Experience of producing of forest plants in the JSC „Latvia’s State Forests” nurseries – quality and genetical potential

GUNTIS  GRANDANS,  

DIRECTOR OF LVM  SEEDS &  PLANTS

SJC  «LATVIA’S STATE FORESTS»

15.09.2015.  

Europe

Where isLatvia?

LATVIAArea: 64 589 km2

Population: 2 millionForest area: 56.9 % of Latvia’s land territoryForest area per inhabitant – 1.84 ha

Source: http://ej.uz/zb21, http://ej.uz/3nok, http://ej.uz/iuyu

Forests in Latvia

27%Forests in Latvia 1925Forests in Latvia 2013With 3.8 million ha of forestsLatvia is among the most forested countries in Europe*.

Source: Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Forest Statistical Inventory, Phase 1

27%1925

56.9%2013

Forestcover

Forestcover

4

56.9%

27%

27%

30%38%

40%

43%

49%

50%51%

1983

1990

20002005

1973

19611949

1935

1923

56.9%

Source: 1990‐2010 calculated by MSI, 1923‐1990 Forest fund

Forest Cover of Latvia1923 - 2013

5

1923 1935 1949 1961 1973 1983 1990 2000 2005 20130%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

27% 27%

30%

38% 40%43%

49% 50%51%

56.9%

Forest Cover of Latvia1923 - 2013

Source: 1990‐2010 calculated by MSI, 1923‐1990 Forest fund 6

Total Growing Stock in Latvia

Source: Ministry of Agriculture. 2012 year from Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava" 7

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1935 1988 1996 2000 2003 2008 2012

176

432

489

546578

631679

Mill.m

3

Model of State Guidance Forest Sector

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

ForestConsultative

Board

FOREST SECTOR

State Forest ServiceState Forest Service JSC “Latvijas valsts meži”JSC “Latvijas valsts meži”

10 State HeadForestries

ForestResearchstation

8 Regional Centres

Supervising andconsultative Ownership

Forest policy

10

Founded in 1999 

Manages 1.62 million ha 

JSC «Latvijas valsts meži» (LVM) «Latvia’s State Forests» pursue state interests in forestry by sustaining and increasing the forest value, while gaining maximum possible value from forest management

One of Baltics’ leaders in efficient and innovative forestry 

Company Overview

Source: LVM 11

ForestsManaged by LVM

12

LVM ResourcesArea Under Management

Source: State Forest Service and LVM

Total area managed by LVM is 1.62 millionha, of which 1.59 million ha are forestlands.

87%

8%3% 2%

ForestMarshlandSites of forest infrastructureNon ‐ forest land

13

LVM Products and Services

Supply of wood assortmentsLVM delivers to its customers the sawlogs, veneer logs, industrial wood, pulpwood, andfuelwood. Sawlogs and veneer logs are supplied to woodworking enterprises in Latvia.Other assortments are sold following the FOB provisions.

Supply of fuel chipsLVM supplies fuel chips to produce green energy in Latvia and abroad.

Seeds and plantsLVM produces forest tree seeds and the forest and ornamentals planting stock.

Services in recreation and huntingLVM offers at its recreation facilities the services in licensed angling, crayfish catching andhunting for local as well as foreign customers.

Mineral resourcesLVM offers sand, gravel, as well as peat for excavation. The customers for sand and gravelare the operators in forest road and highway building.

15Source: LVM

NATURE

SOCIETY

ForestManagement Principles

ECONOMY

FAIR

VIABLE

ACCEPTABLE

SUSTAINABLE

16

Tending~ 33 harvesters~ 42 forwarders~ 180 operators~ 260 loggers

Infrastructurebuilding> 250 companies~ 3000 employees

Main felling~ 57 harvesters~ 68 forwarders~ 360 operators

17

Transport~ 173 trucks~ 360 drivers

LVM Service Providers

Forestmanagement~ 600 companies~ 2000 employees

TOTAL850 companies

about 6160 employees

Silviculture

RoundwoodProduction & Supply

Forest Seeds and Plants Production

LVM Real Estate

Our Business Areas

Forest InfrastructureDevelopment

Hunting andRecreation

18Source: LVM

LVM Seeds and Seedlings, fields of activity

Produces seeds and seedlings for maintenance of the forest areas managed by LVM 

Sells forest seedlings to Latvian and export markets

Operates 9 tree nurseries, produces and stores forest seeds 

Manages Kalsnava arboretum

19Source: LVM Seeds and Plants

20

Container stockBareroots with improved root systemBareroots, trditional

Total 45.9 mill.plants

Seeds and PlantsLVM produces and supplies forest tree seeds and plants to local and foreign customers.

The production capacity of nine nurseries allows LVM to put on the market over 48 million forest tree plants per year with the target figure of 50 million for the coming years.

22.4 mill.plants18.1 mill.plants5.4 mill.plants

Source: LVM

49 %

39 %

12 %

Three ‘vales’ of qualityBase for seed productionWell developed nurseriesResearch

Base for seed productionSeed orchardsSeed processing equipmentStorage 

Seed orchardsScots pine seed orchardsAbout 450 ha, 150 ha 1.5 generationWe are forking for establishing  of 2nd and 2.5th generation

Norway spruce seed orchardsAbout 200 ha 1st generation, graftings for 2nd generation

Silver birch seed orchardPlastic greenhouse, two provenances, 1st generationGraftings for 3rd generation

Seed processing equipmentCone dryerCone precleaning lineCabinet dryer, capacity 7 – 14 hl per 24 hSeed extraction line

Seed cleaning equipmentWet dewingerSeed washing unitGravity separator and calibration line

All equpment build from BCC AB, Sweden

StorageCold storage for long term storingTerm of storing 10+ years at ‐5° C 

Reserve of seedsScots pine 5 – 7 yearsNorway spruce 7 ‐ 10 yearsSilver birch 4 – 5 years

Well developed nurseriesAttractive investment program for three main nurseriesRealized since 2000

Main targets for developmentProduction of containerized plantsProduction of bareroots with improved root systemIn vitro propagation of hybrid aspen plants

Support of our clientsStoragesAdvanced treatment against pine weevil damagesDeliveries of plants

Containerized plantsBareroots with improved root systemHybrid aspen

Main types of plants

Environment friendly treatment against pine weevil ‐waxing

About 5 M plants per year

Quality control for production and sales of forestry seedlings certificated under standards ISO 9001:2008Since 2010

Certification

ResearchTree breeding program for 30 yearsScots pineNorway spruceSilver birchHybrid aspen

Development of methods for vegetativepropagationNorway spruce (rooting of cuttings, somatic embryogenesis)Silver birch ans hybrid aspen – tissue culture in vitro

Thank you!

WWW.LVM.LV WWW.MAMMADABA.LV