Residents of Jūrmala who are registered in the city will soon be able to legally collect fallen trees in municipal forests and use them as firewood. This procedure is provided for by new mandatory rules approved by the city council on Thursday. It concerns trees that have been blown down by the wind, as well as those damaged by diseases or insects. Only the wood that is permitted for use according to the current Cabinet of Ministers' rules on logging will be allowed for collection. To obtain the right to collect firewood, an application will need to be submitted. It will be reviewed by the forestry department of the Jūrmala municipal property management, which will make a decision on granting or denying the permit. In fact, the innovation gives residents the opportunity to acquire wood at an official price, rather than harvesting it without coordination with the municipality. The council also approved the current prices for wood. One cubic meter of oak, ash, maple, and other hardwoods will cost 18 euros, pine, spruce, and other conifers will cost 17 euros, birch and black alder will cost 16 euros, and other hardwoods will cost 15 euros. The municipality plans to review these rates at least once a year. To understand the scale: one cubic meter of wood is approximately the volume of one adult tree of average size or two to three thinner trees. In other words, the price set by the council of 15–18 euros applies not to a whole truckload of firewood, but to about that volume of wood, which will then need to be cut, transported, and dried by the residents themselves. During the discussion of the project, the question arose whether to establish a minimum volume of wood that can be collected. However, the head of the forestry department, Uldis Gais, explained that it would be difficult for most residents to determine the volume of the selected trees on their own, so such a restriction was not introduced. He also emphasized that the goal of the initiative is not to clear the forest, but to provide residents with firewood for heating. After harvesting, branches must be left in place — stacking them in piles is not allowed. It is also important to know one more detail: the municipality cannot transfer such wood to residents for free. According to Gais, this is prohibited by current legislation, so firewood will have to be paid for in any case.