Eerik Kumari (7.03.1912 – 8.01.1984) is known as a distinguished scholar, lecturer and nature conservation activist. For almost 30 years, he was the Chairman of the Commission for Nature Conservation of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. After the Second World War he initiated preparation of the draft Nature Conservation Act which came into force in 1957. The conservation units created under this act have still remained protected natural objects. Kumari also launched the Estonian Red List, the first of which was published in 1979. He also compiled the national edition of the Estonian Red List (1982).
The Ministry of the Environment has been handing out the Eerik Kumari Award since 1989 to acknowledge Professor Eerik Kumari’s contribution to nature conservation. This award is given for outstanding activities related to organisation of conservation of natural biotic communities, rare species and single natural objects, as well as for the spread of knowledge about nature protection. Since 2010, winners of the Eerik Kumari Award have also received a golden medal for nature conservation. The award is traditionally presented at the annual opening event of the nature conservation month.
Proposals regarding the potential nominees can be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment until April 15th. The ministry is also waiting for candidates for the medal of nature conservation. This medal is used for distinguishing the activities involving nature research, spread of knowledge about nature as well as promotion, development and popularisation of nature conservation at both the national and international level.
Please send your proposals containing an overview of the nominee’s nature conservation activities in a free format by 15 April at the latest at the following address: Nature Conservation Department of the Ministry of the Environment, Narva mnt 7a, 15172 Tallinn or . On March 7, the Environmental Board will hold a seminar at Roosta Holiday Village with the title “Protected areas as part of green infrastructure” to commemorate Eerik Kumari’s 100th birth anniversary. The seminar is devoted to the Estonia's chairmanship in the EUROPARC Nordic Baltic Section in 2012-2014. Tomorrow, on 8 March, the Estonian Naturalists’ Society and the Commission for Nature Conservation of the Estonian Academy of Sciences will organise a conference devoted to Eerik Kumari’s 100th birth anniversary in Tartu. The programme includes presentations about Kumari’s life, his activities as a scholar, ornithologist and nature conservationist and his contribution to development of Matsalu National Park. The conference features two exhibitions: “One hundred years – one hundred pictures” (Vaike Hang) and “Eerik Kumari and Matsalu” (Kaja Lotman). |
