Nearly 400-year-old protected forest cut down near Rucava

A wooded area near Rucava containing trees at least 377 years old, including a pine of that age and other trees of comparable age, has been cut down. The Latvian Fund for Nature (LDF) representative Liene Brizga-Kalniņa informed the LETA news agency about the incident.

According to her, the felled forest was located on territory under the administration of a Forest Research Station. The LDF representative emphasized that this concerned an exceptionally old forest stand, with an age exceeding three and a half centuries.

Why it matters

Forests containing trees of such advanced age are rare in Latvia and are considered a significant part of the natural heritage, as they often support specific ecosystems not found in younger woodlands. The felling of such an area has raised concern among nature conservation organizations.

Information currently available about the incident is limited — the source does not specify the exact timing of the felling, the size of the cleared area, or who organized and carried out the work. It also remains unclear whether and how responsible institutions will respond to the situation.

The Latvian Fund for Nature is a non-governmental organization dealing with nature conservation issues, regularly drawing public and institutional attention to the management of valuable natural areas. The case near Rucava adds to previous disputes over the management of valuable forest territories in Latvia.