Police open investigation into felling of ancient forest near Rucava

Latvia’s State Police have opened a criminal case over the felling of a nearly 400-year-old forest near Rucava, LSM reported, citing Latvian Radio’s Atvērtie faili programme.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 115 of the Criminal Law. Police are now assessing whether a crime took place.

In mid-October, the association Puse Latvijas, which works to preserve and promote forest biodiversity, asked police to investigate the destruction of an old boreal forest near Rucava. Section 115 provides for a prison sentence of up to five years for causing significant harm by destroying or damaging the habitat of a specially protected species or a specially protected habitat. The offence has a 10-year limitation period.

Last week, Latvijas Valsts meži spokesperson Tomass Kotovičs said the company knew nothing about a complaint to police. Mārtiņš Līdums, director of the Forest Research Station, also told Latvian Radio he was unaware of any complaints.

The felled forest stand was in an area managed by the Forest Research Station. It included a pine tree at least 377 years old, along with other trees of a similar age. Experts have suggested it may have been one of Latvia’s oldest pine stands.