At the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center, the State Forest Enterprise presents the exhibition “Nature’s Values Through the Eyes of a Forester”, inviting visitors to discover Lithuania’s forests through the lens of foresters.
The authors of the exhibition are foresters from various regional branches of the State Forest Enterprise who capture the beauty of nature in their free time: Bronislovas Ambrozas, Kęstutis Jarmalavičius, Mindaugas Ilčiukas, Remigijus Daugėlas, Arvydas Statkevičius, Jonas Barzdėnas, and Rimantas Nalivaika.
Their photographs reflect not only the beauty of forests but also the everyday work of a forester – a lifelong calling and an expression of the many principles of sustainable forestry.
Foresters care for forests throughout their entire life cycle, from collecting seeds to managing mature stands, striving to increase Lithuania’s forest cover, preserve biodiversity, and grow healthy, resilient forests for future generations.
As the traveling exhibition arrived at VU LSC, we invited Dr Gytautas Ignatavičius to share a few words.
“The values of the forest” encompass a wide range of economic (timber, mushrooms, berries, game animals, and other renewable natural resources), environmental (climate regulation, pollution reduction, water flow control, biodiversity), and social and cultural (recreation, spiritual, aesthetic, religious) benefits that forests provide to people and the planet.
A romantic, holistic understanding of forest value goes far beyond its commercial resources, recognizing the vital ecosystem services and human connections it sustains.
For Lithuanians, the forest has long been like a good father who never abandoned them in times of need: in difficult periods, it provided food, shelter from the cold and other natural hardships, and protection from enemies.
These values are the key concepts shaping society’s attitudes and behavior toward forests, significantly influencing forest policy and management. As scientific knowledge and public perception evolve, these values may also change.
The exhibition will be open until December 21, 2025.