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Ownership rights in Estonia
CEPF Seminar on Baltic Countries Forestry
Brussels, 26.06.2013
Priit Põllumäe
Managing director
Estonian Private Forest Union
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▪ The EPFU was founded in 1992
▪ We´re a non-profit making organization
▪ We unite about 30 regional forest owners associations
all over Estonia
▪ About 4000 forest owners with ~250 000 ha of forest
land
Briefly about us...
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...and about private forest ownership
▪ ~97 000 forest owners in Estonia (0,2 ha < ) from
which:
▪ 93 000 private individuals
▪ ~ 1 M ha of private forest ownership, yet fragmented:
▪ average property 10 ha
▪ 56% of NIPF-s own properties between 0,1-5 ha
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Why ownership rights ▪ Ownership rights as a cornerstone for land
management
▪ Land management is a lifestyle, a way and a
possibility to live in rural areas
▪ Indeed, we do have the CAP! But....
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Viability!! ▪ ….if ownership rights are not recognized or extremely limited viable land management is not possible!
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Infrastructure ▪ 1,58 ha of land:
▪ you pay land tax ~7-8 € annually
▪ the use is limited!
▪ but you have the right to
get compensated 31,6 € cents▪ Problem recognized by the Chancellor of Justice and the Supreme Court of Estonia!
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Nature protection ▪ Most importantly – forest owners are not
against biodiversity protection
▪ Yet, numerous problems exist!
▪ practically no involvement of landowners in developing
measures
▪ Natura support may continue, but what about the other
areas?
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Taxation ▪ Land tax
▪ Income tax for NIPF owners
is an incredible burden!▪ deductions allowed but only for three years after a harvest
▪ an extremely difficult set of paperwork involved
▪ the system does not encourage forest owners to invest back into the land
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Hunting ▪ We have a new Hunting Act!!
▪ Forest owners might get a 10% compensation for
damages that might occur
▪ Landowners representatives are involved in regional
Hunting Councils (decisions made by consensus)
▪ No obligations for the hunters to make contracts with
the landowners
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To conclude ▪ In many cases the situation and problems
among all Baltic countries are very similar
▪ If ownership rights are not acknowledged or
very limited the viability of land management is
under threat
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If it is not viable... ▪ … we may as well forget the development of
rural areas and the availability of sustainable,
natural resources and their management
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It comes down to... ▪ … a decision: how to implement?!
▪ the reality is: educate and trust forest owners and
they will provide timber, infrastructure, biodiversity, clean
water, food, non-timber products etc. much more
cheaper!