Since the opening of the world's largest international exhibition, EXPO 2025 Osaka, in April, visitors to the Baltic Pavilion have been actively participating in a unique initiative – the symbolic planting of trees in forests in Latvia and Lithuania. This activity has been very well received at the pavilion, and the number of trees planted in the forests of Tērvete and Jonišķi has already reached more than 360,000.
The Baltic Pavilion is located in the "Life-Saving" zone of the EXPO territory, and its motto "We Are One" calls on everyone to be aware of their role in shaping the future world, emphasizing the unity of people that connects different countries of the world and the shared responsibility for the environment in which we live and in which our future generations will live.
Latvia and Japan are united by common values
The Kizuna pine forest in Tērvete, created especially for EXPO, symbolizes the connection with Japan, where, like us, forest culture and respect for nature are deeply rooted values. Both countries share a deep understanding of the importance of nature and long-term thinking in environmental conservation. The forest is not only a source of timber, which is widely used in construction, interior design and design, but is also valuable for improving people's well-being: for walks in nature, learning about plants and their use in nutrition, folk medicine or sauna rituals.
This is also confirmed by the central building of EXPO, the “Big Ring,” which symbolizes global unity and is recognized as the world's largest wooden structure . The 20-meter-high structure stretches for 2 kilometers and was built using 27,000 cubic meters of wood. Demonstrating the sustainability of wood as a building material and the functionality and mobility of glued laminated timber structures, the wood materials used in the central circle building will be reused in various construction projects throughout Japan after the exhibition.
The tree planting initiative launched at the Baltic Pavilion was created to inspire everyone to get involved in restoring nature and, at the same time, to remind us of the importance of balance – if we take something from nature, we must give something back.
We strengthen not only forests, but also the connection between people
Latvian State Forests plant 30 million trees in Latvia every year, half of which are pine trees. The pine tree is not only the most common tree in Latvia, but also a symbol of national identity – it grows on the Baltic Sea coast, withstands strong winds, and is a valuable building material. Every visitor who participates in tree planting at the Baltic Pavilion becomes a pine tree “godparent” in Latvia and a spruce or birch tree “godparent” in Lithuania, receiving a digital certificate that not only confirms their contribution but also provides precise coordinates to invite them to visit these forests and see the trees they have planted. The opportunity to become guardians of these trees in the future may spark Japanese tourists' interest in Latvia as a green, sustainable, and hospitable destination.
As Tomass Kotovičs, Communications Manager at Latvijas valsts meži (Latvian State Forests), points out: “With each initiative like this, we strengthen not only our forests, but also the bonds between people and countries. These are trees that will grow and serve future generations, while reminding us of the friendship between Latvia and Japan. In Latvia, every tree godparent will be able to visit their tree in the future and make sure that it is being cared for and growing strong.”
Visitors to the Baltic Pavilion also welcome the opportunity to participate in this initiative. Visitor Aiko shares her impressions: "In Japan, we respect forests and nature, but I see that in the Baltics, too, they are carefully tended and cared for to ensure their sustainability. Now I have a tree in Latvia, and I hope to come back someday and see it with my own eyes. It makes me feel like I'm part of something bigger."
Planting trees as an investment in the future
In order for young trees to grow into a forest, they are carefully managed – the seedlings are pruned in the fall, and foresters monitor their development. After 10 years, the pine trees will be taller than a person, and after 80–100 years, a full-fledged pine forest will have grown.
The first tree planting event in Latvia took place in April this year, with the participation of Latvian Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze, and Japanese Ambassador to Latvia Kensuke Yoshida. An information board has been placed in the newly created Osaka Forest “Kizuna” to serve as a permanent reminder of the initiative that was created in the Baltic Pavilion as part of the Expo 2025 Osaka project.
About Expo 2025 Osaka:
Expo 2025 Osaka is the world's most important exhibition for shaping a country's image and promoting its export capabilities, addressing not only economic issues but also social issues of global significance. The exhibition will feature 159 countries and 7 international organizations, and is expected to attract more than 28 million visitors from around the world. The exhibition is a place where you can view exhibitions representing countries and regions, as well as combine global knowledge and ideas to create new technologies and innovations to solve global problems. The main theme of the exhibition is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” while the sub-theme of the Baltic pavilion is “Saving Lives,” which focuses on improving quality of life with the help of the latest technologies, while observing high environmental standards. In order to achieve the goals of promoting both the country's image and export capacity, in addition to Latvia's participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, an extensive business program is being organized, offering Latvian companies the opportunity to participate in industry exhibitions, events, and trade missions in Japan.
