Estonian environment minister to form new forestry council amid deep policy divides
Estonia's Environment Minister Andres Sutt plans to launch a forestry council and a separate scientific council by end of August to help bridge disagreements over forest management, as reforms to the Forest Act remain stalled.
Estonian Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt paused long-prepared amendments to the Forest Act and the Nature Conservation Act this spring after industry and conservationists failed to reach a compromise on forest use and protection. The proposed changes would have set 70 percent of forest land as managed and 30 percent as protected.
To help bridge the gap, the Ministry of Climate plans to convene two new bodies by the end of August: a forestry council and a related scientific council. Kristi Parro, head of the ministry's forestry department, said stakeholders met at Sagadi Manor in early June and agreed there is currently no proper format for discussing major forestry decisions before they are made.
The forestry council is expected to have 15-20 members, including landowners, interest groups, state agency representatives, scientists and possibly politicians. Most major stakeholders have reportedly received invitations, though some have declined to participate. The council is expected to meet at least twice this year and could also discuss specific draft legislation, though that is not its primary purpose.
A separate scientific council, composed solely of university researchers, will examine forest inventory data and scientific findings to inform the forestry council's discussions.
Concerns over another talking shop
A similar forestry council existed roughly a decade ago under the environment ministry. The current government has created several such councils in recent years, including ones on climate, efficiency and economic growth, and artificial intelligence.
Former climate council member Maia-Liisa Anton said she hopes the ministry avoids repeating the climate council's experience, where meetings often featured presentations without substantive discussion. Henrik Välja, head of the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association, acknowledged the risk of the new council becoming another talking shop but welcomed its creation, stressing that after roughly a decade of debate, concrete decisions are needed, particularly on legally fixing the 70/30 land split. Tarmo Tüür, chairman of the Estonian Fund for Nature, offered cautious support, emphasizing the need for broad-based agreement and saying scientists should provide expertise rather than argue with lobbyists.
