Minister Erkki Keldo Convenes Forestry Council to Review Act Amendments in Tallinn
The Forestry Council convened for the second time at the Ministry of Climate in Tallinn, marking the first meeting led by Minister of Climate Erkki Keldo, who succeeded Andres Sutt. The council gathered to discuss amendments to the Forest Act and the Nature Conservation Act, the principles of sustainable forestry, and initial research topics for the forestry scientific advisory board.
Keldo outlined a two-track approach for future work, stating that upcoming months will focus on legislative amendments that solve practical problems, clarify ambiguous requirements, and reduce administrative burdens. Long-term efforts will aim to establish short- and long-term goals for forestry alongside metrics to measure progress toward sustainability.
Categorizing Draft Bill Provisions Following Council Feedback
Council members submitted written feedback on draft bills ahead of the meeting, allowing the ministry to divide provisions into three distinct categories for the first time. The first category covers proposals with broad agreement, which can be moved forward. The second group contains provisions with major disagreements that are excluded from the current package, while the third group required substantive discussion.
Four specific provisions underwent substantive debate during the session. Regarding felling restrictions imposed by local governments, officials discussed a proposal requiring municipalities to either acquire the land or compensate forest owners for lost income if regeneration felling is prohibited in mature or maturing forests outside protected natural areas. The underlying principle ensures that the entity imposing the restriction bears the associated cost, though discussions emphasized that communities must still retain the ability to protect their local living environments.
Adjustments to Forest Notification Waiting Periods and Nature Conservation Contracts
Discussions regarding the ten-day waiting period on forest notifications resulted in a proposal to abolish the requirement for thinning, line-clearance cutting, and selection cutting. However, following council feedback, the waiting period will remain mandatory for design felling, regeneration felling, deforestation for land conversion, and sanitation felling due to their potentially greater environmental impact.
Meanwhile, two proposed amendments to the Nature Conservation Act will not proceed in their current form. One amendment involved voluntary nature conservation contracts on private land modeled after woodland key habitat agreements. While members supported the principle of voluntary conservation, expectations surrounding contract duration, flexibility, and funding varied. A proposed 99-year right of usufruct for protected forest land was also discussed, with members arguing that existing mechanisms for acquiring protected land simply require better funding rather than a new mechanism.
Scientific Advisory Board Establishes Proportions and Metrics for Sustainable Forestry
The Ministry of Climate proposed that the forestry scientific advisory board—comprising researchers from four universities and convening in November—evaluate whether and under what conditions a ratio between managed and protected forest land can be established. The advisory board will also determine appropriate indicators for measuring sustainable forestry progress. Discussions revealed that the 70/30 principle, paused in the spring, remains polarizing, with several members emphasizing that long-term direction outweighs a single numerical target.
Members will receive the meeting summary and revised draft bills in the second half of October to clarify any positions expressed during the session. The ministry plans to publish the meeting summary and the final list of advancing provisions during the first week of November. The Forestry Council will continue to meet every one-and-a-half to two months, with the next session scheduled for December or January.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Forestry Council Legislation
Who leads the Forestry Council?
Minister of Climate Erkki Keldo leads the Forestry Council, having taken over the position from his predecessor, Andres Sutt.
What changes are proposed for forest notification waiting periods?
The ten-day waiting period is slated for abolition regarding thinning, line-clearance cutting, and selection cutting. However, the waiting period will stay in place for design felling, regeneration felling, deforestation for land conversion, and sanitation felling.
When will the forestry scientific advisory board first convene?
The advisory board, which includes researchers from four universities, will hold its first meeting in November to address sustainable forestry metrics and managed-to-protected forest land ratios.