A competition has been launched in Latvia which aims to reduce environmental impact during timber harvesting and processing and educate the public that the forest industry is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Called ‘Environmentally Friendly Latvian Forest Enterprise‘, the competition, the first of its kind in Latvia, is backed by the Association of Latvian Timber Exports, JSC Hansabank and WWF Latvia.

Entries are open until November 15 and the award – a wooden statue – will be presented in December.

&#8220The timber industry must assume responsibility for the quality of the environment in management and exploitation of forest resources and provide environmental education to those working within the sector and to the public.”

Indulis Kovisars, chairman of the Association of Latvia Timber Exporters.

Indulis Kovisars, chairman of the Association of Latvia Timber Exporters, said: “The timber industry is not a short term business, it is based on a rotation cycle of 100 years. Those working in the timber industry must assume the responsibility for the quality of the environment in management and exploitation of forest resources and provide environmental education to those working within the sector and to the public.”