Local history and geographical education in Latvia

Since its establishment in 1923, the Latvian Geographical Society (LGB) has been a non-governmental organisation that brings together geographers and people who are interested in research into nature and human geography. Local history and geography has always been an integral part of the teaching process. Today, the knowledge held by members of the society and the research-based educational work carried out by the society about different cities and regions for the improvement of the study content of Latvian geography is diverse. The Latvian Geographical Society cooperates most extensively with local government, organising seminars and conferences in Latvia at the regional level. This cooperation has helped teachers to schedule lessons and excursions outside the classroom.

Suburbanisation characteristics in the vicinity of Riga after transition

After the fall of socialism, the most pronounced changes in the spatial structure of the population have been caused by suburbanisation. These changes have been especially notable since the end of the transition period. Therefore, the aim of this research was to characterise the features of suburbanisation in the vicinity of Rīga after transition. Characteristics of suburbanisation were analysed based on the share of and number of people moving out of Rīga among all people moving. This was done for two periods – 2000 to 2011, and 2011 to 2019 – “the second of which has been less studied. The results showed that there were significant differences between the three share groups – a high proportion often went hand in hand with a large number of suburbanites. On the other hand, the differences between agglomeration and non-agglomeration areas were less clear-cut, as there were significant differences in the number of people previously living in Rīga and its changes, while there were no significant differences in the share for the first stage and share changes.

Development of the Latvian peat industry over the last 100 years

Various economic, political and social developments influenced the development of the peat extraction industry in Latvia during the 20th century. In comparison with some other European countries, where peat had been used for the needs of the energy sector for several centuries, the development of peat industry in Latvia was somewhat different. The aim of this study was to find out the nature of the development of the peat industry based on an analysis of historical information and a comparison of advantages over other European countries. In order to understand the changes and factors influencing the development of the peat industry in Latvia, it was necessary to identify and evaluate peat extraction volumes, changes in peat use purposes and technologies, as well as factors influencing the industry’s development. A comparison of historical data on peat industry development in Latvia and in other European countries reveals a number of differences. Latvia was the first country in Europe to restructure peat extraction from using peat for energy to extracting and processing it for horticultural needs. Large amounts of peat were used for combustion in Latvia only for a relatively short time: between 1960 and 1990. Peat extraction decreased significantly in 1992 – a time when export markets were beginning to develop. Since 2003, more than 90% of extracted peat has been exported, mainly for the horticultural peat market.

Factors affecting and determining local depopulation

This paper analyses the factors that influence and determine the local population growth and decrease in rural areas of Latvia based on population changes at micro level (1x1 km square grid areas) in 2000–2018. Quantitative analysis of the spatial structure of the population was carried out in three reference territories. Results suggest that the proportion of territories with population increase in Latvian municipalities (2000–2018) has a very strong and statistically significant correlation to population changes (2000–2018) in the respective municipality. This may lead to the conclusion that the influence of other factors on the location of the territories in the spatial structure of the municipality where population growth is observed is not statistically significant.

The film industry in Latvia as a potential resource for tourism development

During a time of increasing competition in the tourism sector and growing demand for new tourism products, all stakeholders must more actively utilise non-traditional tourism resources. The film industry certainly counts as one of them. Although film-induced tourism has become quite popular round the world and maintains significant influence, these developments and research into this area have not gained enough attention in Latvia. The objective of this research is to examine the film industry as a tourism resource based on an analysis of the available public information on film production locations, related promotions for tourists in Latvia and the interest and experience of the general public in these types of tourist attractions. The results of the research prove the potential of the film industry, the existence of certain pieces of groundwork and at the same time the moderate interest of potential clients in engaging these resources and adding to Latvia’s tourist turnover.

Seasonality in the landscape of Latvia: a phenological calendar

Phenological parameters such as blooming, maturity phases and bird migration are among the most visible indicators of climate change. In this study, we carried out a complete evaluation of available phenological data for the territory of Latvia for the period from 1970 to 2018. We examined 148 phenological phases spanning six taxonomic groups – plants, animals, insects, amphibians, fish and mushrooms. Separately we considered crops and abiotic phenomena like the first snowfall, the last spring frost and agricultural activities such as the beginning of livestock grazing, potato planting, etc. As a result, a calendar of natural rhythms was established for the Latvian landscape, indicating the most frequent or most representative accession time for these phenological phases and the earliest and latest accession values between 1970 and 2018.

Rural landscapes in Latvia: a comparative analysis of representations and perceptions

As a reflection of Latvian identity, the country’s rural landscapes are a living embodiment of both natural and cultural heritage, contributing to quality of life for local communities and serving as a magnetic pulling factor for international tourists. Traditional farmsteads (viensētas) are perceived as symbolic spaces which have developed gradually, especially since the 19th Century, through annual cycles of farm work alongside extensive farming. Yet their existence is threatened by the impact of transitional changes such as depopulation, globalisation, the non-competitive nature of traditional farming models, and changes in society and the lifestyle of young people. Many abandoned farmsteads are disappearing under large areas of cropland or forest, and some newly built private houses do not have a connection with the traditional rural landscape. The aim of this study is to explore the way that perceptions of farmsteads and rural landscapes have changed over time within local communities. This is done by comparing representations of countryside landscape ideals in the media from 1920 to 1940 and perceptions of farmsteads as an element of countryside landscapes within local rural communities today (<12 % of the population of Latvia lived on a farmstead in 2019). The findings show that in the period when most people lived in the countryside, a particular kind of idealised rural landscape was often visually represented in the mainstream media, strengthening stereotypes about symbolic landscapes. These concepts are still strongly rooted in the perceptions of current rural inhabitants and there was consensus among respondents about the elements which are associated with high-quality rural landscapes. Although the daily routines of the traditional farmstead today have been changed by a number of factors and many elements of the rural landscape have lost their functionality, symbolism — including the iconic image of separate family farmsteads — helps to maintain a continuing metanarrative of national identity, creating nostalgic ties which lead many to have a preference for living in the countryside, holding perceptions about the availability of various ecosystem services next door which will improve their quality of life.

Sites related to death and disaster in cultural an tourism geography – a theoretical perspective

Research into tourism, a relatively new discipline, is developing, using theories and approaches from other disciplines. Extensive research is underway in Latvia on sites related to tragic historical events and death, including the use of Holocaust sites in tourism. In order to comprehensively study these dark heritage sites, previous studies related to cemeteries and death sites have been analysed. The aim of this article is to identify death sites as special places and as elements of the cultural landscape. The attitude of locals towards dark heritage sites cannot be understood without understanding the attitude towards death sites and cemeteries in the cultural context. This article gives an overview of existing research in necrography, summarising the geographical approaches used to characterise these particular sites. The studies already conducted in Latvia have been reviewed and the most relevant definitions of dark tourism and thanatourism have been identified. The main problems faced in including places of death and tragedy in tourism product promotions have been described, especially if they are related to tragic events such as the Holocaust. In conclusion, the main aspects and approaches to be used for further research into the use of Holocaust sites in tourism have been identified.

Regional needs assessment: an approach to demographic and migration research

This study exposes approaches to "collective creativity"by adopting a regional needs assessment through the World Café method. A multidisciplinary team of researchers and stakeholders worked together to identify needs within the region by using the World Café method and enhancing participation in policy-making. The paper aims to describe regional needs assessment as a useful approach for studying demographic and migration challenges in the regions of Latvia. The formal outcomes of the project are policy recommendations which have been used for the elaboration of planning documents at the national, regional and local level. Moreover, this approach also fostered positive collaborative practices among scientists and policymakers, including scientists who come from various disciplines and found a common platform for the solution of problems.

Latvia’s progress towards a retirement society: ageing trends in Latvian municipalities

This paper analyses the ageing of the population, which may become one of the most important social changes of the 21st century in the European Union. This work uses statistics from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) of Latvia, as well as statistics prepared by the State Social Insurance Agency of Latvia (SSIA). The results suggest that t the economic development and the stabilisation of employment in Riga and Riga region in the second decade of the 21st century was ensured not by generational change or migration, but by the inclusion of members of the population who had previously been economically inactive into the labour market. This may lead to the conclusion that around 2030, the ageing of the population will become one of the most serious problems in Pieriga.