The influence of Natura 2000 on Estonian forestry

Natura 2000 is an European-wide nature conservation network consisting of habitats and species in need of special care. Estonia, as all the other member states has committed to ensure the favourable conditions of those habitats and species listed in Directives of Natura 2000. Estonia is forest rich...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Link, Mikk
Formato: Second cycle, A2E
Lenguaje:sueco
Inglés
Publicado: 2010
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/1798/
Descripción
Sumario:Natura 2000 is an European-wide nature conservation network consisting of habitats and species in need of special care. Estonia, as all the other member states has committed to ensure the favourable conditions of those habitats and species listed in Directives of Natura 2000. Estonia is forest rich country, where forests cover around 51 % of total land area. Besides being fairly rich in biodiversity, Estonian forests are also rather important from economic perspective. The presence of those characteristics of Estonian forests offers great interest to research. This study aims to find out whether the implementation of Natura 2000 has had impact on Estonian forestry. To be able to fulfil the objectives the study used media content analysis, geo-analysis and interviews. The forests designated to Natura 2000 cover 18 per cent of total forest area. 42 % of those forests are strictly protected and 58 % are protected with various management restrictions. Around 77 % of Natura forests are state owned and 23 % in private ownership. The biggest impacts of Natura 2000 were found to be the expansion of protected forests area, loss of timber resource, increasing management restrictions, damaging of property rights of private forest owners and increasing power of nature conservation. It was also found that the decision-making power throughout Natura process was in the hands of environmental institutions, such as the Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Board and the Estonian Fund for Nature.