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Peat export
Peat extraction
Peat reserves
Areas prepared for peat extraction
Natural resource tax for peat extraction
Peat export
There is a large demand for peat in some countries,
particularly in Western Europe. Peat producers in Latvia utilise
this market, and, in 2000, 382,900 tonnes of peat were exported,
which exceeded nearly threefold the amount exported in 1994. The
countries importing the largest quantities of peat in 2000 were
Germany (35%), the Netherlands (22%) and Italy (9%).
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Peat extraction
During the 1980s, peat extraction was more extensive than today,
and reached 3.5 million tonnes yearly. After 1991, there was a
sharp decline in peat extraction, followed by growth after 1993.
In 1999, 825,000 tonnes were produced, which was 48% of the
extraction in 1991. Peat extraction has stabilized in recent years,
and lower amounts in some years can be explained by unfavourable
weather conditions during the extraction season (rainy summers in
1998 and 2000).
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Peat reserves
The weather and geological conditions in Latvia are favourable
for the formation of peat. The peat resources are sufficient to
meet the demand in Latvia. The total geological reserves amount to
864 million tonnes (State indicator). If the peat
extraction volume of 1999 is maintained (a year of optimal
meteorological conditions), the peat reserves will be sufficient
for a period of more than 1,000 years.
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Areas prepared for peat extraction
Peat extraction changes the landscape and affects biodiversity.
Before peat extraction, bogs are drained, and the vegetation layer
is removed, drastically changing the natural bog environment. In
Latvia, an area of about 27,000 ha, or 4.2% of the total bog area,
has been prepared for extraction. Since 1995, the prepared area
has increased slightly (by 5%).
It is necessary to utilise the bogs in which peat is already
being extracted in a sustainable manner, in order to restrict
impact on the bog ecosystems.
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Natural resource tax for peat extraction
The natural resource tax (Response indicator) was
introduced to promote sustainable extraction and use of peat.
According to the Law On the Natural Resource Tax, since 1995, the
tax rate for peat extraction from raised or transition bogs is
0.13 Ls/t, and from low (fen) bogs - 0.07 Ls/t. Latvia, in
contrast to the other Baltic countries, has not changed the
natural resource tax rates since their introduction. It would be
necessary to increase the rates, considering the inflation rate in
the country (+36% during the period between 1995 and 2000).
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