Welcome to RMK

Oandu Nature Centre

in

Lahemaa National Park

Tiina Neljandik 12.08.2014

2 Estonian Forest

Almost half of Estonian land, 2,2 million hectares are covered with forest

Nearly half of Estonian forests belong to the Estonian state

There is 1,3 million inhabitants in Estonia, and almost 3000 trees per capita in our forest

Estonian Evironment Information Centre

http://www.keskkonnainfo.ee/failid/forestry2011/EstonianForestry.swf

3 RMK

What is RMK –

Riigimetsa Majandamise

Keskus?

State forests are

maintained, grown and

managed by the State

Forest Management

Centre (RMK)

The RMK, as a

governmental profit-

making institution, is

uniq in Estonia, and it’s

operating principles are

set out in the Forest Act

4 RMK

RMK in numbers:

Area of forested land 823 551 ha

Number of Staff 851

Turnover 116,2 mln EUR

Net Profit 26,7 mln EUR

Profit into the State budget 3,2 mln EUR

Landtax 3,7 mln

Number of plants planted 10 mln

State Forest Management Centre www.rmk.ee

5 RMK

Earns money for state by logging and selling timber material

Plants trees, protects forest nature

Organizes recreational use of forest

Organizes visitor management in the national parks and protected areas

6 Nature Preservation Department

Nature Management …

8 administrative areas

Staff ~ 90 + 60 seasonal contract workers

13 RMK recreation areas

5 National Parks and approximately 40 other protected areas

14 Nature Centres

4 Nature Houses

Nature Preservation Department

The Nature Preservation Department carries the duty it has been charged with through three directions of activity:

creation of opportunities for the exercising of the common right of access in RMK’s recreation areas and protected areas,

planning and creating hiking opportunities

environmental education activity in the RMK nature centres and nature houses.

Information on hiking in the wilderness and education of natural environment are provided at information desks and nature centres across Estonia.

7

8 Everyman’s right

All of the rights and responsibilities regarding humans’ interaction with nature are collectively termed everyman’s right.

In Estonia, it is permitted to access natural and cultural landscapes on foot, by bicycle, skis, boat or on horseback in all places not prohibited on the basis of law.

Private property may be accessed if it is not fenced or posted against trespassing.

If the private property is fenced or posted against trespassing, the permission of the owner is required to proceed.

9 Nature Preservation Department

2011 were done almost 1,57 million visits to RMK’s nature areas

42 231 people participated on nature education programs

2/3 participants were students

30 000 people took part of different activities

almost half of million people were visiting forests only to pick berries and mushrooms

10 Nature Preservation Department

RMK’s Nature Centres and Houses, Information Desks

in 2012

RMK’s Nature Centres and Houses, Information Desks in 2012

11 Oandu Nature Centre

Local Forestry Office

1860 - 2002

RMK Nature Centre from 2008.

Starting point of Nature Trails and Hiking Trails

RMK Information Desk

Nature education programmes and

Hereditary Culture

12 RMK

Organized nature

education in state

forest

13 RMK

Active and passive

education

14 Nature Preservation Department

Hiking trails

New trend – long

hiking trails

370 km RMK Hiking

Track from Oandu to

Ikla was opened

2012

New RMK South

Track - 627 km from

Aegviidu to Karula

National Park

16 Nature Trails. Oandu Beaver Trail

17 Nature Preservation Department

18 Nature Preservation Department

19 Nature Preservation Department

Thank you! 20