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Forestry Management

More than a half of Estonian land (50.6% or about 2.3 million ha) is covered by forest. The area covered by forests and the volume of forests have significantly increased in the last 50 years making it one of the biggest resources in Estonia both in natural and economic terms. The purposeful and prudent use of forests is one of the most important possibilities of ensuring the development of the society. In terms of forest coverage, Estonia holds the 4th place, dropping only behind Finland, Sweden and Slovenia.

70% of the forests are commercial forests covering 1.5 million ha. One third of Estonian forests have been placed under different protection regimes. In terms of the proportion of protected forests, Estonia takes the 10th place in Europe, dropping behind Central-European countries with few forests and no aim of earning income from forestry. With a 30% proportion of protected forests, Estonia is far ahead of its neighbouring countries. For example, Latvia has protected 19.5% of its forests, Lithuania 18.7%, Sweden 12.3%, Russia 10.7% and Finland 7.2%.

The most widespread tree species in Estonia are the pine, birch and spruce. Mature aspen forests constitute 66% all aspen forests; in case of grey alder stands, that figure is 59%.

(Foto: Jüri Pere, State forest management centre)

The optimal prescribed cut defined in the Estonian Forestry Development Plan until the year 2010 is 12.6 million m³ a year. At the beginning of 2000, the prescribed cut reached a record level, being almost equal to the increment of forest stands, i.e. almost 12 million m³. In 2003, the prescribed cuts began to decrease as processing of raw material and provision of services increased. In 2006, coniferous wood (pine and spruce) constituted about 60% of the quantity of harvested timber. Birches are the most frequently harvested deciduous trees.

On average, 5800 ha of forest has been planted a year (in 2005–2008, the average amounted to 6200 ha a year), for which purpose almost 14 million forest tree plants were used a year. 69% of the planted areas were planted with spruce, 18% with pine and 12% with birches. Sowing was carried out on an average of 1400 ha a year. In addition to establishing forest cultures, natural forest regeneration (including sowing, planting of trees, cutting down competing plants) was promoted on almost 2000 ha a year. In order to establish forest cultures and to promote natural regeneration, almost 5300 ha of ground was prepared (mineralised) a year.

The importance of forests is expressed in four aspects:
* Economic aspect – forest as a source of revenue;
* Social aspect – forest as an ensurer of employment and provider of recreation;
* Ecological aspect – forest as the preserver of the diversity of species;
* Cultural aspect – forest as a part of Estonian culture.

According to the Estonian forest policy, Estonian forests are a great natural and ecological resource. Two general objectives have been set for forest management:

● Sustainable (i.e. homogeneous, continuous and diverse) forest management means the management and use of forests and wooded lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biological diversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, without causing any damage to other ecosystems;

● Effective management of forests.

State forest management centre