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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| Format: | Second cycle, A2E |
| Language: | Swedish Inglés |
| Published: |
2010
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| Online Access: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/1798/ |
| Summary: | 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.
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