General information and members

The Estonian Private Forest Union (EPFU) was established in 1992 as an umbrella organisation for the local organisations of private forest owners. The EPFU has approximately 30 member organisations all over Estonia. Local organisations can be set up from forest owners of both natural and legal persons.
Principles
The activities of the EPFU are carried out according to the principles of democracy, sustainable development and environmentally friendly forestry. All EPFU members have the right to participate in the work of the EPFU, thus contributing to the development of the organization according to the principles of collaboration.

Activities
The main purpose of the EPFU is to represent the interests of private forest owners. This means active participation in Estonian forest policy and legislative process. In order to create a strong representative body it is important to cooperate with forest owners and give them a possibility to express clearly their position as far as their rights are concerned. The EPFU can be considered as a mediator in forest issues between the state and the third sector.

The main partners of the EPFU are the Private Forest Centre responsible for allocating  funds for private forestry, the Estonian Federal Savings and Loan Association and the Central Cooperative Private Forests acting as a partner to forest owners in commercial activities.

The EPFU is also involved in international cooperation. It is a member of the CEPF and the IFFA. The EPFU has established very good relations with similar organizations in the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as in Central Europe.
Communication
The EPFU supports the activities of its member organizations by means of various type of activities, e.g. exchange of forestry-related information (incl political decisions, legal acts), collecting statements on forestry matters, being a mediator on the state level and in third party organizations, implementing projects (incl international projects).

EPFU members have the right to acquire a special membership card which allows them to get certain services at lower prices. The list of service providers can be found here.
The EPFU also organises forestry trips to other countries for their members.
Private forest owners and associations

In Estonia there are 97,272 private forest owners (natural and legal persons) and approximately 2,500 of them are members of local private forest owners associations. 2.6% of natural persons and 4.5% of legal persons are involved in the activities of the forest owners associations.

There are 1,010,788 ha of private forests in Estonia (2.2 mln ha in total) and the forest owners having joined the associations have total of 300,000 ha of forest land. Thus, it can be said that the activities of forest owners associations cover ca 30% of private forest land.
Most of the active local forest owners associations (either profitable or non-profitable) are also members of the EPFU. The list of local forest owners associations can be found here.
The role of the local associations is to act as a partner to forest owners and help the owners to manage their forests and disseminate information. In order to meet the aim the associations provide forest owners with forest management services (eg soil preparation, timber selling) and advice (incl on applying for support). Any forest owner in need of advice on forest management practice can contact the local association or address the questions to the local support person. One regional liaison officer has been appointed for each county. The advice is free of charge, however, if the liaison officer has to visit the forest owner on site, the transport cost is charged. The list of liaison officers of local private forest owners can be found here.

Additionally to private forest owners associations the Central Cooperative Private Forest was established in May 2009. The cooperative is a profit association and its primary role is to find better solutions and conditions for private forest owners regarding timber sale (special contracts with companies, direct assistance regarding timber sale, joint sales, information on current timber market etc). Also, the Central Cooperative aims at increasing the provision of forest management services. More information on services in the area of economy provided by the cooperative can be obtained from the local contact person. The county based contact list can be found here.
Estonian Private Forestry Development Plan

The aim of the plan is to specify national forestry goals and actions for the implementation of these goals to create better conditions for sustainable development of private forestry. The document has been elaborated on the basis of national policies and legal acts (Forest Policy, Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, Development Strategy Sustainable Estonia 21 etc) and consists of 4 main areas: economy, environment, culture and social issues.

The economic part includes objectives and measures to increase the productivity of private forests and raise the profitability of management. The environmental part consists of objectives and measures to be taken to maintain the environmental status of the forests (incl maintenance of healthy forests). The part on cultural heritage focuses mainly on preserving of cultural values and awareness rising. The social part includes employment issues and raising the social value of private forestry and improve the image of private forest owners. The plan is available  here (in Estonian).

 

For more information please contact:

EPFU Managing Director  Mr Priit Põllumäe phone +372 504 0928 e-mail  priit.pollumae@erametsaliit.ee

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