Estonian living environment benefited from more than half a billion kroons in Euro support in 2007 26.12.2007 The European Union’s Cohesion Fund funded 517 million kroons of Estonian environmental conservation projects in 2007, with an additional 38.2 million kroons of support coming from the European Regional Development Fund. 700 million kroons was also provided for such projects by the Environmental Investment Centre. Compromise reached at Bali climate conference 18.12.2007 Representatives at the 13th session of the UN climate change convention and the 3rd meeting of signatories to the Kyoto protocol held on the Indonesian island of Bali from 3 to 14 December reached an agreement on the new framework for the prevention of climate change, which will replace the Kyoto protocol upon its expiry in 2012. New law to require actual restoration of environmental damage 03.12.2007 The Estonian president has proclaimed the Environmental Liability Act, which will require those who cause significant damage to the environment to physically restore the condition of the natural setting in which the damage occurred. Fisheries Council approves 2008 Baltic fishing quotas 26.10.2007 With a majority vote the European Union’s Fisheries Council has set the Baltic herring, sprat, cod and salmon fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea for 2008 for EU member states. Minister for the Environment approves radiation practice licence for AS Steri 18.09.2007 Today, 18 September 2007, the Minister for the Environment, Jaanus Tamkivi, put his signature to the radiation practice licence to be issued to AS Steri, giving the sterilisation factory the right to work with sources of radiation. The minister has also taken the decision to appeal the court ruling against the Ministry of the Environment of 31 August for having open proceedings in the course of processing the permit and having launched an environmental impact assessment. Europe's leading geologists to come together in Tallinn 12.09.2007 A scientific conference is being held on Sunday 16 September that will see Europe's leading geologists gathering in Tallinn for the first time to discuss the discovery, study and use of mineral resources and related environmental problems and to elect a new president for their organisation. New director to take up post at Environmental Inspectorate 11.09.2007 Peeter Volkov, current Chairman of the Board of AS Pärnu Sadam, will be taking up his new post as the Director General of the Environmental Inspectorate on 1 October 2007. Geological Survey of Estonia celebrates 50th anniversary 05.09.2007 On Friday 7 September the Geological Survey of Estonia will be marking 50 years of operations with an open day in its centre at Kadaka tee 82 which will give the public the chance to find out more about the work of its different departments and to admire map and photographic exhibitions and a range of books. Visitors will also be able to follow earthquakes that are taking place around the world in real time using the centre’s monitoring equipment. The Land Board buys an aircraft for mapping and monitoring 10.08.2007 The Land Board signed a contract with German company Air Alliance GmbH for the purchase of a Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan aircraft, which it plans to use mainly for taking the aerial photos required for topographic mapping, but also for other mapping work and environmental monitoring. Estonian Environmental Research Centre helped to create a trans-European network 07.08.2007 The Estonian Environmental Research Centre of the Ministry of the Environment participated as a leader of a working group in the creation of the SAFEFOODNET chemical food safety network which is designed for the EU member states. Jaanus Kala is the new deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of the Environment 30.07.2007 Today, on 30 July, Jaanus Kala became the acting deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of the Environment in forestry and nature conservation. Major source of Tallinn pollution closes 27.06.2007 Thursday 28 June marks the official end to the Cohesion Fund project “Tallinn waste management, phase II – closure of the Pääsküla waste centre.” Eel joins global list of endangered species 21.06.2007 The participants in the 14th conference of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, held in the Hague, have voted to add the European eel (anguilla anguilla) to the list of endangered species. Fisheries Council rubber-stamps Baltic Sea cod recovery plan 19.06.2007 The meeting of the European Union’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg last week saw the adoption of a long-term use and recovery plan for Baltic Sea cod reserves that will enter force in 2008. Assistant Minister appointed to Ministry of Environment 14.06.2007 Today, 14 June, the Estonian government appointed Rita Annus Assistant Minister to the Ministry of the Environment. 10th anniversary of adoption of Estonian forest policy 14.06.2007 Monday 11 June will mark the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Estonian forest policy by the national parliament. This was preceded by the launch of the Estonian Forestry Development Programme in 1995, whose task was to produce the forest policy, determining the general objectives of forestry in the country and the state’s role in achieving them. Ministry of Environment studies water protection efficiency 11.06.2007 The Ministry of the Environment has launched a study to evaluate the efficiency of all of its planned water protection measures, with the goal of directing their organisation in such a way that Estonia achieves desirable and natural conditions in its surface and ground water by 2015 at the latest. Lack of natural resources to be alleviated by new technology 05.06.2007 At the unofficial meeting of the European Union’s environmental council held in Essen in Germany at the beginning of June, the Ministers of the Environment from EU member states agreed that economic development would begin to be restricted by a lack of resources as early as this century, and that a third industrial revolution would be required in order to alleviate this situation. Joint Estonian-Russian expedition studies bed of Lake Peipus 31.05.2007 On the initiative of the Ministry of the Environment, a joint Estonian and Russian monitoring expedition to study the fauna on the bed of Lake Peipus took place from 22 to 25 May. Questionnaires on leasing of fisheries resources management rights completed 30.05.2007 The Ministry of the Environment’s questionnaire on the issuing of leases to the management rights of waterway fisheries resources has been completed by almost 30 different organisations and individual fishermen. Fish farm releases salmon and sea trout into rivers 15.05.2007 2007 is a busy year for Põlula Fish Farm: they have already populated the rivers of northern Estonia with thousands of young salmon and sea trout, and the re-homing scheme for year-old trout lies ahead of them. Environmental damage to be rectified by offending party 17.05.2007 Today, 17 May, the Estonian government approved the draft Environmental Liability Act developed by the Ministry of the Environment. The draft will now be sent to the first reading of the parliament. Eerik Kumari award presented to soil scientist Loit Reintam 14.05.2007 On Monday 14 May, Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi presented the 2007 Eerik Kumari Conservation Award at the opening ceremony of Conservation Month at the Tallinn Botanical Garden. The 19th recipient to be chosen by the selection committee was long-serving soil scientist and biology doctorate academic Loit Reintam. Ancient tree conservation month begins 14.05.2007 At midday on Monday 14 May at Tallinn’s Botanical Garden, Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi will be declaring Conservation Month for ancient trees open. The conservation period will last until 5 June. The UN Forestry Forum approved sustainable management of forests 09.05.2007 The UN Forestry Forum which met in New York at the end of April approved the internationally recognised principles for the protection of forests and implementation of sustainable forest management. The third international photo contest “On the Coast of the Baltic Sea 2007” is about to begin 04.05.2007 The Ministry of the Environment announces the third international photo contest “The Baltic Sea is Worth Protection.” The aim of the contest is to draw the attention of the people living on the coast of the Baltic Sea to the importance of environmental protection and to find new talents whose photos reflect both positive and negative ties between people and nature. Ministry of Environment completes draft development plan for use of oil shale 20.04.2007 On 18 April the Ministry of the Environment sent the draft version of the national development plan for the use of oil shale to the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Communication, Finance and Social Affairs for their endorsement and subsequent submission of the plan to the government for its approval. Protection of the Baltic Sea demands international cooperation 26.04.2007 The joint declaration adopted at the meeting of senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture and the Environment of Baltic nations which took place in Saltsjöbaden in Sweden on 20 April emphasises the need for the promotion of both internal and international cooperation in a range of fields in order to improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea. State Nature Conservation Centre adopts hogweed control measures 16.04.2007 The State Nature Conservation Centre is making preparations for the re-launch of hogweed control measures starting from 1 May. Eerik Kumari nature conservation award seeks owner 02.04.2007 The Ministry of the Environment is awaiting nominations for the 30,000-kroon Eerik Kumari nature conservation award. Keep an eye out for frogs on the roads! 30.03.2007 The State Nature Conservation Centre in association with the Põhjakonn non-profit organisation and the Road Administration will be launching a project on 1 April titled “Frogs on the Road” for caring people to help them chart areas in
Water economy plan for Estonia’s hydrospheres
12.03.2007
Minister for the Environment Rein Randver has signed a directive which will lead to the development of a water economy plan for three of
Assessment report on environmental impact of radiation safety plan awaits proposals
6.03.2007
The Ministry of the Environment is developing a national development plan for radiation safety with the aim of ensuring radiation safety throughout Need for environmental specialists increases 14.03.2007 A survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment into the need for environmental graduates in the labour market has revealed that there is already a lack of specialists in the field and that demand for them is growing. Estonia has 15 significant flood risk regions 9.03.2007 A study commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment has mapped 15 regions in the country that are at significant risk of flooding. Measures to reduce these risks have begun to be developed. The environmental action plan specifies activities for the improvement of the environment 26.02.2007 On 22 February the Government of Estonia approved of the environmental action plan for 2007-2013 prepared in the Ministry of the Environment under which the environmental strategy passed in the Riigikogu will be implemented. Requirements for the protection of the Baltic Sea became stricter 26.02.2007 On 21 February the Riigikogu passed a law on the approval of the amendments to the Helsinki Convention prepared in the Ministry of the Environment. The amendments cover the elimination of the use of single-hulled oil tankers, the discharge of ship-generated waste at port and the burning of waste on board a ship. Environmental Council focuses on reducing climate change 20.02.2007 Tomorrow, 20 February, Minister for the Environment Rein Randver will be attending the first session of the year of the European Union's Environmental Council in Brussels, at which the main topic of discussion will be problems associated with climate change. It is the wish of current EU president Germany that the union’s leading role in climate change on the world stage be reinforced. |