22.01.2004 - RMK earned EEK 172m of forest revenue for state last year 29.09

The Estonian State Forest Management Centre (RMK) paid EEK 172m of forest income tax into the state budget in 2003; this is EEK 15m more than the approved budget prescribed. According to unaudited data, RMK earned an income of EEK 961m last year, which is 9% more than the budget prescribed, and a profit of EEK 98m.

The greater income of RMK was mainly due to increased income from the sale of timber and growing forest, as timber prices continued to grow on the Estonian market. The budgetary total cutting volume of state forest for selling on the market decreased by 10% compared to 2002.

In 2003, RMK sold 1.9m cbm of timber and 0.6m cbm of growing forest at the average prices of EEK 400 and EEK 226 per cbm, respectively. In comparison, 1.87m cbm of timber and 0.73 cbm of growing forest were sold at the average prices of EEK 396 and EEK 185 per cbm, respectively, in 2002.

RMK used 12.1m young plants and 796 kg of seed for reforestation last year; 11.1m of these plants were grown in the RMK Joint Nursery and in the forest districts’ nurseries. 0.7m plants and 384 kg of seeds were sold outside RMK.

RMK used EEK 19.8m to offer public access to nature and promote nature awareness. EEK 6.8m was used for maintenance of publicly accessible objects in recreational landscapes and nature conservation objects, EEK 3m was spent toward promoting public awareness of nature.

The major works in 2003 included turning the Varbola earthen stronghold into a recreational area and establishing a camping site there, completion of the observation towers at Elva-Vitipalu and Tellingumäe and a central information point in the Nõva recreational area, preparation of projects for the Oandu historical forest district centre and the Lemme, Vääna-Jõesuu, and Meremõisa camping areas.

The hunting income of RMK (sales of hunting packages, products and permits) was EEK 9.5m last year, which is EEK 2.8m more than in 2002. EEK 2.3m was used to meet the requirements of hunting schedules in the hunting areas administered by RMK, and the expenditure on offering hunting possibilities amounted to EEK 4.7m in 2003.

The State Forest Management Centre RMK is a profit-making state agency established by the Forest Act, whose main duty is sustainable and efficient management of state forests: reforestation, tending and use of forests and organising of forest protection. RMK ensures public access to state forests and taking care of game.

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