SA Erametsakeskus(Private Forest Center)

Natura 2000 support for private forest owners in Estonia

Maaelu Arengu Euroopa Põllumajandusfond: Euroopa investeeringud maapiirkondadesse

Private Forest Centre (PFC)

Foundation which deals with development of private forestry sector by:

Development projects; Administration of subsidies

Main supported activities: Silvicultural activities (reforestation, young stand

treatment) Forest management plans Investments to forest management Compensation for NATURA 2000

Up to 6 mil. EUR of subsidies are allocated to forest owners a year

PFC and NATURA compensation

PFC carries out proceedings; payment agency pays the money

Ministry of Environment

Private Forest Centre

Ministry of Agriculture

Agrcultural Registers and Information Board(payment agency)

Legal basis

• Article 46 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005

• Estonian Rural Development Plan 2007-2013• European Union Common Agricultural Policy

Implementation Act • Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture• Administrative contract between PFC and

Agricultural Registers and Information Board

Private forest area

• Total Natura 2000 area in private forest land in Estonia is:

• 70 617 ha of forestland in limited management zone and special conservation area

• 19 384 ha of forestland in special management zone

TOTAL: ca 90 000 ha

• Compensation rate:• 60 EUR/ha per year in limited management zone

and special conservation area • 110 EUR/ha per year in special management zone

Aim of the compensation

Rural Development Plan:to contribute to the sustainable use of

private forest land located in Natura 2000 area

Measure to achieve the goal: to compensate the loss of economic

incomeof the forest resulting from the restrictions ofthe Birds and Habitats Directives.

Main requirements for the compensation

• Applicant is a private forest owner

• Applicant must not violate the Nature Protection Act and Forest Law

• Applicant must ensure that the area for which the support is applied can be identified visually on-the-spot

Visually identified area

• The applicant must mark the boundaries between different zones and the boundary of forest land in nature.

• If the boundaries of the area are linear, the corners must be marked.

• In case the area boundary is irregular, it has to be marked at full length.

Forest owner can ask subsidised advice for marking the boundaries!

The boundary between different management zone areas

The boundary, where forest land becomes smoothly not wooded land

On-the-spot check

Local control specialists check:

• Whether eligible forest area is not smaller than applied

• Forest area boundaries are marked according to regulations

• Whether there is any violation of Nature Protection Act or Forest Law

Results of the controlsPFC controls in the nature every year 5 – 10% of

applicants (about 4 – 5000 ha of forestland)

Main violations (ca 60%) are: marking of boundaries is not correct area of eligible land is not correct

Result: reduction of compensation

Everything correct – less than 30% of applicants

Only few cases when violation of nature protection requirements has been identified!

Numer of applicants

2008 2009 2010

1900

2385

3495

Applied area

2008 2009 2010

27677 35710 45917

7199685173

90001

Applied area (ha) Eligible area (ha)

Lessons learned

• very exact marking of boundaries is resource consuming for all stakeholders;

• forest owner can not be let alone if exact marking of boundaries is required – assistance has to be provided

Conclusions

Principles are excellent:Private owner need compensationUse of taxpayers money has to be under

the control

The fact, that compensation reaches to Estonian forest owners is also excellent! Remember the time few years ago …

Conclusions

But … implementation is …… pretty resource consuming …and conflict

creatingTime to introduce more modern methods

(digital registers, measuring by using GIS etc.)?

Compensation system, that creates misunderstandings between partners may endanger achievement of overall goals

THANK YOU!www.eramets.ee