International scientific conference BIOGEOMON 2026 was held in Umeå (Sweden) from June 7 to 12. The Conference brought together scientists from around the world to discuss biogeochemical processes and ecosystem changes driven by climate and land-use change.
Scientists of LSFRI 'Silava', Zane Lībiete, Zane Kļaviņa, Ivars Kļaviņš, Arta Bārdule, Kristaps Makovskis, Austra Zuševica, Guna Petaja and Kārlis Dūmiņš also participated in the Conference, presenting several posters.
The delegation of LSFRI 'Silava' at the Conference
Research findings on the effects of forestry on nutrient cycling in riparian forests and surface water quality were presented to an international audience, highlighting results obtained within the LIFE GoodWater IP project and the research programme The impact of forest management on forest and related ecosystem services:
- Arta Bārdule: Element flows before and after silvicultural intervention in riparian hemiboreal forests,
- Zane Kļaviņa: Surface water quality responses to felling and forest road construction in a managed forested catchment.
Kristaps Makovskis presented results from the postdoctoral research project Elaboration of tools for assessment of biodiversity and carbon turnover in long-term fast-growing woody crop (Populus spp., Salix psp., Alnus incana) plantations under different land use and climate scenarios: Assessment of biomass and soil CO2 fluxes in a deciduous plantation on agricultural land in Latvia.
Guna Petaja presented research results of the ALFAwetlands project: Fertilization-induced shifts in hemiboreal forest ground vegetation: short- to mid-term patterns, environmental drivers.
Kārlis Dūmiņš presented results of the research project Working methods and technologies for restoration, planting, care and protection of forest stands on the effectiveness of protective spirals in reducing ungulate damage in young forest stands: Effectiveness and long-term performance of protective spirals in mitigating cervid damage to young forest stands.
Austra Zuševica presented research results of project Sustainable management of degraded organic soils: impact of legume and digestate use on carbon cycling and ecosystem in a long term tree plantating, focusing on the effects of legumes and digestate on carbon cycling and ecosystem functions in long-term woody plantations: Field and controlled study reveal scale-dependent effects of legume-digestate treatment in agroforestry on organic soils.
Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to learn about the latest international research trends in biogeochemistry and ecosystem processes, presented our research findings, and strengthen cooperation with international scientific institutions.
Poster presentations by scientists of LSFRI 'Silava', Arta Bārdule (from left), Zane Lībiete, Ivars Kļaviņš, and Zane Kļaviņa