The influence of Natura 2000 on Estonian forestry

Abstract: Natura 2000 is an European-wide nature conservation network consisting of habitats and species in needof special care. Estonia, as all the other member states has committed to ensure the favourableconditions of those habitats and species listed in Directives of Natura 2000. Estonia is forest rich country,where forests cover around 51 % of total land area. Besides being fairly rich in biodiversity, Estonianforests are also rather important from economic perspective. The presence of those characteristics ofEstonian forests offers great interest to research.This study aims to find out whether the implementation of Natura 2000 has had impact on Estonianforestry. To be able to fulfil the objectives the study used media content analysis, geo-analysis andinterviews.The forests designated to Natura 2000 cover 18 per cent of total forest area. 42 % of those forests arestrictly protected and 58 % are protected with various management restrictions. Around 77 % of Naturaforests are state owned and 23 % in private ownership. The biggest impacts of Natura 2000 were foundto be the expansion of protected forests area, loss of timber resource, increasing managementrestrictions, damaging of property rights of private forest owners and increasing power of natureconservation. It was also found that the decision-making power throughout Natura process was in thehands of environmental institutions, such as the Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Board andthe Estonian Fund for Nature.