Latvian parliament widens tree-clearing zones around power lines

Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has approved expanding the tree-clearing zone around 110-kilovolt power lines from 13 metres to 18 metres on each side. The change was passed in its second and final reading on Thursday, LSM reports.

The decision follows a damaging summer storm. An analysis by power grid operator Augstsprieguma tīkls of data from 2014 to 2024 found that 83% of trees that fell onto 110-kilovolt lines were within the new 18-metre zone.

The change is expected to require the felling of about 230,000 trees, equivalent to 0.03% of Latvia’s forest area. Current law sets a total protection corridor extending 35 metres on each side of the lines, with trees cleared within 13 metres.

Amendments to the Forest Law also allow forest owners to cut trees within a 15-metre strip outside the protection corridor if those trees threaten 110- or 330-kilovolt power lines.

The storm hit Latvia overnight on August 23 and was the strongest summer storm recorded since at least 1966, when comprehensive wind-gust observations began. Power supply was disrupted for about 277,000 customers on the morning of August 23, and some parts of the country were without electricity for several days.