Ownership rights in Estonia CEPF Seminar on Baltic Countries Forestry Brussels, 26.06.2013 Priit...
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Transcript of Ownership rights in Estonia CEPF Seminar on Baltic Countries Forestry Brussels, 26.06.2013 Priit...
Ownership rights in Estonia
CEPF Seminar on Baltic Countries Forestry
Brussels, 26.06.2013
Priit Põllumäe
Managing director
Estonian Private Forest Union
▪ The EPFU was founded in 1992
▪ We´re a non-profit making organization
▪ We unite about 30 regional forest owners associations
all over Estonia
▪ About 4000 forest owners with ~250 000 ha of forest
land
Briefly about us...
...and about private forest ownership
▪ ~97 000 forest owners in Estonia (0,2 ha < ) from
which:
▪ 93 000 private individuals
▪ ~ 1 M ha of private forest ownership, yet fragmented:
▪ average property 10 ha
▪ 56% of NIPF-s own properties between 0,1-5 ha
Why ownership rights ▪ Ownership rights as a cornerstone for land
management
▪ Land management is a lifestyle, a way and a
possibility to live in rural areas
▪ Indeed, we do have the CAP! But....
Viability!! ▪ ….if ownership rights are not recognized or extremely limited viable land management is not possible!
Infrastructure ▪ 1,58 ha of land:
▪ you pay land tax ~7-8 € annually
▪ the use is limited!
▪ but you have the right to
get compensated 31,6 € cents▪ Problem recognized by the Chancellor of Justice and the Supreme Court of Estonia!
Nature protection ▪ Most importantly – forest owners are not
against biodiversity protection
▪ Yet, numerous problems exist!
▪ practically no involvement of landowners in developing
measures
▪ Natura support may continue, but what about the other
areas?
Taxation ▪ Land tax
▪ Income tax for NIPF owners
is an incredible burden!▪ deductions allowed but only for three years after a harvest
▪ an extremely difficult set of paperwork involved
▪ the system does not encourage forest owners to invest back into the land
Hunting ▪ We have a new Hunting Act!!
▪ Forest owners might get a 10% compensation for
damages that might occur
▪ Landowners representatives are involved in regional
Hunting Councils (decisions made by consensus)
▪ No obligations for the hunters to make contracts with
the landowners
To conclude ▪ In many cases the situation and problems
among all Baltic countries are very similar
▪ If ownership rights are not acknowledged or
very limited the viability of land management is
under threat
If it is not viable... ▪ … we may as well forget the development of
rural areas and the availability of sustainable,
natural resources and their management
It comes down to... ▪ … a decision: how to implement?!
▪ the reality is: educate and trust forest owners and
they will provide timber, infrastructure, biodiversity, clean
water, food, non-timber products etc. much more
cheaper!