Our Mission
Our mission is to protect Latvia’s rural landscapes and natural environments, raise ecological consciousness across communities, and support sustainable rural growth through active civic participation and environmental stewardship.
About the association
A community of rural neighbours and nature friends, organised as a public-benefit association.
Lestenes Pagasta Lauku Un Dabas Draugu Biedrība "Zaļais Rūķis" unites members, volunteers and environmental advisors around one long-term commitment: keeping Latvia’s rural nature living, accessible and understood.
Our Vision
Our vision is an environmentally conscious society where pristine natural ecosystems thrive, rural communities flourish sustainably, and every citizen actively participates in nature protection.
Core organisational values
Environmental Responsibility
Respecting nature and acting as responsible stewards of Latvia’s natural resources.
Civic Collaboration
Empowering local volunteers, schools, and rural residents in joint conservation work.
Absolute Non-Profit Integrity
Operating with total administrative openness under the Latvian Register of Enterprises.
Photo placeholderReserved for photographs of our members, workshop days and restored habitat sites.
Why choose us / why support us
- Officially Registered Non-Profit Association
- Registered as a Biedrība in the Republic of Latvia under Reg. No. 40008113362, with statutes filed at the Enterprise Register.
- Grassroots Environmental Impact
- Driving real conservation actions in local rural and forest communities, planned together with the residents who live there.
- Youth & Community Focus
- Offering hands-on ecological education and volunteer opportunities for all ages, from primary school pupils to retired foresters.
- Complete Operational Transparency
- Ensuring all funds directly support public benefit green projects, with annual reports reviewed by the assembly of members.
Governance & leadership
The association is directed by an executive board (valde) elected by the members. The board is responsible for representing the association legally, approving project budgets, signing grant agreements, maintaining accounting records and submitting the annual report to the State Revenue Service of Latvia.
The highest decision-making body is the assembly of members (biedru sapulce), convened at least once per year. The assembly approves the annual activity plan and financial report, elects and dismisses board members, amends the statutes and decides on the admission of new members.
Our environmental advisors — foresters, biology teachers, agronomists and long-standing rural residents — review the ecological soundness of each initiative before fieldwork begins, so that restoration and planting work supports native species rather than disturbing them.
All activities are conducted in strict adherence to the Latvian Law on Associations and Foundations (Biedrību un nodibinājumu likums), the association’s registered statutes and applicable environmental legislation of the Republic of Latvia and the European Union. No part of the association’s income may be distributed to members.