At different points in the history there have been attempts to evaluate the volume and value of separate game-related goods and services in Latvia; however, so far there have been no comprehensive studies covering the role of the game management and its impact on Latvia’s economy. Such data would be necessary not only to evaluate the impact of the game management on Latvia’s economy, but also to set appropriate priorities in cases where game animals cause damage to other sectors of economy. In order to evaluate the role of the game management in the national economy, lists of the game-related goods and services have been drafted, sources of information have been identified to determine the volume and monetary value of the goods and services in the 2009/2010 hunting season, as well as a methodology has been developed to acquire the missing information. It has been determined that the total monetary value of the game-related products was 3.66 million LVL, while the game-related services accounted for 18.86 million LVL. The total contribution of the game management to Latvia’s economy in the 2009/2010 hunting season has been estimated at 22.52 million LVL. Among the game-related products the most significant product is the game meat total amount (sales and own consumption) of which has been estimated at 2.8 thousand tons, while total value accounted for 3.6 million LVL. Among the game-related services the most significant contributors are the following: sales of hunting equipment (6.7 million LVL) and game-related transportation costs (4.7 million LVL).

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.

The comparison of business and taxation conditions in several countries is one of the main tasks of each investor who claims to start a new business. The same problem is significant for state authorities responsible for attraction of investments as well as for scientists who analyse problems related to investment attraction. The aim of the research is to propose the methodological model to compare taxation conditions of various business forms. The taxation of six different business forms was compared. As the examples for research object, the smallest business forms in Lithuania were chosen: a person having a business certificate, a person engaged in agricultural activity (a farmer), a self-employed person engaged in agricultural activity, a person owner of sole-proprietorship and a person owner of the joint-stock company. In order to compare and evaluate the amount of taxes mathematically, the hypothetical data were taken which allowed to identify the least and the most taxable forms of business in Lithuania. Analysing different business forms and their taxation conditions, the following methods were used: systematic, comparative, logical analysis and synthesis. Legal acts regulating the taxation of each form of organizational business were investigated and summarized. The most difficult conditions for the owners of sole proprietorships in Lithuania were observed in 2010. They had to pay about 50 percent of their incomes. But the best conditions for small business had those people who worked with business certificates. They paid only 6 percent of their incomes.

The paper “Latvian Services Sector Development Model: Internet Solution” addresses an issue of the quality of business environment in the Latvian services sector. In the paper, there are analyzed governmentally supported information systems, data bases and e-services aiming at simplification of B2G communication process, identified their advantages and drawbacks, as well as determined potential for their further development. As a result, a model for optimization of governmental on-line tools, fostering an access to business-related information and fulfilment of administrative procedures in the services sector, has been developed. The paper provides a diversified four-layer solution, which may be progressively realized, depending on the available financial resources.

In this article, the results of research on WRI of LUA Juodkiškiai experiment field (1999 – 2003) are discussed. Fertilization and other factors influence over potassium fluctuation, its balance and leaching into drainage water during crop rotation are analysed. In order to evaluate the potassium balance and its quantity passed together with rainfall, seeds, fertilizers and take with the yield (secondary and primary production) was established in plant residues and drainage water. When fertilizing with liquid manure, potassium balance was negative while growing perennial grasses as much potassium was needed to mature their yield. The investigations established that potassium concentration in drainage water and its leaching was increased by precipitation during the research period, and it was reduced by the amount of this element taking out with yield. Soil geochemical environment had influence on the increase of potassium supply in soil. It was established that long-term fertilization with liquid manure had raised the potassium supply in soil. However, from an ecological point of view, potassium leaching did not cause any problems. In all treatments the potassium concentration in drainage water did not exceed permissible concentration.

In Latvia, Class 1 levelling network crosses major rivers. In the places where the river cannot be crossed over the bridge, the levelling across the river should be done directly. The paper describes the methodology, the applied instruments and the results of levelling performed across the Lielupe and Daugava rivers. The levelling across the Daugava River at the creek, where the length of the sight reaches 700 m, was performed simultaneously with two Ni002 levellers. To facilitate the reading of the levelling rod, across the river, a special scale type mark was constructed and fitted on a levelling rod. It was concluded that for the levelling across up to 200-m-wide rivers, levelling rods with 3-mm-wide stripes can be successfully used. The scale type mark makes significantly easier and speeds up the measurements. Under unfavourable weather conditions, measurements performed across the Daugava at the creek were less accurate. There was no explanation for the difference in the elevations measured by the two instruments; therefore, further careful studies of both levellers are needed.

The aesthetic quality of landscape is one of the most threatened values in our environment. The methodology chosen to evaluate the landscape for the first time has to be precise and effective. The objective of this study was to find the most appropriate method for the first time evaluation of sacral landscapes. The paper compares two methods – the Scenic beauty estimation method, and the Q sorting method for evaluating the scenic beauty. Comparison of the two methods was made in the winter of 2010 – 2011. The Scenic beauty estimation method is effective for getting a quick estimation of general scenic beauty. The Q method gives the estimation of general scenic beauty and the explanation of perception priority. The visual quality is deeply connected with perception. Placing perception in numbers leaves some doubt, but it is quite an effective way of observing the main visual qualities in the perception of spectators. Both methods give the first impression of the landscape elements. But Q method gives more significant results than the Scenic beauty estimation method.

The research was accomplished within the framework of the doctoral thesis, with the aim to clarify the role of Latvian Manor Park in the settlement landscape ecology. Significance of the Latvian Historical Park in the settlement landscape ecological processes in Kuldiga district was discussed and analyzed. To achieve set objective of the research, there was developed the landscape ecology assessment methodology of the settlements in the influence of the historical parks based on generalized scientific cognitions and researches in the landscape ecology, and scientific researches of the population loads and historical park value. The developed method was applied by surveying the selected historical parks in the settlement, and by assessing biodiversity factors, urbanization load, and landscape ecological networking compatibility degree. As a result, the selected settlements of historical parks were marked in the district of Kuldiga in the landscape ecological map, highlighting the importance of both national and European level. The results indicate significance of the historical parks in the settlement landscape ecology and that the role of historical parks in the settlement landscape ecology is essential, which ensures the natural basic resources air, water and soil quality. In the settlements, the historical parks existence is high value and quality environmental guarantee, which would have been managed according to the proposed principles of landscape ecology science.