How do you work out what a forest is worth in Latvia?

Many forest owners in Latvia know their woodland is valuable, yet can't say exactly what it is worth today or how that value changes over time. Without a clear picture, it's hard to plan a felling, a loan or passing the forest on to the next generation.

What makes up a forest's value?

In practice, forest capital rests on three building blocks:

• Timber volume — how many cubic metres are standing in each stand (compartment).
• Species and assortment mix — pine, birch, spruce and others, each fetching a different price.
• Prices and costs — reference roadside prices for each assortment, minus the cost of felling and forwarding the timber to the roadside.

The role of the State Forest Register

The State Forest Register (MVR) gives an official inventory snapshot: stands, areas, species, age and growing stock. Enter your 11-digit cadastral number and mySilva loads your stands from a copy of the register held by the State Forest Service (VMD), shows them on a map alongside property boundaries from the State Land Service (VZD), refreshed weekly, and works out an indicative value.

A model value is not a market offer

The distinction matters: the figure on your dashboard is an indicative snapshot of your forest capital, not a guaranteed sale price or an offer from a buyer. It is calculated as register volume × reference roadside prices, minus felling and forwarding costs, and recalculated every month. The price you would actually get depends on access to the site, timber quality, the season and the individual buyer. Even so, a clear number helps you compare scenarios — including the illustrative 5-, 10- and 20-year projections.

Felling readiness changes the decision

Some stands may already have reached the minimum final-felling age set by Latvia's Forest Law, while others are still adding value. Seeing felling readiness next to value helps you weigh up whether to wait or act. It is for information only — you still need a felling permit from VMD before any trees come down.

Getting started

For private owners, the simplest start is your cadastral number, a digital dashboard with alerts, and an AI assistant that knows your forest's data and can help with questions about next steps. More on the owner tools: mySilva for forest owners.