Today, the Nature Conservation Month "Know Your Homeland’s Nature" was declared open by Mr. Villu Reiljan, Minister of the Environment. According to Mr. Reiljan, it is quite symbolic that the Nature Conservation Day and Mothers’ Day are celebrated on the same day. "Neither mother nor nature can be replaced or compensated for by any means. If we have lost her, this is unrecoverable," said Mr. Reiljan. The main idea of this year’s Nature Conservation Month is to bring Estonia’s nature closer to the people and attract interest to recognizing, understanding, and preserving of nature. According to Mr. Hanno Zingel, Head of Nature Protection Department, a total of some 150 events addressed to different groups starting from kindergarten kids and school students and ending with members of the parliament will be organized all over Estonia during this month. Mr. Zingel invited nature conservation specialists to also improve their own knowledge. "For instance, a specialist on insects might learn some new fossils, ornithologists might get to know plant species new for him," said Mr. Zingel. At the opening event of the Nature Conservation Month, Mr. Reiljan handed over this year’s Eerik Kumari Nature Conservation Award.(30,000 Estonian kroon) to Mr. Jaan Eilart, a prominent figure of Estonia’s nature conservation and culture who has made considerable contribution to the maintaining of our national culture and the improving of people’s awareness concerning our country’s nature, history and culture. Mr. Eilart was the person to first introduce nature conservation as a subject to be taught in the universities of the former USSR already in 1957; he also taught it himself. The Tartu Students’ Nature Conservation Circle established by him in 1958 has been recognized as the first one of its kind in the world. In 1969, Mr. Eilart lead the process of establishing the first National Park in the USSR - the Lahemaa National Park. Mr. Eilart was the Chairman of the Committee for Establishing the Estonian Nature Conservation Society, today being the Honorary Chairman of this Society. In the system of Cultural Universities of the country, 56 people’s universities focusing on nature conservation were established upon initiative of the Nature Conservation Society, Mr. Eilart being the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Jaan Eilart has been among the leaders of home study since the establishment of the Commission on Regional Studies of the Academy of Sciences (1958). Mr. Eilart has published (partly together with co-authors) over 20 books, edited some 50 publications and is author of some 1500 articles (300 of those scientific). For his contribution to the development of the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Jaan Eilart has received the Order of the White Star (Valgetähe Orden). The Eerik Kumari Nature Conservation Award was established in 1989 in menory of one of Estonia’s greatest natural scientists with the aim to recognize persons who have made considerable contribution to nature conservation over a long period of time. The earlier winners of the Kumari Award are Mr. Fred Jüssi (1989), Mr. Aare Mäemets (1990), Mr. Rein Maran (1991), Mr. Viktor Masing (1992), Ms. Mari Reitalu (1993), Mr. Madis Aruja (1994), Ms. Ilse Rootsmäe and Mr. Lemming Rootsmäe (1995), Ms. Linda Metsaorg and Mr. Arvi Järvekülg (1996), Ms. Hella Kink and Mr. Juhan Lepasaar (1997), Ms. Vaike Hang and Mr. Anto Raukas (1998), Mr. Vilju Lilleleht (1999), Mr. Veljo Ranniku (2000), Ms. Ann Marvet (2001), and Mr. Edgar Valter (2002). The Nature Conservation Month began on the Nature Conservation Day which was celebrated yesterday and will last until the International Environment Day on June 5. For additional information please contact: |
