08.04.2008 - A pilot project confirmed the efficiency of the new administration of RMK 10.10

The pilot project conducted in the North-East Region of the State Forest Management Centre (RMK) confirmed the higher efficiency achieved by the new work organisation in administering forest management works. In the course of the pilot project, conducted from January to March of this year, forest management works were performed with a four times fewer work managers than last year at the same time.

RMK tested the work division that is the basis for the work organisation to be enforced on 1 July in seven forest districts of North-East Estonia in the first three months of the present year. According to Tavo Uuetalu, Member of the Management Board of RMK who is responsible for the field of forest utilisation, the results of the pilot project confirmed the ability of the employees of RMK to achieve equivalent results with a significantly lower amount of time and labour costs.
In the forest districts included in the pilot project, 104 000 cubic metres of timber was felled in the first three months of 2008; a year earlier, 106 000 cubic metres was felled during the same period of time,” said Tavo Uuetalu. “If previously, 37 foresters were engaged in the management of forestry works, the same amount of work was now performed by 6 work managers, who organised the cutting, and 3 logisticians”.

The aim of the North-East Estonian pilot project was to identify the optimum work organisation of the new structure of RMK and determine the number of people needed for the organisation of forestry works. The forest districts of Avinurme, Kohtla, Oandu, Paasvere, Sonda, Triigi and Tudu were involved in the pilot project. On the basis of the named forest districts, 6 production and 3 logistics regions were established for the performance of the pilot project.
In each production region, one work manager was responsible for the cutting of growing forest and the transportation of timber to a road-side landing. According to the new structure, a total of 100 work managers will be kept at RMK. 45 work managers will be responsible for logging, 21 for timber logistics and 34 for reforestation and maintenance. The work of the managers will be coordinated by 15 employees in three regions. In addition to this, 114 silviculture planners will be operating in the 17 forest districts of RMK – foresters, specialists, forest technicians.

The success of the pilot project was contributed to by several cooperation partners of RMK, and according to Kaido Sikk, Member of Management Board of Iriscorp Transport OÜ, employees were better motivated and forestry works better organised than so far. Urmas Valter, Manager of Raviltos AS, highly appreciated the work organisation that has become much more efficient, where an entrepreneur is able to agree upon the schedule of works to be planned with one person instead of communicating with several employees of RMK.

The structural changes lying ahead for RMK were approved by the Supervisory Board on 25 January. The aim of the new structure is to separate the planning of forestry works from the performance thereof, and thus ensure a better balance between public and business interests at managing the state forest.

According to the new structure, the duties imposed on RMK will be performed by three units: forest administration, forest management and timber marketing units. The forest administration unit keeps account of the Estonian state forest stock and prescribes what and how much to cut and plant; the forest management unit performs all necessary works, and the timber marketing unit is responsible for the sale of timber and product development.
RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, the main objective of which is the sustainable and efficient management of the state forest. RMK grows reforestation materials, organises forestry works, is engaged in the sale of forest and timber and organises game upkeep. In addition, RMK establishes opportunities for hiking in nature and forest recreation at recreational areas, and shapes awareness of nature. RMK manages 40% of Estonia’s forests.