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By Collecting Waste Paper, Children Learn the Importance of Forest Tending

Turpinot ikgadējās aktivitātes, kuru laikā Latvijas iedzīvotāji tiek izglītoti par tīras vides nozīmi un ilgtspējīgu mežsaimniecību, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) arī šogad atbalsta makulatūras vākšanas konkursu “Tīrai Latvijai!”.

Continuing its annual activities, whereby people in Latvia can learn about the significance of clean environment and sustainable forestry, also this year JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) supports the waste paper collection competition "For Clean Latvia!" (Tīrai Latvjai!).

In the competition, children will collect waste paper and learn that in a sustainably managed forest, paper is gained from wood residues after forest tending and thinning works. Valuable trees are not cut down to get paper; tiny, weak trees that prevent other trees from growing are cut down when a forest is thinned. It is part of the economic forestry cycle, which results in the acquisition of valuable logs for furniture or house-building.

When collecting waste paper, we do not save trees that would anyway be cut down in the forest thinning works; instead, we learn how to make the most of the natural resources we have already obtained. Wood is among the most environmentally friendly materials - renewable and safe - it is also safe for children to play with. Therefore, LVM in cooperation with the association "Zaļā josta" has announced an additional competition for the most active contestants for the best ideas how to create functional items from paper.

The contestants will compete for valuable cash prizes and educational tours; schools will receive recycled paper for each tonne of waste paper they will have collected. Each participant will also have an opportunity to attend an environmental festival free of charge, where the organisers with creative workshops, master classes and musical performances will thank everyone who will have taken part in the campaign.

The competition "For Clean Latvia!" is organised by the association "Zaļā josta" in cooperation with LLC "Līgatnes papīrs", LLC "Clean R", LLC "Balticfloc", LLC "AP Kaudzītes", JSC "Latvia's State Forests", Amusement Park "Avārijas brigāde", LLC "Pilsētvides serviss" and the National Centre for Education.