The emergence of human–induced edges in forested landscapes has caused major threat for the existence of habitat specialists. Woodland key habitat (WKH) concept has been created in the Baltic and Fennoscandian forests to preserve small forest parcels with a high biodiversity value in the production forests. In this study we investigated the occurrence of epiphytic lichen indicator species in black alder WKHs in Southern Latvia. In total 30 black alder WKHs with age of 84 to 129 years were chosen for analysis including stands adjacent to young, middle–aged and mature stands. Sample plots were placed at three distances from the forest edge. Our results indicate significant differences in number of species per sample plots adjacent to stands of different age. Lichen indicator species were considerably more common in habitats adjacent to mature forest stands and further (40–50 m) from the edge. From four lichen indicator species found in this study, sample plots adjacent to young stands hosted only two species. We argue that the indicator species response to human–induced edges is species specific and some of them are resistant to microclimatic changes near the edges.

The tree growth compensation followed by insect damage is important for tree survival. Insect damage by making 3 and 6 holes per each leaf, and clipping one third of a leaf were simulated for one-year old silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings once, at the beginning of the vegetation season. The height, aboveground and root biomass, root length, stem diameter and leaf area were measured for all damaged and control seedlings. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of different insect-damage simulations on silver birch growth. Our study demonstrated that leaf dry mass decreased in response to leaf perforations and clipping one third of leaf. However, at the end of the experiment, the cumulative dry mass reached the level of the control. We found no statistically significant effect on the aboveground and total biomass of damaged seedlings compared to the control. The leaf clipping decreased the leaf area and stem diameter compared both to the treatment with hole-damaged seedlings and the control. The induced birch growth response showed that tree seedlings were able to compensate their growth up to the control level after the insect damage in eight weeks.

Thinning of young forest stands is a contribution to the future of the stand development. Our study focuses on damage of the remaining trees and soil. Now it is common to see thinning of young stands with heavy forest machines, but most of these operations take place in commercial thinning. This study is focused on precommercial thinning to evaluate different mechanized thinning methods in relation to the damage done to the remaining trees and soil in deciduous tree stands. Data were collected in four stands where the average diameter of trees at breast height was 6.2 cm, the height of average trees - 9.5 m, but number of trees per hectare was more than 2900. The stands regenerate naturally. Damage was evaluated separately after harvester and forwarder operations. The study proves that forwarding makes much less damage to the remaining trees than harvesting. According to the study data, the traditional method results in the largest number of damaged trees, because operators need to cut all trees closer than 1.5 m from the target tree. Both schematic thinning methods result in significantly less damage. A statistically significant difference (p is less than 0.001) was found in a proportion of damaged remaining trees between all of the applied working methods. The smallest amount of damage is associated with complex symmetrical thinning method. The most damage appears during harvesting. The aim of this study was to compare three working methods of biofuel production in pre-commercial thinning using harvester John Deere 1070D with accumulating felling head Bracke C16.b in grey alder (Alnus incana) pure stand.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most common wood species in Latvia. It is classified as not durable, therefore additional protection against microorganisms is needed prior its use outdoors. Presently Cu-containing wood preservatives are commonly used, but the biggest drawback is the poor Cu fixation, therefore raising concerns about the impact on the environment. Three types of specimens were used to carry out the experiments – untreated, Latvian originated Scots pine; Scots pine commercially treated with preservatives that belong to a group of Cu-boron-triazole (CBA) products; and Scots pine, impregnated with micronized-Cu solution using a standard full cell process. In order to make sure that all of the specimens are equal in their components, elemental analysis was performed and content of nitrogen (1.2 – 2.5 g kgE-1), carbon (485.5 g kgE-1), oxygen (456.0 g kgE-1) and hydrogen (55.6 g kgE-1) was determined. The treated specimens were leached according to the European standard EN 84. For micronized-Cu impregnated Scots pine the total Cu content in leachates obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy was 0.15 mg gE-1 of wood, and 0.06 mg gE-1 of absolute dry matter with CBA preservative impregnated Scots pine wood. Subsequently, according to the European standard EN 113, treated Scots pine blocks were exposed to brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana and to white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor for 16 weeks. Mass loss for wood treated with micro-Cu was 48.4% (484 g kgE-1) and 1.5% (15 g kgE-1) respectively, but for CBA – 49.5 % (495 g kgE-1) and 1.2% (12 g kgE-1). Both samples proved to be inappropriate for outdoor use (use class 3).

Colour and colour homogeneity are of special importance for establishing the quality of wood products. In the present study the effect of thermal treatment at 140 °C and 170 °C on colour and its homogeneity was studied for aspen (Populus tremula L.), grey alder (Alnus incana Moench) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) wood. Wood colour was monitored and evaluated by spectrophotometrical measurements of reflectance spectra and colour parameter calculations using CIELAB colour model with L* as the lightness, and a* and b* as the chromatic parameters. Wood colour changed substantially and all studied types of wood acquired quite similar colour due to the thermal treatment with greater discolouration and almost the same colour detected for treatment at 170 °C. The average colour difference within a board surface as well as among boards of one species was found to be less than 3 DEab units for all thermally treated specimens which can be regarded as hardly perceptible colour difference. However, noticeable differences in colour were detected between the surface and inner layers of thermally treated wood boards. Greater colour heterogeneity throughout the depth of a board was detected for woods treated at 140 °C.

This article deals with conception and particularity of management process and functions of non-governmental organisations (hereinafter referred to as NGO), as well as peculiarities of management functions of NGO. Empirical research results of implementation of NGO management functions in Kaunas District have been presented, the major advantages and disadvantages of implementation of NGO management functions in Kaunas District have been pointed out. With reference to the data of theoretical analysis and empirical research, the directions towards development of problematic areas of NGO management functions have been indicated and justified, highlighting the elimination of drawbacks to the implementation of management functions.

The primary goal of public projects is to create social benefits for the community. The prepared public project usually has more than one option. In order to choose the most efficient option, it is necessary to take into consideration all social benefits. For this reason multi-criteria methods may be applied since they provide a possibility to assess quantitatively social benefits which are measured in many different quantitative and qualitative indicators. The problem of the research stems from a variety of social benefits indicators of public projects, the problematic establishment of their value and the need of their complex valuation. The paper presents a methodology for TOPSIS multi-criteria method adapted for the valuation of public projects in order to select investment option and the empirical research makes it possible to look at the problems of public project valuation from the practical approach. The research of the paper is aimed at revealing the advantages and limitations of TOPSIS multi-criteria method used for public projects valuation.

Promotion of non-agricultural activities in Latvian rural areas is highly important for diversification of rural economy due to decrease in agricultural and forestry employment. So far too little attention has been paid to this aspect. Although EAFRD is the only EU fund directly supporting rural development, only 14% of its public financing for projects in 2007-2013 was invested in non-agricultural entrepreneurship, half of this in financially demanding energy production projects. By total eligible accepted project expenses, approximately 60% of rural entrepreneurship projects were financed by EAFRD. ERDF was also important in which a smaller number of higher value investment projects was implemented. Although EU funds have some importance in activating rural entrepreneurship, so far the direct impact on creation of jobs and value added has been small. The impact could be increased by setting forth specific job creation requirements for the beneficiaries. It is also suggested to avoid supporting expensive projects which do not create a substantial number of jobs. In view of rural entrepreneurs improvements in entrepreneurial environment, including taxing policy are more important than direct support. It especially concerns operation of small companies. Development of small companies in rural areas is of high importance because in many territories there is no capacity and rationale to develop large projects.

Currently one of the hottest local governments’ issues on the agenda of the government of Latvia is the elaboration of new improved local government finance equalization system, which is an important integral element of the implementation of regional development policy. Local government finance equalization is affecting development capacity of any territory, including rural territories. The purpose of the article is to highlight and discuss in academic society the finance equalization issues that affect the rural municipalities and work out proposals for the new system. The study does not cover all local government finance equalization system’s elements, but gives attention to three – importance of the equalization for rural local governments – municipalities (novads); revenue sources, that are necessary to include in the equalization system; criteria for calculation of local governments’ expenditure needs.

In the article, following the theoretical aspect, there is analyzed the business model canvas and there is presented the business model classification involving the discussion related to the particularity of veterinary activities. The research aim is after having summarized theoretical aspects of business models, to disclose business model application peculiarities in veterinary activities. In order to disclose the business model application peculiarities in veterinary activities and to supplement the research by other authors, there was disclosed the peculiarity of veterinary service and there was completed the most relevant business model analysis allocated to the development of veterinary activities. Having systematized the business models introduced in different sources it was noticed that there had not been found any business models which were named as ones being unambiguously relevant to veterinary activities. There have been accurately analyzed application possibilities of the business model canvas for the analysis and development in veterinary service activities.