16.12.2008 - A Christmas tree can be brought from the state forest on one’s own 04.10
According to Marge Rammo, Head of the Nature Preservation Department of RMK, going to the forest before Christmas and choosing a suitable tree is a pleasure on its own, making the holidays the more special as well. "With the spruce trips, we wish to revive the old family-centred tradition of finding a Christmas tree together in a forest,” said Rammo. "But as our programmes are very popular, especially around cities, and we cannot probably accept all interested people, we decided to offer the chance of finding a Christmas tree on one’s own as well,” Marge Rammo added.
Before going to the forest on one’s own, the Christmas tree must be paid for to the bank account of RMK according to the price list, and it must definitely be made sure that the forest planned to be visited is a state forest. "This is indicated by the state forest signs by the roads, but the best way is to check from the forest register,” said Toomas Väät, the Silviculture Head Specialist of RMK. The forest register is located at http://register.metsad.ee/avalik.
RMK recommends the people looking for spruces to choose suitable spruces from the brinks of ditches or under power lines in a state forest; it is forbidden to cut down a tree from young growth where the trees have been planted by people and are visibly growing in rows.
The price of a Christmas tree of up to 1 metre in height is EEK 29.50, the price of a two-metre tree is EEK 118 and the price of a three-metre tree is EEK 236. You can pay to the account number 10002021370008 of the State Forest Management Centre, please mark Christmas tree and the county where the tree is sought in as details. "When going to the forest, the payment order must definitely be taken along to prove the legitimacy of cutting down a tree,” Toomas Väät said. RMK offers such a possibility for finding a Christmas tree until the end of the year.
The joint spruce trips with a nature education programme will start tomorrow, on 17 December, and will be organised until 23 December twice a day in 19 places across Estonia. Spruce trips with instructions given in Russian will be held on 29-30 December in 4 places. More information and registration at http://wwweng.rmk.ee/kuuseke. You should take along your own saw and come with own transport. Make sure you dress according to weather and have sufficient time as the spruce trip takes about 2 hours.
RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, aimed at sustainable and efficient management of the state forest. In addition to this, RMK creates possibilities for forest holidays and shapes nature awareness. RMK manages 38% of the Estonian forests.
Additional information:
Toomas Väät
Silviculture Head Specialist of RMK
Tel: +372 676 7520, +372 520 5734
e-mail: toomas.vaat
rmk.ee Marge Rammo
Head of the Nature Preservation Department of Enterprise Estonia
Tel: +372 676 7530, +372 513 7035
e-mail: marge.rammo
rmk.ee www.rmk.ee/en
