07.05.2008 - The committees of the Riigikogu learned the results of the pilot project of RMK 10.10
“RMK has evaluated the current situation at managing the state forests, and decided to introduce a series of changes in work organisation," Aigar Kallas, Chairman of Board of RMK, said. “The pilot project confirmed the savings to be achieved in the administration of the forest management works with the new working order – the works planned in the region for the first quarter were executed with a four times smaller number of work managers than before."
“It gave a good overview of how to fell forest so that chips are still flying, but fewer people are involved. Those who have supported reorganisations in RMK earlier will keep doing so, and scepticists have not abandoned their positions, either,” Chairman of the Environmental Committee Marko Pomerants commented on the discussion.
At the State Forest Management Centre that will adopt the new structure on 1 July, three units will be engaged in performing the tasks imposed on the manager of the state forest: forest administration, forest management and timber marketing units. The operation of the new structure was preceded by the pilot project that lasted from the beginning of the year until April, during which the planned work order was tested on the territory of seven forest districts in North-East Estonia.
The purpose of the changes is to provide the population with more diverse opportunities for forest use than so far, ensure the surveillance and transparency of the state forest management, and achieve greater savings at organisation of the forestry works.
The changes lying ahead will increase the number of people responsible for accounting for and long-term planning of the state forest; more attention than so far will be paid on growing and maintaining the forest, less on the organisation of cuttings. Options for spending holidays in the state forest will also be diversified. The number of employees in this field will increase by 18 (at the moment, 35 employees), 12 more positions of rangers will be added and 5 new managers of the nature centre will be hired.
RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, aimed at sustainable and efficient management of the state forest. In addition to this, RMK creates possibilities for forest holidays and shapes nature awareness. RMK manages 40% of the Estonian forests.
Additional information:
Aigar Kallas
Chairman of Management Board of RMK
+372 676 7299, +372 528 1299
e-mail aigar.kallas
rmk.ee www.rmk.ee/en
