratio were found between 12 and 15 mm panels. When the panel thickness is increased or decreased, the ratio of EN 789/EN 310 decreases significantly. The regression equations for each thickness of plywood are presented. The difference between plywood glued with phenol formaldehyde and melamine urea formaldehyde resin glues was not found.