Estonian Private Forestry Development

Erik Kosenkranius

Head of Forestry DepartmentMinistry of the Environment

Forest PolicyIn June 1997, the Estonian Forest Policy was approved by the Parliament.

According to the Estonian Forest Policy the following two principal, closely linked objectives for the Estonian forestry sector are set:

- sustainable forestry;- efficiency in forest management.

In order to implement the Forest Policy Ministry of the Environment decided in 1999 to launch the elaboration of Estonian Forestry Development Programme for ten year period 2001-2010

Estonian Forestry Development Programme until 2010Public support to private forestryActivities

- Development of a private forestry counselling system based on the county Environmental Authorities and Private Forest Centre

- Preparation of measure of distributing direct grant aid to support the implementation of silvicultural activities; preparation of the corresponding instructions

- Distribution of direct grant aid to support silvicultural measures, incl co-financing from the EU Structural Funds

Private forestry development plan The Estonian Private Forestry

Association has initiated the preparation of the private forestry development plan.

The objective is to specify national goals and actions of implementation in private forestry and to create better conditions for the sustainable development of private forestry.

The development plan consists of four main areas:

I Economy II Environment III Culture IV Social issues

The economic objective is to increase to productivity of private forests and to raise the profitability of management.

increasing the area, growing stock and increment of productive stands;

raising productivity by increasing the volume of forest-improvement works;

increasing investments for renewal and maintenance of drainage systems and for forest roads construction

preparing taxation system supporting sustainable forestry;

decreasing illegal activities and shadow economy in forestry;

increasing multiple use of forest and apply new products and technologies.

The environmental objective is the maintenance of healthy forests

promoting sustainable use of forest and respect of traditional values;

development of taxation system supporting the preserving of environmental values;

compensation for economic restrictions; raising the environmental awareness of private

forest owners.

The social objectives include raising the social value of private forestry and improve the image of private forest owners

slowing down the unemployment rates; improve professional skills of employees, decrease

illegal labor relations and improve the quality of labor relations;

maintaining the proportion of regionally organised forest owners;

increasing the number of united forest owners;

creating possibilities for compensating the investments made in private forests for implementation of every man�s right;

improve the public image of private forestry.

The goals in the area of cultural heritage include the promotion of sustainable and close-to-nature lifestyle and the preserving of cultural values.

defining and making inventory of the cultural heritage objects, creating the register of cultural heritage objects;

raising the awareness of private forest owners and the public in the field of cultural heritage.

Perspectives � where to invest? Investments for improving the

economic value of forests Restoration measures for forests

damaged by natural disasters and preventive measures

Cooperation in the development of new products, processing methods and technologies (primarily in material technologies and bio-energetics)

Perspectives � where to invest? Promotion of innovative

approaches (incl the promotion of private-public partnerships in forestry)

Investments made for maintaining natural heritageInvestments related to access to forests, land utilisation and amelioration

Perspectives � what to support?

Investment support granted to micro-enterprises in forestry for the development of marketing, processing or processing technologies of forest products

Forestry counselling service

Perspectives � what to support?� Promotion of tourism �

support for the establishment of information desks, providing signs, accesses to natural areas and small-scale accommodation services.

Perspectives � what to support?� Compensation for additional costs

and loss of profit in NATURA 2000 forest areas

� Compensation for loss of profit and costs resulting from the additional voluntary environmental protection obligations

� Inefficient investments needed for the implementing environmental goals or for increasing the value of the general use of forest

Perspectives � what to support?

� Inefficient investments needed for the implementing environmental goals or for increasing the value of the general use of forest

Thank You!

You are most welcome to Forest Week 8-14.05.2006 !