First group, who received special retraining through the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, started working in the state forest 28.04

According to Haana Zuba, Principal of Luua Forestry School, these people are highly motivated, and for most of them, becoming unemployed opened up a possibility to try out a completely different line of work. “Before starting the practical work, all nine men passed the two week long training course in forest management, which involved working with a chainsaw and a bush cutter, principles of landscaping, design cutting in parks, cutting of dangerous park trees, using geographic information systems in forestry, as well as Estonian nature conservation, legislation and protection of species,” Haana Zuba explained.

The people who received retraining began working in RMK’s nature conservation department, where they are tasked with organising practical nature conservation works in the state forest.

“Nowadays, forest works require professional training and constant self-education,” said Aigar Kallas, Chairman of the Management Board of RMK, in reference to the retraining of the unemployed. “If this system justifies itself, we would definitely like to continue the training of the unemployed, especially since nature conservation works in the state forest are the centre of attention more than ever before.”

RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forestry Act, aimed at 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 on recreational areas, in Estonia’s five national parks and 40 other protected areas, and shapes awareness of nature. RMK manages 38% of Estonia’s forests.

Additional information:

Aigar Kallas
Chairman of the Management Board of RMK
Phone: 676 7299, 528 1299