What is the Estonian nature conservation development plan?
The nature conservation development plan until 2020 was adopted in 2012 and it defined the most important development directions in the fields related to nature conservation. The main objectives of the development plan are to promote nature education, to preserve the diversity of nature, and to preserve the functioning of the ecological network, as well as the sustainable use of natural resources.
The strategic objectives of the development plan are as follows:
- people know, value, and preserve nature and are able to apply their knowledge in everyday life;
- the favourable status of species and habitats and the diversity of landscapes are ensured, and the habitats function as an integrated ecological network;
- the long-term sustainability of natural resources is ensured and their use takes into account the principles of the ecosystem approach.
The development plan is used for the strategic planning of activities in the field of nature conservation. More detailed activities for the fulfilment of the objectives described in the development plan are set out in its implementation plan, in which the terms and executors of the activities as well as the budget are fixed.
The objectives of the development plan are in line with international strategies, such as the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity adopted in 2010 to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, adopted in 2011. The EU strategy aims to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 and to restore ecosystems as far as possible. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the EU strategy, each country must adopt its own biodiversity strategy, which in Estonia is the nature conservation development plan.
In addition, there is a document, the Estonian Environmental Strategy 2030, which is the basis for all development plans in the field of the environment in Estonia [1].
Last modified: 08.03.2024
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