26.09.2007 - The clean up campaign Clean Forest has begun 29.09

On 24 September, the nationwide clean up campaign “Clean Forest” began with the cooperation of the State Forest Management Centre (RMK) and MTÜ Timur. The aim of the campaign, which lasts until 29 September, is to inform the public about the good state of Estonia’s forests and to call on people to act in a more nature-friendly manner.

The campaign also includes a 3-day nationwide cleaning action on 47 objects, with 1235 volunteers participating. The campaign includes 34 RMK forest districts, which choose the objects that need cleaning and instruct the volunteers during the course of the cleaning action. Last year, during the campaign, 65 tonnes of garbage was collected.

“The pollution is a particularly serious problem in cities and in the vicinity of settlements. Apparently people do not care about the environment, since we are finding more household garbage every year. For instance, a plastic bag in nature decomposes for 20 years and a tin can for 100 years,” said RMK coordinator and Environmental Manager of Forest Management Toomas Väät. In 2006, RMK collected 588 tonnes of garbage (30 railroad containers) from state forests, the disposal of which cost over a million kroons.

The entire Vana-Koiola school in Põlva County is participating in the clean up. “We are participating in the project for the third time. We hope that the caring attitude of the children also helps to change the habits of the adult members of their families,” stated the director of the school Siret Lillemäe.

According to data from the Environmental Inspectorate, 330 people were charged with violating waste management regulations or for the dumping of waste in places not designated for that purpose, in 2006. The maximum term of punishment for the violation of waste management regulations is EEK 18 000 for a natural person and EEK 50 000 for a legal person.

This year, the “Clean Forest” campaign is taking place for the seventh time.
State Forest Management Agency RMK is a profit-making state agency, formed pursuant to the Forest Act, whose main objective is the effective and sustainable management of the state forest. RMK grows reforestation material, arranges forest works, organises the sale of forests and timber, and organises game maintenance. In addition, RMK creates possibilities for nature hiking and forest holidays in recreational areas and shapes nature awareness. RMK manages 38% of Estonia’s forests.

Additional information:

Toomas Väät
RMK Environmental Manager of Forest Management
Phone: +372 676 7520
E-mail: toomas.vaatrmk.ee
www.rmk.ee/en