About Us
Black Wood Environmental Biedrība is a youth-driven non-governmental organization founded in 2022 by a group of 8 young university students from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, who came together with a common vision: to combat the detrimental effects of climate change and create a more sustainable, livable world. Our mission is to efficiently use limited natural resources, transform knowledge into action, and raise societal awareness in order to ensure a better future for generations to come.
​
The journey began in 2018, when this group of passionate individuals started as an informal research collective during their university years. Their goal was to promote sustainable practices and explore innovative solutions for the future of both their careers and society. As they grew in experience and knowledge, their work expanded beyond the university community. Today, we are a fully established association with a diverse and multidisciplinary membership that includes academics, food engineers, environmental engineers, dietitians, educators, artists, project specialists, and many dedicated volunteers who all contribute to realizing our shared goals.
​
Our Mission
Our core mission is to ensure a fair and sustainable world by protecting ecosystems, promoting public welfare, and securing the rights of future generations and all living beings. We are committed to promoting local, sustainable, and eco-friendly agricultural practices, reducing our dependency on harmful pesticides, and encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors in food production, consumption, and waste reduction. We strive to raise awareness on climate change and biodiversity, support the use of renewable energy sources, and advocate for eco-friendly solutions that enhance the quality of life for all.
​
We aim to transform individual behaviors, social practices, and lifestyles into sustainable practices that not only protect the environment but also ensure the long-term well-being of society. Our focus is on fostering a deep connection to nature, sustainability, and self-sufficiency while using knowledge gained from archaic practices and modern innovation to achieve long-lasting positive change.
​
Our Vision
Our vision is to create global awareness about sustainable environments, healthy living, and reliable food production. We aim to lead through various professional sectors by providing a comprehensive understanding of the connection between food safety, environmental sustainability, and healthy eating, while inspiring others to take action toward a more sustainable future. Our work bridges these key elements and ensures that we contribute to both a healthier planet and a healthier society.
​
Key Objectives
Our objectives are clear and purpose-driven:
To raise awareness and promote the importance of food safety and environmental sustainability.
To support local and sustainable food production methods and reduce the use of harmful agricultural chemicals.
To advocate for healthy, seasonal, and fair food consumption, empowering individuals to make informed and responsible choices.
To encourage the reduction of waste, particularly through upcycling, recycling, and minimizing single-use plastics.
To promote the protection of biodiversity and increase efforts to combat climate change through forestation and sustainable agricultural practices.
To advocate for sustainable transportation and eco-friendly energy solutions in both production and consumption.
​
Our Activities and Impact
Our association has already carried out numerous projects and events aimed at raising awareness and educating the public on issues such as sustainable nutrition, safe food consumption, climate change, and environmental protection. Some of our key initiatives include:
​
Reliable Food Consumption Seminar: In response to the increasing demand for safe food during and after the pandemic, we organized online seminars on reliable food consumption. These seminars, open to all age groups, focused on food safety, healthy nutrition, food production and preservation methods, hygiene, and the impact of microorganisms on food. Our goal was to create a broader understanding of food safety, starting with children and young people, and instill the culture of safe food consumption in society.
​
Climate Change Youth Summit: To address the growing concerns surrounding climate change, we initiated the "Climate Change: Green Meetings" online study, which focused on the implications of climate change on human health, agriculture, food systems, and the environment. This summit aimed to engage young people in climate action, raising awareness and encouraging them to take an active role in the fight against climate change.
​
Food Sector and Its Problems: In collaboration with food engineering students, we facilitated an online conversation focusing on food sector issues such as information pollution, food safety problems, and the need for stronger regulatory inspections. This event helped young people understand the challenges in the food industry and prepare for future careers in the sector.
​
Health Sector and Nutrition Problems: We also held discussions with young people about nutrition problems common among youth and how to improve public health through better food choices. These sessions provided valuable insights into the intersection of food, health, and the environment.
​
Looking Forward: Erasmus+ and International Collaboration
While our association has not yet participated in Erasmus+ projects, we are eager to embrace the opportunities that this program offers. After the challenges of the pandemic, we are excited to begin our first Erasmus+ project, leveraging our collective knowledge, experience, and passion to engage in international collaborations. Through Erasmus+ and other global partnerships, we hope to expand our reach, share best practices, and contribute to the global effort for environmental sustainability and food safety.
Black Wood Environmental Biedrība is an inclusive society that welcomes all individuals and professions committed to creating a sustainable future. Whether you are a professional, student, volunteer, or simply someone passionate about environmental issues, we encourage you to join us in our mission. Together, we can raise awareness, foster change, and make a meaningful impact on the planet and future generations.
Ernest Naglis, President
He studied transportation and system engineering at Riga Technical University between 2020-2021. In 2022, he started his education in the field of international economic relations. Our founder, who is interested in many fields, always believed in the power of the system and the support of education. In this regard, he has participated in many training seminars on coding and environment, which are among the current education categories. Various fields and hobbies of our founder; mathematics, sports (playing beach volleyball for 5 years, basketball), politics, psychology, reading books, going to the theater, watching movies, traveling. Besides, he likes to participate in Erasmus+ projects both to travel and to learn new things. He has participated in the Erasmus+ project carried out in two countries so far (Turkey and Hungary). In this regard, his greatest passion has been nature. He always gave advice to his close friends such as "Love nature, animals, water parks, spend time with friends, take trips by car". At this point, it has decided to establish such an association in order to ensure that more people can benefit from its advice and that nature can be healthy in today's conditions.
Kaspars Pastars, Vice-President
He completed his higher education between 2017-2020. He handles many jobs at the same time. He continues to work as product promotion, event coordinator, financial advisor and actor. In addition, there are more than 40 flights and US travel experiences, including Mexico, as of 2019. He teaches Bachata lessons for children and adults. He organizes and implements sports activities for school children. He has training in public speaking and also teaches small groups. Our key person also speaks Latvian, English, German, Russian and Spanish. He is also very prone to language. Communication skills are also very strong in this regard. He has hosted and planned events for more than 15 events. He also acted as group leader and project manager in 6 Erasmus+ projects. However, the biggest passion of our second key person in life, like our founder, is nature. He is a true nature and environment lover. He has participated in many studies on nature conservation and environmental sustainability, and he has also organized many studies. In particular, he aims to raise awareness of people on the subject. In addition to all these, there is also first aid and intervention training. In this regard, he will be effectively evaluated on the management and risk assessment of the project.