Silviculture

Silviculture is the implementation of targeted and systematic activities – the management methods in order to increase the value of forest. RMK has undertaken the obligation to use environmentally sound methods and clean technologies in the performance of all forestry works.

Since 2002, the environmental activities and sustainable forest management has been designated a FSC and ISO 14001 certificates.In 2010, RMK was also awarded the PEFC Sustainable Forest Management certificate and the ISO 9001 Quality Management certificate.

The emphasis is still laid on the improvement of quality of the technology and technique used in forest and the improvements of employees’ environmental awareness.

Several silvicultural works are carried out in the forest during the different development stages of forest.

Reforestation

In order to guarantee sustainable forest management RMK has to take care of the regeneration of clear cut areas.

With the aim of making reforestation more purposeful and ensuring the increase of the value of forest RMK has formulated the principle of purposeful reforestation.

Reforestation works are planned so that the stands with the best principal tree species would grow on the site with optimum costs within the shortest period of time in the new forest generation.

This principle is in compliance with the Estonian sustainable forestry standard. In the process of reforestation the natural reforestation of different existing tree species and old crop trees, down timber and broad-leaved hardwood contributing to the biological diversity are tried to retain as much as possible.

In setting the objectives of the protection forest the cause and objective of protection are duly taken into consideration.

In the process of setting the objectives the composition of the forest stand is the target for which achievement the reforestation improvement works are planned, as are the reforestation cuttings in the future. Reforestation works involve the mineralization of soil, i.e. soil scarification so that the seed would reach the soil and start to germinate within the sowing year.

Reforestation is performed whether by sowing and planting, or monitoring and if necessary assisting the natural reforestation. Reforestation improvement works have the greatest influence on the shaping of a stand. These works are performed in the form of trampling the grass layer around new forest plants or cutting the disturbing woody plants with a brush-saw.

Cleaning

Young fast-growing stands are called young growths. When the principal tree species is in its young growth years, it is guaranteed better site conditions and for that purpose the cleaning is performed.

Thinning

In case of middle-aged stands the thinning is performed. The objective of thinning is to improve the site conditions of trees that are being grown to maturity.