The Estonian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan is a national cross-sectoral strategy and action plan of Estonia. The Action Plan is effective for the period 1999-2005. The main objective of the document is to protect biological diversity in the sectors of forestry, fishery, agriculture, transport, industry, tourism, nature protection, education, biological resources and biotechnology, and landscapes. The Strategy aims to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable. To this end, it is planning to ensure the conservation of semi-natural communities, species and varieties, and animal breeds inherent to Estonia; to support the development of organic agriculture; to decrease the pollution from organic and mineral fertilisers; to introduce the requirements on the use of mineral fertilisers, manure and poisonous chemicals; to introduce the principles of integrated plant protection system; to ensure the protection and sustainable use of soil; to ensure the in situ conservation of genetic material; to promote the introduction of biotechnologies; to support recreation and tourism in forests; to control the influences to biological diversity during wood production; to support conservation of biologically viable fish populations; to ensure that the utilisation of water body habitats by man is sustainable and does not involve wastes; to use sustainable methods and gear in fishing; to determine legal fishing periods; to compensate all damage incurred; to exclude introduction of alien species and genetically modified forms into natural waters; to make available the know-how and economic incentives for the organisation of in situ and ex situ protection of species; to reform nature conservation administrative system; to update lists of protected species and Estonian Red Book; to prepare management plans both for protected areas and protected species; to promote a tax policy more favourable for nature protection; to create a national system of environmental education; to support sustainable development of transport institutional system; and to reduce the pollution released by the manufacturing industry. The document also covers biodiversity issues in the fields of energy and mining. More specifically, it provides for a gradual reduction in the use of oil shale as an energy source; development of renewable energy sources, particularly those which support biological diversity by using natural biomass; reduction in mining volumes and the stopping of the excavation of mines which are dangerous to the environment; and creation of diverse habitats suitable for endangered species, in disused quarries. For implementation, the document notes that a biological diversity co-ordination unit will be formed at the Ministry of the Environment of Estonia that will be responsible for initiating and organising a system for monitoring the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Estonia, for securing the reporting and preparation of new action plans. The enclosed Action Plan to the Strategy provides a very detailed list of actions, targets, and finally provides for steps forward beyond 2005.
Estonie · 1999-01-01