More information
Description
The situation in the Estonian forest is worrying. Intensive forest management is becoming an increasing problem due to the associated loss of biodiversity, damage to local values and, more and more, its contribution to climate change. It is crucial that environmental associations and local communities with expertise are involved in forest related decision-making. In practice, however, involvement/public participation mechanisms do not work.
The aim of the project is to reintroduce the principles of public participation in forest decision-making. To this end, it is planned to address both legal bottlenecks and to enforce the requirements for involvement in practice, through participation in specific decision-making processes. The target groups are decision-makers at the national level (the parliament, government, Environmental Board), environmental associations and local active groups.
Project activities involve a legal analysis of the bottlenecks in public involvement in forest decision-making, participating in real-life decision-making processes and empower local active groups with expert support and advice. All activities are supported by strong public communication work.
As a result of the project, the following will be achieved: 1) an understanding of the legal bottlenecks in making forest decisions and solutions, which will also be taken to decision-makers; 2) compliance with the requirements for involvement in specific forest decision-making processes, which results in better decisions on the one hand and model cases on the other, on which to proceed in the future; 3) more motivated and capable local communities.