Bringing home a Christmas tree from the state forest is easier this year  08.12

“This year, we made finding a Christmas tree as simple as possible: there are 135 locations for spruces on our webpage. When you open the coordinates, a public map application will open that will help you plan your travel route,” said Toomas Väät, RMK Silviculture Head Specialist, and added that the tree locations given on the webpage are just one possibility. “Everyone who has found their Christmas tree from the state forest previously, or knows the specific places where a tree can be cut down, may bring home a spruce from elsewhere.” But you should make sure in advance that the selected place is located in the state forest and that there are no applicable nature conservation restrictions.

From 16-22 December, guided tree trips will be held in seven locations in Estonia, where the trip to the forest will be preceded by a short educational programme on nature. Suitable locations for finding a Christmas tree have been selected in advance by an RMK specialist, and participants need only pay for the tree, make their selection, cut the tree down and take it home.

Spruces from one to three metres in height will cost between EUR 3 to EUR 13, and you can pay for the tree in cash at the nature centre, by bank transfer or mobile transfer. RMK points out that no felled trees will be sold at nature centres and offices, thus people attending the tree trip will need to bring their own saw. Everyone will also need to find transportation for their tree.

Christmas trees may be cut down in the state forest only in such places where the trees cannot grow to maturity – along the edges of roads and ditches, under electricity cables and on division lines in forests. Taking spruces from young growths and cultures that have been planted by people or that are planned as future trees is an unjustified aggravation of the interest of forest owners, which is a violation of the law and is punishable.

Additional information and registration for a tree trip is available at the webpage www.rmk.ee/kuuseke; those with urgent questions please contact the Christmas tree helpline at +372 676 7532 or send an e-mail to kuuseke@rmk.ee.

Last year, RMK sold approximately 4600 Christmas trees from the state forest, with 1500 people taking part in the tree trips. More than one half of the trees were paid for via mobile transfers.

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.

Further information:
Toomas Väät
RMK Silviculture Head Specialist
Tel: +372 676 7520, +372 520 5734
E-mail toomas.vaat@rmk.ee

Further information on guided tree trips:
Marge Rammo
Head of the Nature Management Department of RMK
Tel: +372 513 8035

Mari-Liis Kitter
Head of the Communication Department of RMK
Tel: +372 676 7033, +372 514 5954
E-mail mari-liis.kitter@rmk.ee