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“Stories of Ancient Trees” – An Event for Forest Owners in Rakvere

“Stories of Ancient Trees” – An Event for Forest Owners in Rakvere

On May 9, 2025, a special event for forest owners titled “Stories of Ancient Trees” will take place in Rakvere. The aim of the event is to raise awareness about the value of ancient trees and nature conservation. The gathering will be held at Villa Theresa (Tammiku 13, Rakvere), and the day will be hosted by nature expert and traveler Hendrik Relve.

The event is organized by the Loodushoiu Fund and Rakvere Forest Association, who wish to provide forest owners with practical knowledge on how to recognize, protect, and appreciate ancient trees. The focus will also be on new developments in private funding for nature conservation, as well as an introduction to the Register of Ancient Trees.

After the talks, participants will head out for a walk in the park, where Hendrik Relve will introduce local ancient tree specimens and discuss their ecological and cultural significance.

Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. You can register until May 7 here:
👉 https://forms.gle/LKJJTqyvoJxAJGiL7

PROGRAMME

14:45–15:00 – Gathering and welcome coffee
15:00–15:05 – Opening remarks and introduction
15:05–15:25 – Trends in Private Funding for Nature Conservation in Europe (Pille Ligi)
15:25–15:40 – The Ancient Tree Guardian and the Register of Ancient Trees (Ain Näkk)
15:40–16:40 – Ancient Trees and Their Importance: How to Identify and Why to Protect? (Hendrik Relve)
16:40–17:00 – Coffee break
17:00–18:30 – Guided Park Walk
Gathering outdoors and walk with Hendrik Relve. Observing real examples of ancient trees in the park.
18:30 – Closing of the event

Airiin Vaasa – A Climate Ambassador with a Passion for Forestry

Photo: Mailis Vahenurm

Growing up in Vara Forest District in a family of foresters, Airiin Vaasa found her way to forestry studies by chance—despite her family’s opposition. The young woman, who already stood out during university for her active involvement, has now added a prestigious new title to her list of achievements: European Climate Ambassador.

What exactly does a European Climate Pact Ambassador do? The role is largely shaped by the ambassador themselves. It is a voluntary position aimed at increasing climate awareness in communities and providing practical solutions to environmental challenges. In Vaasa’s case, her focus is primarily on the forestry sector, where she has studied and worked. “In forestry, a lot of opinions come from people without a forestry background, so it makes sense to take on an active role in the discussion and bring more scientific perspective into the debate,” she explains. “Since I’m not permanently tied to any specific organization at the moment, I can integrate these topics into different projects I’m involved with.”

There are several European Climate Pact Ambassadors in Estonia, the most well-known being Member of Parliament Hanah Lahe.

Doesn’t the Forest Grow on Its Own?

Vaasa (26) became a familiar name to forestry professionals a few years ago at the Forestry Vision Conference, where she delivered a presentation on behalf of forestry students about the sector they would like to work in the future. Her speech included a fair amount of criticism toward the "old guard," reflecting the frustration among forestry students that the industry sometimes views new generations with condescension. Many young professionals find it challenging to establish themselves in the existing hierarchy after graduation.

Her critical speech was met with applause and praise, and from that point on, Vaasa’s name began to appear more frequently in forestry-related roles. “I’ve partly made my way by speaking my mind,” Vaasa admits. “That can sometimes cause conflicts, but honesty is generally appreciated.”

Vaasa grew up in Vara Forest District in Tartu County, where both of her parents worked, as did most of the villagers. Despite this, she never considered a future in forestry. On the contrary—she didn’t understand why forests even needed to be managed. After all, don’t they grow on their own? Her parents preferred that she study law, while she was drawn to cultural management but narrowly missed admission. “Somehow, things worked out in a way that my best friend at the time suggested we study something random for half a year and then switch to a field we actually liked,” she recalls. That "random choice" turned out to be forestry. Her friend never even applied, but Vaasa went to the Estonian University of Life Sciences alone and discovered that she enjoyed forestry so much that she pursued a master’s degree right after finishing her bachelor’s.

Standing Out Through Activity

Vaasa says she has always wanted to do things that have an impact, which explains her active involvement. At the Estonian University of Life Sciences, she became a forestry tutor, supporting fellow students. She chaired the Forestry Students’ Association and still organizes forestry competitions in Järvselja. During her master’s studies, she was invited to temporarily work as the Executive Director of the Estonian Forestry Society, and she is currently involved with both the Nature Conservation Fund and Luua Forestry School.

“My father immediately said that I would never become a real forester, and I have always known that myself,” she admits. “I am more drawn to softer, education-related activities—ones that integrate forestry with other fields, like event management or marketing.”

Currently, her focus is on the international WESEM project (Wildlife Estates Sustainable & Ethical Management), in which the Estonian partners are the Nature Conservation Fund and Luua Forestry School. The project aims to train vocational students, forestry, agricultural, and environmental professionals who advise landowners and farmers on how to manage their land ethically and sustainably while successfully applying for the Wildlife Estates label. To achieve this, a training platform and a mentor network are being developed, which could eventually evolve into a completely new curriculum at Luua Forestry School for training land management advisors based on the values of Wildlife Estates.

The Wildlife Estates label recognizes landowners who voluntarily contribute to increasing biodiversity. In essence, it promotes private nature conservation—something not yet widespread in Estonia. However, in the future, private and voluntary conservation efforts could exist alongside state-protected areas as an equal approach.

Passion for Impactful Work

Although Vaasa is engaged in multiple forestry-related projects, she has not yet found the one long-term position where she can create lasting value. However, she believes that the right opportunities will come at the right time.

For her future job, she hopes for the chance to work on large-scale, impactful projects. “It should be related to education, with an organizational and marketing aspect as well,” she reflects. “What exactly that will be, I can’t say yet. But I want to do something that makes a difference.”

When asked what advice she has for young people considering a career in forestry, Vaasa has a clear message: “They need to be active and seek innovative solutions. Such people are highly valued in forestry.” At the same time, she emphasizes that without a genuine interest in nature, it is difficult to succeed: “You may have general knowledge, but to truly connect the dots, you need to be a bit of a fanatic yourself.”

Artikkel ilmus õppelehes Sinu Mets. Loe õppelehte siit.

The third WESEM meeting took place in Andalusia

Whom does landowner trust the most, according to experience but as well as scientific review papers? 

💡 Another landowner. 

For that we are happy to have enforcement by ERASMUS project funds for our WESEM (Wildlife Estates and land ethic mentorship - https://wesem-erasmus.eu/) project. On our third meeting in rather an exotic Andalucia region in Spain:

- We were analyzing the material created for filling the gaps in the labour market related to the lack of professionals able to advise on issues related to nature and biodiversity conservation.

- Discussed how the peer-to-peer learning system could look like in a flexible, practical and fully online vocational training system;

- Demonstrated a toolkit version that has practical advice for forestry related actions for those landowners who want to follow Wildlife Estates label and PEFC.

- Discovered once again that all countries are different while driving alongside of mountain areas, where spanish agriculture must use also terrace building, irrigation systems and increase forest planting. As its hot like in Egypt.

- Visited an estate of landowner of Castillo de Canena Olive Juice. They have measuring stations all over the estate that analyse the soil situation, they sell the pruning residues instead of burining them and provide access to their mills also to other landowners.

#EU #Erasmus #WESEM #ELO #WildlifeEstates

Loodushoiu Fond in innovation partnership in the European Union Green Assist programm with Forestry France.

The newly announced funds will support partner countries throughout the world.

The EU announced several transformative actions at the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, to reaffirm its commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss worldwide by 2030.

Building on its commitment to double external funding for biodiversity from 2021 to 2027 to €7 billion, the EU has unveiled a package of new initiatives aimed at supporting partner countries and safeguarding biodiversity globally worth close to €160 million.  

At COP 16, the EU presented its exploratory works on the potential and challenges of biodiversity certification and nature credits, as part of the innovative finance instruments toolbox for broadening sources of funding to mobilise resources, help companies set nature-positive goals, and reward those who protect and restore nature, including farmers, foresters, fishers, and other sea- and land managers as well as IPLCs.
EU exploratory works include two pilot projects, one on wetlands in partnership with France and one on private forests in partnership with Estonia, as well as a project in the Peruvian Amazon.

Sometimes stars align and there opens an opportunity to cowork within innovative European partners for common good. Thank you Forestry France for all the hard work we have had so far already.

Estonian Landowners Discuss New Conservation Partnerships at Eurosite Event

Estonian landowners co-operation conservation partner The Nature Fund was invited to Eurosite to discuss on new forms of partnerships and cooperation that are a prerequisite. How do you learn from each other, which mentor systems find the right language, and which tools work as incentives for farmers, private landowners and local communities?

Eurosite is the network of landowners and conservationists protecting and restoring private land for nature and the climate in Europe 
https://www.eurosite.org/

Key takeways from landowners perspective:

⚖️ One can not have all good things at once. 
-> To have grouse population high in UK, you reduce the number of forested hectars and catch the small predators.
-> To solve the water contamination problem of old lead quarry, one needs to bind the earth, create the soil and regreen, but cant probably control the birds eating the insects that are on those restored areas.
-> In order to maintain the long term management possibilities, it is needed to make compromises in short-term profit.

🌄  Landowners presentations ecoed similar things - 
-> No urge to notify authoroties of special species, as I will end up losing my rights to my land.
-> Peer-to-peer learning that is lead by landowners organisations is one of the key aspects. Other way the mistrust is too big.
-> Landowners are part of solution, not anti-nature.

🍁 SER presentation confirmed our understanding of the EU policy requirements: 
-> it is 20% not 30% and it is 1/3 of this 20% under strict protection. Favourable conservation status (Habitats directive) means on national level conservation objectives. Not on stand level. 
-> It is not the same as a "good condition habitat type" that is measured on site level.
-> No significant deterioration of areas in good conditions or areas subject to restoration measures means on site level, the structure, fundtions and typical species or typical species composition of a habitat tyle remain stable or show continuous improvemnt. And it means we commitment is effort-based, not result based.

#WeActForBiodiversity #landowners #ourlandournature #restorationdecade #eurosite

The Nature Fund contributes to biodiversity-rich solar parks.

Solar parks are primarily associated with energy production, but we rarely consider that these parks, situated in natural environments, could also support biodiversity. How can this be achieved, and how can the land between panels be better utilized?

These questions are addressed in the latest episode of Osoon.

The Nature Fund has partnered with Kaamos Group companies and mapped out ten solar parks, proposing various biodiversity-promoting activities for solar parks.

For example, the spaces between solar panels could be used to restore plant cover, including sowing native plants that provide shelter and food for pollinators and other insects. Such a solution not only enhances the ecosystem value of the park but also reduces the need for frequent mowing, which in turn lowers maintenance costs and the carbon footprint.

Multiple studies have shown that biodiversity can be supported in several ways. For instance, one could consider creating small water bodies or establishing nesting sites for birds and small animals. Additionally, a bee area could be created, which not only supports bees and other pollinators but also enhances agricultural yields through pollination.

At the same time, solar parks ensure an additional source of energy, contributing to green transition goals. Eco-friendly solutions implemented in solar parks can serve as an example for other renewable energy producers as well.

Digital flower on Valentine's Day saves nature and contributes to the company's SDG goals

To draw attention to the footprint of imported flowers and to offer an alternative to giving real flowers, the Nature Conservation Fund plants one rare domestic plant under solar panels for every digital flower sold.

Digital loop and wild flowers can be a suitable alternative if you want to remember your loved one, friend or business partner with flowers, but the flower recipient is far away or knowing that someone is thinking of them is more important than a physical bouquet.

Loodushoiu Fond does not want to be extreme and say that an environmentally conscious person should not give real flowers at all. However, considering the environment, it would be worthwhile to prefer domestic flowers, because as recent British research shows, the footprint of imported flowers is about ten times larger than that of locally grown flowers. The footprint of the industrial cultivation of flowers is increased by their air transport, as well as heating of greenhouses, chemicals used, and water consumption.

It is customary to give flowers on Valentine's Day. According to a British study, the footprint of seven cut flower bouquets from abroad is about 30 eqCO2kg. The same bouquet domestically has 3.3 eqCO2kg and a digital bouquet has 0.05 eqCO2kg. Here would be an opportunity to contribute very directly to the company's SDG goals. We encourage entrepreneurs to conduct a survey among the target group - it may turn out that not everyone wants to receive a cut tulip or a rose that withers after 4 days. Our partners have lands where they can grow and leave flowers and plants of special occasions that serve a longer view and preservation of natural values.

Loodushoiu Fond implements projects that contribute to increasing biodiversity with the proceeds from the sale of digital flowers.

For example, 500 plants were planted under the solar park with the volunteers of the Erasmus+ Elu enclaves project of Lääne-Harju Cooperation.

You can read more about the footprint of imported flowers on the Loodushoiu Foundation blog, the e-shop can be accessed here.

The purpose of the Nature Conservation Fund, established in 2021, is to contribute to the development of voluntary nature conservation in Estonia. Land owners contribute to the fund's activities, and private individuals, private companies and third sector organizations can get involved as partners.

Digital flower was Eesti Ekspress word of the week 2022

Additional information:

Pille Ligi
Board member of The Nature Fund

phone 518 0641

pille.ligi@loodushoiufond.ee

www.loodushoiufond.ee

New research: Carbon credits are associated with businesses decarbonizing faster

Businesses purchasing voluntary carbon are more likely to report lower gross emissions year-on-year, and invest more in emissions reductions, than companies not engaged in carbon markets

New research published today suggests that companies that participate in voluntary carbon markets (VCM) are leading across a range of measures of robust climate action, accountability, and ambition—across the board, outperforming companies that do not buy carbon credits.

The new study by Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace indicates that not only are carbon credits purchases funding rapid climate action, but are also associated with companies that are already addressing climate change in their direct operations and throughout their value chains.

Findings include:

• Companies engaging in the voluntary carbon market are reducing their own emissions more
  quickly than their peers.

• They are 1.8X more likely to be decarbonizing year-over-year;
• 1.3X more likely to have supplier engagement strategies, an indicator that companies buying carbon credits are also actively working with suppliers, employees, and customers to address climate impacts; and
• The median voluntary credit buyer is investing 3X more in emission reduction efforts within their value chain. They do so by investing in emissions reduction activities for their business and operations, including renewable energy consumption and the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
• Voluntary carbon buyers are more likely than non-buyers to have targets to address climate change, and their targets are more ambitious.
  • They are 3.4X more likely to have an approved science based climate target;
  • 1.2X more likely to have board oversight of their climate transition plans; and
  • 3X more likely to include Scope 3 Emissions in their climate target – notable given that Scope 3 emissions constitute the majority (91%) of carbon buyers’ emissions, and also are the hardest for companies to exert control over, as these emissions are generated by the company’s suppliers upstream, customers downstream, and other companies and organizations in the value chain.
• The market has seen an uptick in demand for pricier, higher quality carbon credits. This suggests companies are willing to pay more to ensure supply-side integrity. The voluntary carbon market was valued at US$2 billion in 2021 and industry experts expect it to grow at least five-fold to between US$10-60 billion by 2030.

The report analyzes voluntary carbon markets transactions and corporate climate disclosures to the CDP (formerly, Carbon Disclosure Project)) by 7,415 organizations, on behalf of 590 institutional investor signatories with a combined US$110 trillion in assets, and 200+ major purchasers with over US$5.5 trillion in procurement spend.

Carbon credits represent a very small share of overall action: the analysis shows that the credits companies are buying represent on average just over 2% of their total emissions.

Loodushoiu Fond/ The Nature Fund brings news to the community and, among other topics, also from the carbon field. We do not judge and we convinced that all different worldviews and activities that benefit climate change mitigation are positive. By paraphrasing Eva Truuverk (Green Tiger), we do not criticise children for learning to read on their stumbles and mistakes. The same principle applies to organisations and people who are taking the first steps in the path of sustainability. We welcome all companies that help to fund tstewardship of nature values.

The Nature Fund was confirmed as a partner of the UN initiative

The Nature Fund has been approved as a parterre of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

The goal of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration is to restore 350 million hectares of degraded habitats by 2030. Eight types of ecosystems are being restored, which are: farmland, forests, freshwater, mountains, oceans and coasts, peatlands, urban areas and grasslands, shrubs and savannas.

The United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration is also known by the hashtag #generationrestoration. There are eight different types of partnerships to get involved in. The Nature Conservation Fund was selected as a UN partner in the Actor category. In total, the initiative currently has more than 200 partners.

By becoming a partner of the United Nations, the Nature Conservation Fund undertook to support and facilitate ecosystem restoration activities and agreed to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Decade of Restoration.

Projects contributing to the goals of the UN decade are gathered in the FERM register (Framework for ecosystem restoration monitoring). FERM consists of a geospatial platform and a register of restoration initiatives. It is the official monitoring platform for tracking global progress and disseminating good practices. In the FERM register, it is possible to search for various initiatives that restore ecosystems, and it is also possible for organizations to upload their own restoration initiatives.

More information:  https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/

New board of councils member in Nature Nature Fund is Olav Kreen

The founder of the Nature Nature Fund, the Estonian Private Forest Association, elected Olav Kreen as the new member of the board of councils of fond.

Olav Kreen is a 7th generation landowner from Viru-Nigula Valla. In his activities, he wishes to find a balance between agriculture and nature conservation.  Working experience has been gained from both Sweden and America, and it manages 600 ha of fields and 100 ha of woodland.

Through the new member of the board of councils, landowners in the field of agriculture are also involved in nature conservation issues. Today Olav Kreen acts as a member of the supervisory board of the Estonian Agricultural Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the management board of the Farmers' Association of Virumaa.

Olav stresses that only 10% of Estonia is in intensive use under crops and about 23% of the area under agriculture is organic land. Most agricultural land is managed in an environmentally friendly manner, which contributes to increasing soil health and biodiversity.

Olav sees his role in replacing opposision in nature conservation and working fields with result-oriented nature conservation in the agricultural field. A key element is the voluntary nature of the system, which can be achieved by increasing awareness among the parties involved. It is all about developing cooperation and understanding.

Photo: Scanpix

There are no such things as free

The Nature  Fund has received information that free plants may be distributed to forest owners for planting. Please make sure that the plants needed for planting do not come with additional obligations – for example, the default transfer of carbon credit, exchange for plants.

Behind the scheme is the desire to gain possession of a new asset class - carbon credit. The monetary value of carbon credits is today estimated at 17 – 35 € per tCO2eq in certified afforestation projects, some estimate the future value to be 100€ tCO2eq.

If someone else pays for the landowner's expenses and can prove that the free plants just gifted were the ones that sequester carbon on the property, the landowner may not be able to get the money later from the sale of carbon credits. Credits in this case may belong to the intermediary.

We recommend specifying the specific conditions under which these free/very favorable plants will change owners and, if necessary, add, for example, the transfer acceptance deed that the discounted price or the free nature of the plants do not give the supplier any rights to the landowner's carbon credits.

A native tree as a landmark

Heiki Hepner, a forest owner in Raplamaa and a member of the NGO United Forest Owners, says that he was very happy with the joint "Keeper of native trees" initiative of the Nature Fund, the Estonian Private Forestry Association and the Luua Forestry School. Hepner says that since dendrology is his hobby and passion, he joined the initiative as soon as he saw it, and he also has his own dendropark with more than 400 species. Heiki says that while cutting down the forest, he has left the larger trees to grow, as they are like landmarks that connect the past and the future of the place, and that each native tree is like a personality of its own, with its own story to tell.

To date, more than 190 landowners have already joined the native tree preservation initiative, who preserve native trees on more than 121,000 hectares.

You can read the full article in Harju Elu.

More information about the native trees initiative can be found here.

Photo: Hendrik Relve