RMK and Estonian Fund for Nature organise collective action for nature conservation  09.01

Aigar Kallas, Chairman of the Management Board of RMK, said that for more than ten years RMK has supported the collective action events organised under the initiative of ELF in order to popularise volunteer work and promote nature education. “In spite of the long experience of ELF, the importance of volunteer work is still taking developing in Estonia, and through collective action we can show that nature conservation and taking care of endangered areas is our common concern,” said Kallas, and added that people from all age groups are welcome to participate in the collective action trips held from spring to autumn, because the knowledge of how to behave in nature is useful for everyone.

The estimated number of species of living organisms living in our forests is more than 20 000, and their survival is directly linked to human activity.

Over the years more than 4 500 volunteers have contributed up to 40 000 hours of work in approximately 300 collective action events organised by ELF. Jüri-Ott Salm, Chairman of the Management Board of ELF, said that the idea of the collective action is wider than simply doing some work. “Experience has shown that collective action in the summer brings peace of mind for the winter. It comes from the knowledge that people have done something with their own hands for nature; also from spending time in fresh air or taking a hiking trip to a local conservation area together after the work is done, and learning about nature and the community activities there,” said Jüri-Ott Salm.

Further information on collective action locations and registration will be published in the spring on ELF’s collective action webpage www.talgud.ee.

ELF has organised nature conservation collective action trips for more than ten years. Collective action trips, which began at the end of 1990s with the support of a partner from Great Britain, became popular in Estonia rather quickly and their popularity has continuously increased. In 2011 ELF held 40 collective action trips with over 500 participating volunteers, who contributed over 6000 hours of work for nature.

RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, aimed at sustainable and efficient management of the state forest. RMK grows reforestation materials, organises forestry works, is engaged in the sale of forest and timber and organises game upkeep. In addition, RMK establishes opportunities for hiking in nature and forest recreation on recreational areas, in Estonia’s five national parks and 40 other protected areas, and shapes awareness of nature. RMK manages 38% of Estonia’s forests.

Further information:
Kristjan Tõnisson
Head Specialist of Environmental Management of RMK
Telephone: +372 676 728, +372 5691 8782
E-mail: kristjan.tonisson@rmk.ee
www.rmk.ee

Tarmo Tüür
Member of the Management Board of ELF
Telephone: +372 5341 1020
E-mail: tarmo@elfond.ee
www.elfond.ee