Workshop
“Contaminated Lands in Accession Countries: Benchmarking Historical
Heritage and National Actions”
17 – 18th November 2003 Budapest, Hungary
COUNTRY PROFILE
LATVIA
Evisa Āboliņa
Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia
Environmental protection department
Peldu iela 25, LV- 1494, Riga, LATVIA
I Background
Territory of Latvia covers more than 6.4 million ha. Forests dominate in the land use (44 %),
followed by agricultural land (39%) and urban areas and infrastructure (10 %).
Latvia is situated in a humid and moderately mild climatic region where rainfall exceeds
evaporation, resulting in a percolation losses in the soil during spring and autumn. The largest
amount of precipitation falls in the Western and North-eastern parts of the highest hills (700-800
mm year-1). The precipitation decreases to 550-600 mm year-1 in the central lower plains and in
seacoast areas. Winters are cold with average temperatures in January varying from –2.6 o C
along the Western coast to -7.4o C in Northeast. The snow cover has an average duration of 8090 days in Latvia. The highest values of snow depth are observed in the Eastern and NorthEastern part of the country (20-40 cm), with a duration of about 4 months. In the central lower
plains snow cover reaches only 10-20 cm with a duration of 2 months. a stable snow cover is not
established in the central part every year. The summer is temperate with the highest average
temperatures in July (15.9 - 17.1 oC).
The hydrological regime in Latvia is typical for many of the East-European regions. The
maximum run-off usually occurs during spring flood. About 50 % of the annual run-off is
generated from snow melt in spring, 30 % from rainfall events and 20 % from ground water
discharge during low flow periods.
II Soils in Latvia
The humid climate favours podzolisation and lessivation of Automorphic soils, and water
accumulation on less permeable soil layers results in soil gleying. Throughout Latvia generally
the Quaternary deposits cover Devonian sediments. In the South-West, Permian and
Carboniferous limestone and dolomite forms the bedrock. The quaternary sediment layer
thickness varies from 10 to 300 m. The altitude of land surface differs from the Baltic Sea level
up to 312 m above sea level in North-East. The area with an altitude over 200 m covers only 2.5
% of total area of country.
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Latvia is still using the Soviet soil classification system to describe both soil texture and soil
groups. The first steps to change it to international (FAO) classification have been made.
According to national (Soviet) soil classification, main soil types in Latvia are (Figure 1):
1. Sod podzolized
- 54.5%
2. Sod gley
- 21 %
3. Sod podzolized, gley
- 8.9 %
4. Sod calcareous
- 6.9 %
5. Alluvial
- 1.5 %
6. Organic
- 7.2 %
Sod podzolized soils are formed on non- calcareous or low calcareous parent material. Free
calcareous material are not found in the soil profile or are laid below 60 cm (loamy parent
material) or below 80-150 cm (loamy sand and sand). Below the A1 horizon (5-15 cm thick) are
located the horizons of A2, A2B and B with different thickness. Usually in soils formed on parent
material consisting of two layers (loamy sand on loam) the gley horizon occurs or surface
gleyish process has been developed. Topsoil pHKCl is 4.0-5.6. According the degree of
podzolization, soils are divided in three subgroups. As the podzolation process increases,
contents of plant nutrients and humus decrease while soil acidity increases.
Sod podzolized, gley soils have been formed on similar parent material as Sod podzolic soils.
Clearly distinguished all round gley horizon or gley spots are in profile. No free carbonates are in
profile or they occur below 80 cm. In topsoil pHKCl is 4.5-5.5. Soil is relatively poor in plant
nutrients and organic matter. Unfavourable physical properties, especially acidity. For successful
use in agriculture soil drainage, land reclamation, liming and plant nutrient build-up in soil is
essential.
Sod gley soils are formed on calcareous parent material or affected by minerals saturated ground
water. Clearly distinguished all round gley horizon or gley spots are in profile. Well-developed
A1 horizon. Organic mater content might be up to 30 % (Sod humus gley and gleysoilic soils).
Topsoil pHKCl is 5.5-7.0. Soils are rich in calcareous material and organic matter. Fe+2 and Mn+2
occur in gley layer. After soil drainage, land reclamation, soils are good for use in agriculture
Sod calcareous soils are formed on calcareous parent material. Free carbonates are found no
deeper than 60 %. Soils have well developed humus horizon. B-horizon is feeble. Earth
wormholes and limestone concretions are observed in the profile. Topsoil pHKCl is 6.0-7.0. Soil
is relatively rich in humus and plant nutrients and has good soil physical properties. Soil has high
potential fertility. Soils formed on clay or loamy parent material might have poor water
permeability.
Alluvial soils are developed on flooded areas by glacial melting water. The soil layers are
developed from floodwater deposits. Soils might be divided in subgroups according to mineral
composition, organic mater content and colour. Organic mater content and plant nutrient content
might be relatively high. After soil drainage and reclamation, soils are suitable for intensive use
in agriculture
Organic soils are formed due to the accumulation of remains of vegetation in water-rich areas or
in the process of over-growing of lakes. Soils might be divided in subgroups according to depth
of peat layer, decomposition rate of peat, water status in soil, etc.
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According to national (Soviet) soil texture classification based on two parameters (clay
0,01 - 0,0002 mm, sand 0,01 –3.00 mm) main soil groups in Latvia are:
1. Sand
- 12.8 %
2. Sandy loam
- 33.1 %
3. Loam
- 42,5 %
4. Clay
- 4.4 %
5. Organic soil
- 7.2 %
III Contaminated soils and sites in Latvia
The biggest problem for Latvia today is the old contaminated sites which include former USSR
military territories, former industrial sites, oil product storage’s, different dumps and
agrochemical storehouses. According to Latvian the landowners, obtaining denationalised land,
are not responsible for the historical contamination existing there. Since the entities responsible
for contamination (big enterprises or collective farms) do not exist any longer, a part of
responsibility for the economic activities at the contaminated site should be carried by the state.
In Latvia there are many cases of contamination of soil and shallow groundwater. Still the
investigations show that contamination is mostly small, and is not dangerous for environment in
largest area. It is necessary to establish monitoring in many of the sites, but only some hot-spots
must be cleaned up.
Pollution with plant nutrients
Despite both the decrease of land area used in agriculture and decrease in a number of livestock
and fertiliser application, agriculture is still responsible for high nitrogen and phosphorus loads
to water bodies and the Baltic Sea. Despite the declining use in recent years, high nutrient loads
in recent decades have led to substantial nutrient accumulation in soil in the areas with high
livestock density. Animal production has decreased on the former animal farms and many of
them have been closed. In many cases the former huge animal farms, despite the drastic decrease
of production, had to decrease the available land area necessary for manure application. Increase
of animal density rise up the negative impact of large farms as point pollution sources.
Monitoring data shows that non point pollution from agricultural catchments with private farms
is low in Latvia today as compared to western countries, however there is a tendency of the
increase of nutrient concentrations in runoff. Data has shown that the Soviet type, large animal
farms with poor manure storage facilities and spreading equipment may be considered as point
sources, and have to be the main target today to minimise negative environmental impacts of
agriculture in Latvia. Overfertilisation in limited land areas near large farms cause soil pollution,
what results in plant nutrient disbalance in soil and reduced quality of agricultural products.
Pollution with pesticides residues
483 t of plant pest control substances in 1999 were used in agriculture, which is almost 9 times
less than at the end of 1980s, when high levels of pesticides were applied in order to achieve
high yields. The legislation on pesticide use covers registration, trading, storage and application
of pesticides. Using advanced pesticides strictly according to recommendations the risk of
pollution is minimised. Some pollution of pesticide residues is observed in pesticide storage
facilities of the former collective farms. Control on pesticide use in Latvia is well organised, but
up to this time there have been limited research possibilities on pesticide residues in soil and
plants.
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Pollution with heavy metals
Mineral fertilisers, pesticides and emissions from transport, industry and energy producers can be
sources of heavy metal contamination in soil and crops. It can be considered that soils in Latvia
are comparatively unpolluted with heavy metals. The data from the land survey show that the
contents of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni and Cr) is very low in 95 – 99% of cases, compared to the
background (natural) levels. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soils of flooded areas, old
apple tree gardens of former large farms, and near highways are higher than the background
levels, but they do not exceed the allowed limits.
Pollution with radioactive materials
Latvian soils generally are considered clean from radioactive substances.
IV Soil protection in Latvia
1. National pollution prevention policy and company practices (inventory of polluting facilities,
the implementation of the IPPC Directive)
Pollution prevention of soil is determined in National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP) of
Latvia, which was accepted by the Cabinet of Ministers on April 21, 1995, as the basic document
that contains policy goals and principles, destruction and analysis of priority environmental
problems, as well as survey of political instruments and recommendations for their use. NEPP of
Latvia is a strategic document that is written for long-term needs (25 – 30 years), therefore it is
not concrete. NEPP sets four long-term environmental policy goals:
 significant improvement of environmental quality and ecosystem stability;
 protection of the existing biodiversity and landscape characteristics;
 sustainable use of natural resources;
 integration of environmental policy into all branches and fields of life.
National Environmental Action Program (NEAP) was developed as the document that prescribes
the implementation proceeding of NEPP of Latvia, accepted by the State Minister of
Environment on 10 January 1997.
In year 2003 Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia started to update National
Environmental Policy Plan of Latvia which planned to be adopted on year 2004.
The integration permit and control system (IPPC) is implemented. The legal system
requirements, environmental impact assessment for new locations and activities, the permit and
control system help to prevent contamination. IPPC Directive has been implemented by Law On
Pollution adopted on 1 July 2001.
2. National programme on contaminated lands (established by whom, by what legislation);
if no such, other regional or sectoral programmes or databases
The main tasks to prevent soil pollution is included National Environmental Action Program.
NEAPP consists of several introductions and descriptions of the actions, including environmental
impact of agriculture.
On year 1999 Latvia has prepared Code of Good Agriculture Practice for Latvia (GAP). GAP
contains legislation obligations, recommendations and practical advice envisaged for farmers,
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horticulturists, individual growers, agriculture service employees and for everyone who is
involved in agricultural production and preservation of rural environment. The aims of the GAP
are to decrease the negative influence of farming on the environment and to prevent the
impoverishment and irrational use of the main nature resources - soil, water, plants, animals, and
landscape. It is recommended to follow the rules accepted in Europe and in other developed
countries. GAP comprises main spheres of agricultural activities that are critical in causing
water, air, and soil pollution. It gives advice for the prevention or at least for the decrease of
pollution. A successful implementation of GAP has to be based on three integrated basic
principles: economically viable, environmentally friendly, and socially acceptable. The goal to
establish GAP Code for each country is determined by the Nitrate Directive of the European
Union (EEC/91/676).
The GAP now has only recommendatory status. On year 2003 Ministry of Agriculture started to
update GAP and makes decisions for future status of this Code.
According to Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.531 “Regulations on the protection of
waters and soil against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources” (implementation
of Council Directive 91/676/EEC), on year 2003 Ministry of Agriculture started to develop the
Action Programme in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment for Vulnerable zones.
Vulnerable zones, subject to special requirements for water and soil protection against pollution
caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, their boundaries, criteria for designation of such
zones and their management practices. The boundaries of the vulnerable zones are administrative
boundaries of Dobele, Bauska, Jelgava and Riga district, except administrative boundaries of
Riga city and Jurmala city. The Action Programme may also include a Code of Good
Agricultural Practice. This Action Programme will be obligatory to the territory of vulnerable
zones. The requirements of the Action Programme shall be implemented within four years of its
adoption.
3. Data acquisition (integration of existing databases, detection by authorities, monitoring
networks, new field campaign)
Data are acquired within a framework of monitoring programs (Agricultural monitoring
program, Forest monitoring program, Integrated monitoring program, Soil radiation monitoring
program).
There is still not any integrated soil quality database in Latvia, mainly because the lack of unified
criteria. The main problems are:
 The soil classification system is different from international FAO soil classification system,
therefore at the moment it is not possible to compare the data at international level.
 Every institution has its own purposes and methods to collect data.
Data is collected and reports are made by the University of Latvia, Latvian Agricultural
University, Latvian Environmental Agency and State Forest Service.
4. Database management and structure of national (or other) inventories
The environment information system and database management is under the responsibility of
Latvian Environment Agency. Latvian Environment Agency has prepared National
Environmental Monitoring Programme (NEMP) which was adopted in year 2000. The overall
aim of the Programme is establishment of the environmental monitoring system accordingly to
EU directives, international conventions and legislative acts of the Republic of Latvia, to ensure
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general public, policy-makers, experts both on national and on international level with reliable,
goal oriented and qualitative environmental information.
Latvian Environmental Agency has begun a project “Pre-Investigation of soil quality of Latvia
database” (in collaboration with prof. O.Nikodemus from University of Latvia) (2003), which is
the first step towards the integrated database of soil quality in Latvia. The aim of this project is to
build an integrated soil quality database, which must be integrated with the international soil
classification system. Since that there has been several databases hold by different institutions
and organizations (Latvian Agricultural University, University of Latvia, State Forest Institute
“Silava”, State Forest Service, Latvian Environmental Agency).




The national coordinator of Forest monitoring is State Forest Service who holds the database,
including the forest soil data.
Agricultural soil database is hold by Latvian Agricultural University.
The national coordinator of soil radiation monitoring is Latvian Environmental Agency,
which holds the database and annual reports.
The national coordinator of integrated monitoring is Latvian Hydrometeorological Agency,
which holds the central database. The database is available also in Latvian Environmental
Agency.
5. Classification and assessment systems for ranking the priorities of decontamination actions
Classification and assessment systems for ranking the priorities of decontamination actions is
determined in Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.483 adopted in 20 November 2001
“Inventory and registration of contaminated and potentially contaminated areas” issued
pursuant the Law On Pollution adopted in 1 July 2001.
On year 1998 scientists of the Latvia University of Agriculture prepared “Strategy on soil
classification” where the main subject was to develop common soil classification according FAO
soil standards. This project was not accepted in Cabinet of Ministers due to the limited financial
sources and limited capacity on responsible authorities.
6. Risk assessment instruments at site-level, or above
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No.259 “Procedures for Industrial Accident Risk
Assessment and Risk Reduction Measures”. These Regulations determine:
 the procedures for risk assessment of such industrial accidents as are related to dangerous
chemical substances and dangerous chemical products (hereinafter – dangerous
substances) and which exist or may exist at one or more installations and in the
infrastructure of such installations in the territory of an undertaking (company),
institution or other organization (hereinafter – establishment);
 industrial accident risk reduction measures;
 dangerous substances (depending on their quantity and the degree of danger) to which
these Regulations apply.
7. Other decision-making mechanisms ruling the decontamination process (major stakeholders,
public participation, cost-benefit analysis, etc.)
Other decision-making are under Regional Environmental Protection Boards and its inspectors
responsibility.
According to National legislation all projects must be considered by public.
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If the offence is detected Regional Environmental Protection Boards inspectors is
responsible for cost-benefit analysis and calculation of penalty according to Law on Natural
Resources Tax.
8. Financial funding mechanisms of the inventorisation and the decontamination actions other
than polluter-pays (central budget, sectoral royalties, environmental taxes, other funds)
Law on Natural Resources Tax (adopted on 14 September 1995) applies to users of natural
resources. The purpose of the Natural Resources Tax (hereinafter – tax) is to restrict ineffective
use of natural resources and pollution of the environment, reduce manufacturing and sale of
environment polluting substances, promote implementation of new and improved technology
which reduces environmental pollution, support the strategy of sustainable development in the
economy, as well as to ensure a financial basis for environmental protection measures.
All moneys obtained from payments of the tax (tax revenues) shall be utilized only for the
financing of such measures and projects which are directly related to the protection, restoration,
re-cultivation of the environment, recycling or processing of environmentally harmful waste,
research or renewal of natural resources.
Previously tax revenues were paid into a State environmental protection special budget and the
environmental protection special budgets of local governments. The tax revenues paid into a
State environmental protection special budget was controlled by Latvian Environmental fund.
There are planned changes in the existing system from year 2004.
9. Regulatory authority framework and key players in soil protection and specific to
contaminated lands (licensing authorities, legislative bodies, research organizations). Licensing
scheme of a site decontamination (from detection to approval of the clean-up).
Responsible authorities:




The Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia is responsible for the
elaboration, development and implementation of common policy, strategy, action programs
regarding environmental protection.
The Latvian Environment Agency is the governmental institution subordinate to the
Ministry of the Environment, which is responsible for developing and amending register
about contaminated areas and compilation of information, processing and dissemination.
The Regional Environmental Protection Boards and State Environmental Inspectorate are
the institutions responsible for the state control of management of contaminated sites, as well
as issue pollution permits.
State Geological Survey is responsible on licensing for investigation, monitoring and other
activities in the subsoil.
Legislation concerning licensing:
 Law on Pollution adopted on 1 July 2001.
 Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 294 “On Application of Category A, B and C Polluting
Activities and Permitting of Category A and B Polluting Activities”.
Other organizations or experts can be involved when Projects on Environmental Impact
Assessment are run.
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10. Legislation (acts, decrees) on soil protection, incl. legal definitions on “soil”, “contaminated
soil”, “contaminated site”
Conventions ratified:
 Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992
(Helsinki Convention), ratified in year 1994.
 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious
Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, ratified in year 2003.
Main EU Directives, regarding soil protection, implemented in National legislation:
 Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning integrated pollution
prevention and control.
 Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters
against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
 Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in
particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture.
 Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment.
National legislation:
Laws:
 Law On Environmental Protection adopted on 6 August 1991 The purpose of this Law is to
promote sustainable development in the field of environmental protection, to create and
ensure an effective environmental protection system.
 Law on Pollution adopted on 1 July 2001 (implementation of Council Directive 96/61/EC)
regulates all activities that can pollute the environment as well as investigation and
remediation activities. A number of regulations adhering to this law will be elaborated in
nearest future.
 Civil Law of Latvia defines that the owner of land owns not only the surface of the land but
also the airspace over it, as well as the subsoil and all natural resources it contains.
 Law on Protected Belts adopted on 5 January 1997
 Law on Agriculture adopted on 8 November 1996, has goal to provide the development of
agriculture. The function of the law therefore is to create preconditions for the development
of an economically stable agriculture. However, the law shall also protect the environment
concerned to obtain a sustainable use and preservation of land, waters, forests and other
nature resources, as well as to provides the development of a cultural-historical environment.
 Law on Environmental Impact Assessment adopted on 14 October 1998 (implementation of
Council Directive 85/337/EEC).
 Law on Natural Resources Tax adopted on 14 September 1995.
Regulations:
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.531 adopted 18 December 2001 “On Water and
Soil Protection Against Pollution Caused by Nitrates from Agricultural Activities” (Council
Directive 91/676/EEC).
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.388 adopted 15 July 2003 “On Environmental
quality standards for soil” (issued pursuant to the Law on Pollution adopted on 1 July 2001).
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.483 adopted 20 November 2001 “Inventory and
registration of contaminated and potentially contaminated areas” determine the methods and
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procedure for identification of these areas,
financing mechanisms and registration
procedure (issued pursuant to the Law on Pollution adopted on 1 July 2001).
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No.15 adopted 3 January 2002 “Regulations
regarding Requirements for Construction of Landfill Sites, as well as Management, Closure
and Re-cultivation of Landfill Sites and Dumps”.
Definitions:
The definition on soil is given in National Environmental Monitoring Programme and in Statute
of Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia “On monitoring of lands used in agriculture
in the Republic of Latvia” and Law On Subsoil adopted 2 May 1996 as follows:
Soil – land upper biologically active layer that is established under impact of natural conditions
and certain human activities, and have specific characteristic – fertility.
The Law on Pollution gives definitions on contaminated soil and contaminated site:
Contaminated area – soil, subsoil, water, sediments, as well as buildings, production units or
other objects, which contain pollutants.
Potentially contaminated area – soil, subsoil, water, sediments, as well as buildings,
production units, or other objects that, according to unverified information, may contain
pollutants.
11. Specific legislation on soil contamination, incl. quality standards (emission, immission,
decontamination, intervention, natural background values)
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.388 adopted 15 July 2003 “On Environmental
quality standards for soil”.
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr. 365 adopted 20 August 2002 “Regulations On
Utilisation, Monitoring and Control of Sewage Sludge and the Compost” (implementation of
Council Directive 86/278/EEC).
12. National strategy concerning diffuse source pollution and immission
 Plant Protection Law adopted on 30 December 1998 (implementation of Council Directive
91/414/EEC).
 Law on Circulation of Fertiliser adopted on 16 November 2001 (implementation of Council
Directive 76/116/EEC, 77/535/EEC, 87/94/EEC and 80/876/EEC).
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.107 adopted on 21 March 2000 “Regulations on
prohibited plant protection products” (implementation of Council Directive 79/117/EEC).
Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia “Rural Development Plan for Latvia for the
Implementation of the Rural Development Programme 2004-2006”, where is included agrienvironmental measures.
13. Monitoring system(s) of soil quality (national, companies, etc.)
Investigation, monitoring and clean up activities in Latvia are mostly supported through cofinancing. The “polluter pays” principle is issued when possible. The largest national financing
source is the Environmental Protection Fund. Municipalities often take part as co-financiers.
The Latvian Environment Agency is responsible for establishing and developing of National
environmental monitoring and support its functionless.
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There are several monitoring systems coordinated by Latvian Environment Agency,
which include soil quality monitoring. These monitoring programs are determined by the
National Environmental Monitoring Program (2002) and National Action Plan for
Environmental Monitoring (2002).
Agricultural soil monitoring program.
The aims of program is:
 to investigate and assess the chemical, physical and biological changes of agricultural soil
quality, and the effects of those changes on cultivated plants;
 to assess the influence of big pollution sources on the soil quality;
 to provide the necessary information for the governmental institutions about the influence of
using wastewater sludge as fertilizer in the agriculture;
 to create proposals for decreasing the agricultural soil degradation process.
Monitoring is implemented and data is collected by Latvian Agricultural University from 1992
until 2001.
Due to the lack of financial resources agricultural soil monitoring is not realized within the
framework of National Monitoring Program.
Soil radiation-monitoring program.
The aim of monitoring program is to follow the changes of content of radioactive elements
(137Cs, 90Sr) in soil, to assess the tendency of radioactive pollution changes, and to get known
with the situation of soil radiation in Latvia.
The monitoring is accomplished and Latvian Environment Agency collects data every year since
1993. Reports are available in Latvian Environment Agency some of the data is available on
Internet.
Forest monitoring program.
The aim of forest monitoring program is to find out the regularities on air pollution and other
stress factors, and to assess the condition of forest ecosystems.
Forest monitoring program includes two subprograms on forest soil quality:
1) Monitoring of soil chemical content:
The aim of subprogram is to assess forest soil quality, level of contamination, and to investigate
the pollution effects on forest ecosystem.
2) Monitoring of soil water chemical content:
The aim of subprogram is to investigate the natural quality of soil and pollution effects on soil
water chemical properties, and the soil water influence on tree condition.
Since 1990 regional forest monitoring is accomplished by State Forest Institute “Silava”, since
2000 – State Forest Service. Every 5-10 years has been made the chemical analyzing of soils.
Forest monitoring has been implemented in a regional monitoring network, which consists of
380 plots in all the area of Latvia.
Due to the lack of financial resources forest monitoring is not implemented within the framework
of National Monitoring Program.
Integrated monitoring program
Integrated monitoring program includes two soil subprograms:
1. Soil chemical content monitoring.
2. Soil water chemical content monitoring.
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There are two integrated monitoring stations in Latvia (in Rucava and Taurene), which work in
the international integrated monitoring network since 1994. Soil monitoring is implemented by
University of Latvia. Data of soil chemical content is collected every 5 years, data of soil water
quality – every year. Reports and data are available also in Latvian Environmental Agency, some
of the data is available on Internet.
14. Regulations on liability (the conflict of polluter vs. land-owner) and sanctions of soil
pollution in the environmental legislation and/or the criminal code
 Law on Environmental Protection adopted on 6 August 1991
 Criminal Law adopted on 8 July 1998
 Administrative Violence Code adopted on 1984 (with amendments till 19 June 2003)
15. How does land use planning consider contaminated lands
 Territorial Planning Law adopted on 12 June 2002. The purpose of this Law is to promote
sustainable and balanced development of the country with the help of an effective territorial
planning system.
 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.423 adopted on 5 December 2000 “The
Territorial Planning Regulations”. These Regulations govern the procedure of development,
co-ordination, coming into force, suspension, amending, public hearing and monitoring of
implementation of territorial plans, as well as the binding parts of the national level territorial
development plan. The regulations includes requirement that the local government territorial
plan shall include the following information and requirements:
 the objects presenting increased danger or risk whose location may increase the potential
danger of other objects or directly threaten the local inhabitants or environment, by
identifying safe distances between such objects or between such object and residential areas
or any other measures to be carried out to reduce to the minimum the potential hazardous
impact of such objects on the people and the environment;
 the territories subject to soil erosion and the areas of plantations to combat soil erosion, the
territories of deposit rocks preventing building works, as well as the territories requiring
engineering preparation;
 Law on Protected Belts adopted on 5 January 1997 concerns protection of land and water
areas for different purposes: conservation of biodiversity and natural resources,
environmental protection, protection against accidents and also protection of land appropriate
for certain types of exploitation.
16. The control of the transfer of contaminated lands (e.g. owner’s statement on land status,
approval by an authority)
The Regional Environmental Protection Boards and State Environmental Inspectorate are the
institutions responsible for the state control of management of contaminated sites, as well as
issue pollution permits.
 Law on Pollution adopted on 1 July 2001.
 Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 294 “On Application of Category A, B and C Polluting
Activities and Permitting of Category A and B Polluting Activities”.
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References
Assoc. prof., Dr.ing. Bušmanis P., assoc. prof., Dr.ing. Jansons V. (2000) Latvia University of
Agriculture “Major issues to the implementation of the United Nations Convention To Combat
Desertification/Land degradation (UNCCD) in Latvia” (Report to the Government of Latvia).
UNDP Trust Fund Project of the Government of the Czech Republic CEH/00/Q01/ID
“Promotion of Capacities among Developing/Transition Countries in the Area of Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises and Protection of Environment” Policy workshop “Old Ecological
Damages and Loads” Final Report (2002), Todero, Pilsen.
Internet resources:
 Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia Internet home page:
http://www.vidm.gov.lv/
 Latvian Environment agency Internet home page: http://www.lva.gov.lv/
 Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia Internet home page: http://www.zm.gov.lv/