sa erametsakeskus (private forest center)
DESCRIPTION
Maaelu Arengu Euroopa Põllumajandusfond: Euroopa investeeringud maapiirkondadesse. Natura 2000 support for private forest owners in Estonia. SA Erametsakeskus (Private Forest Center). Private Forest Centre (PFC). Foundation which deals with development of private forestry sector by: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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