As public interest in the management of state forests grows, the State Audit Office of Latvia reminds that it is conducting a performance audit “The effectiveness of supervision and compliance with statutory requirements of JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” currently. The audit results are planned to be published in the spring of 2026.
“Public trust in the management of state property is essential, and this interest confirms that the public cares about how one of Latvia’s most important resources, namely, forests, is managed. In this performance audit, we are assessing how the interests of the state and public are implemented by managing and handling Latvian “green gold”, that is, more than 1.5 million hectares of forest land and forests. The issues to be audited also include the decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers at the end of 2023, which allowed timber producers to purchase sawn logs from JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” at a more advantageous price than they had agreed with the company previously. The audit is ongoing, and the results are planned to be published in the spring. The State Audit Office of Latvia is monitoring what is happening and will provide a clear, fact-based assessment when audit will be finished,” stated Mr Oskars Erdmanis, Council Member of the State Audit Office of Latvia.
The State Audit Office of Latvia has addressed forest management issues before. For instance, the activities of “Rīgas meži” Ltd (Riga Forests) were assessed eight years ago. In its turn, an audit of the actions of local and regional governments with forest resources was published in 2024. While continuing this sequential approach, the management of state forests is currently being assessed.
More information about audits is found in sections We are currently auditing and Completed audits.
About the State Audit Office of Latvia
The State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia is an independent, collegial supreme audit institution. The purpose of its activity is to find out whether the actions with the financial means and property of a public entity are legal, correct, useful and in line with public interests, as well as to provide recommendations for the elimination of discovered irregularities. The State Audit Office conducts audits in accordance with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions INTOSAI (ISSAI), whose recognition in Latvia is determined by the Auditor General. Upon discovering deficiencies, the State Audit Office of Latvia provides recommendations for their elimination, but it informs law enforcement authorities about potential infringements of the law.
Additional information