18.09.2008 - This summer, 27 000 people obtained information from the information points of RMK 05.10
“People mainly ask suggestions about camping and bonfire sites, and hiking trails that are worth visiting," said Marge Rammo, Head of the Nature Preservation Department of RMK. “Year to year, the increase in the interest towards nature itself can be noticed – various plants, birds and animals are inquired about,” Marge Rammo added.
During the information campaign organised in the summer, 3364 people joined the forest friends club of RMK. Within the campaign, RMK called on visiting the information points where an interactive short training on knowledge about the forest could be passed, together with a test based upon it. All people who passed the test could join the forest friends club and received a respective certificate and a practical hiker start-up kit.
The average hiker is about 30 years old; a bit more women have joined than men. The training on knowledge about the forest has been completed the most at the Oandu, Kiidjärve, Aegviidu, Saare and Mustjala information points. In addition to Estonians, the forest friends club has members from Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Germany, France, the UK, the USA, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well.
The forest friends club can be continuously joined by taking the test on forest knowledge at wwweng.rmk.ee/metsagamestis; you can also order the newsletter of RMK.
The 13 information points aimed at people hiking in nature were open every day from 15 May to 15 September. In 2007, the information points of RMK were visited by 19 860 people.
RMK has established 720 km of hiking trails, 42 camping sites and 499 campfire sites in the state forest. It is possible to stop at 24 forest houses or forest huts. RMK offers nature education activities at 12 nature centres and the Sagadi Forest Centre. As of 1 July 2008, the Elistvere Animal Park is managed by RMK. In 2007, the state forest was visited 820 000 times for the purposes of forest recreation.
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 maintains approximately 40% of Estonian forests.
Additional information:
Jaak Jansen
Development Manager of the Nature Preservation Department of Enterprise Estonia
Tel +372 676 7567, +372 513 7043
E-mail jaak.jansen
rmk.ee www.rmk.ee/en
