Latgale Region Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF PERSPECTIVES OF USING REED RESOURCES IN LATGALE REGION

Increasing demand for energy, limited resources of fossil fuel, as well as pollution of the environment and changes of the global climate, have raised more interest in renewable resources. Support to the use of renewable resources has become a very important part of the European Union’s policy. The use of reeds like renewable energy resources allows saving fossil fuels. This paper presents the findings on the reed resources in lakes of Latgale (region in Latvia). The investigation of reed resources shows that the resources in the region are situated in a very uneven way. The greatest amount of reed resources is concentrated in the biggest lake in Latvia - Lubana Lake as well as near it. Using direct measurement methods and metering in the distance, it was stated that the total reed resources of Lubana Lake are 8,203? 2,999 tons, occupy 882 hectares and are situated in 429 reed blocks. Summary resources of Latgale region are 19,862? 7,409 tons. The amount of heat that can be obtained using reed resources of Latgale region is equivalent to 10,543 tons of natural gas or 8,802 tons of petroleum, or 13,092- 21,348 tons of coal (it depends on the heating of coal), or 7,675 tons of fuel, or 8,712 – 12,199 tons of oil (depends on the heating of oil).

EVALUATION CRITERIA OF CITY ATTRACTIVENESS IN THE CONTEXT OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Investigation of city development issues and strategic planning issues of spatial development are essential factors of the city growth. Both academic researchers in economy and geography and professionals in the field of city development policy are involved in exploration of these topics. Various city development theories are elaborated and assimilated in a result of comprehensive researches. The current article examines attractiveness criteria of cities modernized in theoretical and practical researches as well as explores methodology of city attractiveness research with the aim to identify attractiveness criteria of cities and towns of Latgale region.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AS LONG TERM SURVIVAL INSTRUMENT OF BUSINESS COMPANY

Theoretical aspects in Strategic management of small business enterprises is analysed. Research of small enterprise management in the Latgale region is performed with the aim to do an analyses of how small business enterprises, which have survived in economic crises conditions, use strategic management opportunities. Findings have clarified the main factors which influence business management in a changing business environment in small business companies.

Professional Competences of Future Teachers: Perspective of Different Evaluators and Contexts

Professional Competences of Future Teachers: Perspective of Different Evaluators and Contexts The article presents research on professional competence for future teachers. The study provides the answers to the questions 1) what are the differences between the future teachers' desirable and real professional competences evaluated by students themselves, their University teachers, and their potential employers? 2) what are the differences in the evaluation of future teachers' professional competences provided by the students and University teachers from the study programs enriched with the principles of ESD and those who come from other programs? The future teachers (n=24) and teachers from the Daugavpils University (n=24) as well as the school principals of Latgale region of Latvia (n=25) filled out the questionnaire by Grecov and Popova (2005). It was concluded that both students and teachers see the necessity for the further development of competences while encounter with ESD principles mostly elicits the need for the higher standards of professional competences and more critical stance toward the achieved level.

CAMELINA SATIVA AS A CROP FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE AND AS A PRODUCER OF HIGH QUALITY OIL

‘Camelina sativa’ is one of the oldest oil crops in Europe. Growing areas were reduced dramatically in 20-40-ties of the last century. Low price of rape oil and unclear composition of camelina oil were primary reasons of this process. Nevertheless, last years ‘Camelina sativa' attracted a great interest of scientists and oil processors as a crop for diversification of agriculture and, in the same time, for producing of the high quantity and quality oil for biofuel, feeding, food, and pharmacy (source of a-linolenic acid, linoleic acid and vitamins, especially E). In Latvia ‘Camelina sativa' is spread as a wild form but for the agriculture it is a new crop.The potential of me of ‘Camelina sativa’ in the Latgale region as an alternative oil crop and a new plant in the crop rotation was investigated. We compared the oil content and it composition in ‘Camelina sativa ’ seeds from plants of variety ‘Ligena’ grown in different conditions (Latvia and Germany). We also are looking for a possibility to use biotechnology methods for obtaining additional camelina breeding source material. For this purpose we applied calli culture method for producing plants-regenerants.

TRANSFORMATION OF URBAN LANDSCAPEIN LATGALE REGION ON CHANGE OF 20- 21 CENTURIES

The paper deals with transformation of urban landscape in the 2 cities and 12 towns of Latgale region on change of 20-21 centuries, in the period from 1990 to 2007. Article provides information about factors and social economics processes that have influence on urban landscape structure and quality. The paper have a look at changes of land use structure, demographical processes, urban environmental quality, dynamics of urban transportation system and intensity of construction works in the cities and towns of Latgale region. The results establish disparities between scopes and directions of urban landscape transformation among different ranks of urban settlements.

URBAN LANDSCAPE QUALITY AND FACTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCE ON LANDSCAPE QUALITY IN LATGALE REGION

The paper deals with urban landscape individualities in the cities and towns of Latgale region. Also show facilities and methods of integrated assessment of urban landscape quality. Article provides information about specifics of urban landscape and factors, that have influence on landscape quality. The paper presents the results of Daugavpils and Rēzekne urban landscape quality complex assessment, that have been realised in 2003- 2005. This results don’t establish significant disparities between quality of urban landscape among Daugavpils and Rēzekne. This method of urban landscape assessment makes possible to get believeable and precise information about landscapes quality.

EAST LATGALE SAA PROJECT

East - Latgale Region including Rezekne city and district and Ludza City and disrtict. East - Latgale region occupies 5241 km2 (about 8% o f Latvia). There are 120273 inhabitants (4,9% o f Latvia's population). Registration of waste volume in region is formal, because waste going to dumpsites as a matter of fact is not controlled exept dumpsites used by largest towns. In East - Latgale region in year 2000 was 46 dumpsites and total waste volume 64700 m3. National Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy foreseeing establish 10-12 new solid waste landfills in Latvia. The overall strategy in searching for a location of a new landfill includes three principal aspects: 1. The environmental impact o f a landfill has to be as low as possible. 2. The waste disposal interests should not conflict with other interests. 3. The selected site should be reasonable from economic viewpoint. Taking into consideration the above aspects, the division of the land in areas suitable and non-suitable for location of a new landfill was based on the following criteria: Geological structure and hydrogeological conditions; Distance to urban areas; Location o f particularly protected nature objects; Distance to surface water bodies.

ENVIROMENT-FRIENDLY FARMING PROJECTS IN LATGALE

By evaluating the strong and the weak points o f the Latgale region we can assert that its power lies in its natural resources which are luxurious in their mild modesty, with the best-preserved environmental originality in the north-eastern part o f Eutrope. The weak point of Latgale is the poverty of the population and disarrayed infrastructure. To eliminate the weakness, balanced education o f the population is needed, as well as profitable farming projects and support investments. A co-operation project was worked out by the Latvian Council o f Science “Optimisation o f the economic and social development of Latgale During four years “Foundations o f farming in Latgale ” have been developed. This report deals with what has been done; in monographs, available just here, the members of the conference can obtain detailed information.