RMK begins transition to paper-free forest management 13.05

One of the first to introduce the transition to paper-free forest material transport is RMK, which hopes to implement the new system completely by the beginning of 2012.
Approximately 6 million cubic metres of timber is cut each year in Estonia, and at least 350,000 transport trips are needed for its transport. Since the Forest Act establishes that all transporters of timber must have an accompanying list of cargo, approximately 350,000 such lists are filled in annually in triplicate – one for the sender, one for the transporter and one for the recipient of timber. In addition, the data on paper has to be entered into different information systems in three different places.

“Implementation of ELVIS transforms information on forest material trade into an electronic format, the data structures will be standardised and information exchange between different parties will improve and become faster,” EMPL’s Managing Director, Ott Otsmann, assured. “Improvements will also take place in the work of state authorities monitoring transactions related to the purchase and sale of forest material.”

The e-cargo list environment is in conformity with all requirements prescribed by law, and its uniform implementation was ensured when sellers and transporters, as well as buyers of forest material, joined the system. ELVIS is managed and run by Elion; the initial authentication of the information system’s users takes place via ID-card and mobile ID.

The first to join ELVIS was RMK, which concluded a corresponding contract with Elion on 29 April. Over the next few months, the necessary interface between RMK’s information systems and ELVIS will be constructed and operation of the solutions tested. According to the plan, RMK will be free of paper lists of cargo by the beginning of 2012.

“The main benefit for us is not having to fill in the papers several times,” Tavo Uuetalo, Member of the Management Board of RMK commented. “At the same time, the speed of information exchange on transport of forest material will improve and the risk of an error in entering data decreases significantly.”

The e-cargo list project was initiated in the autumn of 2008 by EMPL. The total cost of the project was EUR 224,000 (EEK 3.5 million). It was funded to the extent of EUR 170,000 by the European Regional Development Fund via the Estonian Informatics Centre (EIC); the rest was self-financed. RMK covered one fourth of the self-financing, and RMK’s specialists participated in development of the system.

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 and practical nature protection works, and sells forests and timber. 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.

Further information:

Tavo Uuetalu
Member, Management Board, RMK
Tel: 676 7069, 504 5069
E-mail: tavo.uuetalu@rmk.ee

Ott Otsmann
Managing Director of the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association
Tel: 652 9400, 503 2552
E-mail: ott.otsmann@emtl.ee

Enn Saar
Manager of Elion Product and System Development Service
Tel: 502 8925
E-mail: enn.saar@elion.ee