It is planned to cut down the forest belonging to the church in the territory of Gauja National Park near Lake Āraiši / Article / LSM.lv

It is planned to cut down the forest belonging to the church in the territory of Gauja National Park near Lake ĀraišiKristaps Feldmanis00:00 / 05:02

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The property of architect Andrejs Ģelzis in Drabeši borders on the land of Āraiši Church in the Gauja National Park. A picturesque place surrounded by a hundred-year-old oak alley and other trees that have grown for decades. And most recently – in May – the Ģelži family noticed that it was planned to cut not only bushes, but more than a hundred trees in the church property and unmaintained thicket.

“We even counted – 168 trees that are between 18 centimeters and 60 centimeters in diameter. There are maples, elm, oaks, aspens. Such diversity. We are in the national park. I have always considered this to be such a protected cultural landscape, which should be handled with care, “said Ģelzis.

The Āraiši church, which now owns a partially overgrown property, stated that the total amount of trees to be felled is more than 330, starting from 8 centimeters in diameter. However

The purpose of the felling is to attenuate a hitherto uncultivated habitat of European importance – oak forest, which will be carried out in accordance with expert opinions.

Immediately after the extensive maintenance works, a plot of land with an area of ​​less than two hectares together with the cleared oak forest is planned to be sold.

Representatives of the Āraiši church insist that the property must be sold in order to be able to complete the floor reconstruction project started in this church, as well as to be able to start restoring the organ. However, in order to sell a property, it must first be cleaned up, trees must be cut down.

“We have to add some added value ourselves. I think the value of the property would only increase. If the new potential owner looked at it as a tidy territory, it would be easier for him to realize his plans again. I appreciate that we are not doing anything criminal here. We know the legal requirements and try At the moment, everything is in the process, “said Āraiši church parish chief Jānis Sietiņsons.

The location of the property in the cultural and historical zone of the Gauja National Park does not mean a complete ban on economic activities, as well as the location of protected habitats does not mean that it is forbidden to cut down trees – the DAP points out.

In the specific property belonging to the Āraiši church, the care of the oak forest and the removal of overgrowth is even necessary.

However, it has not yet been decided whether to allow the felling of all or only part of the decades-old trees marked by the church.

“Our specialists will assess whether the trees are properly marked there, whether its operation corresponds to whether the certified expert has correctly assessed how it should be managed there. All this will still be in the assessment process, no one has provided an answer yet,” explained DAP representative Jānis Bušs.

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