Loodushoiu Fond

Creating a vibrant private conservation stewardship community.

The project is supported by the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre.

Today, a large number of landowners and people living in the countryside feel that the Nature Conservation Act, the European Biodiversity Strategy, and therefore the green reformation, dealing with climate change and environmental stewardship, is something that needs to be fought. This has created a defiance of both state governance, climate change mitigation measures and restrictions on activities. According to research (Miljand et al), the target group is sceptical and distrustful of organisations involved in nature conservation. They trust organisations that are closer to them and friendly to landowners, and are willing to listen to them on issues such as climate change, greening, species protection and environmental conservation. However, private land is also needed for nature conservation, species protection and environmental protection.

The Nature Fund has been set up to address environmental conservation and climate change issues and supports the European Green Pact principle of "No one is left behind". We are a conservation organisation of landowners (including and among others members of the Farmers' Union, the Private Forestry Union, the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce).

We support the European Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy and the Nature Restoration Plan, through voluntary nature conservation on private land, so that the involved farming sector does not feel left behind and is therefore more resilient and tolerant in its decisions concerning society and nature.
We empower the values that are important to the target group - freedom, volunteering, property rights and civic responsibility.

We empower community action in nature conservation through the values that are important to the target group - freedom, volunteering, property rights and citizenship. Achieving this objective will simultaneously contribute to increasing the positive societal impact on environmental protection and nature conservation, adaptation to climate change, as well as strengthening the conservation activities carried out in rural communities.
We will alleviate the antagonism between public and non-governmental environmental organisations due to differences in world views, and help to avoid and prevent the use of SSS (shoot, shovel and shut up) and scorched earth tactics (preventing the arrival of protected species on private land through various measures) or the loss of permission to stay on private land.

1. We will continue to build on existing networks between organisations and individuals involved in conservation on private land to create permanent collaborative structures for private land conservation in Estonia.

2. Engage in outreach and synergies (with international networks and initiatives) on nature conservation on private land, environmental stewardship and cultural and environmental protection. We offer activities, clear guidelines and fresh initiatives to get involved in, while also explaining the principles of nature conservation from each landowner's perspective and opportunities.

3. We will create and develop 'tools' for private nature conservation, to keep track of the system and monitor KPIs specific to results-based nature conservation.

We will help to address the issue of nature conservation land use on private land to achieve the objective set out in the Programme of Actions of the Government of the Republic and help to restore habitats including Natura and address species conservation issues on private land. It will also support the planned KEVAD development plan with direct results.

As a result of the project, there will be an increase in the number of landowners involved in nature conservation and ecosystem services, an increase in the area of land, an improvement in the habitat status of protected species, an increase in the amount of carbon sequestered and landowners will find alternative sites for biodiversity conservation. As an example, under the initiative of the Nature Conservation Fund, cultural and aesthetic, but also micro-environmentally important native trees are voluntarily maintained on private land - by the landowners.

Conservation Science: Balancing the Needs of People and Nature

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The Nature Fund contributes to biodiversity-rich solar parks.

Solar parks are primarily associated with energy production, but we rarely consider that these parks, situated in natural environments, could also support biodiversity. How can this be achieved, and how can the land between panels be better utilized?

These questions are addressed in the latest episode of Osoon.

The Nature Fund has partnered with Kaamos Group companies and mapped out ten solar parks, proposing various biodiversity-promoting activities for solar parks.

For example, the spaces between solar panels could be used to restore plant cover, including sowing native plants that provide shelter and food for pollinators and other insects. Such a solution not only enhances the ecosystem value of the park but also reduces the need for frequent mowing, which in turn lowers maintenance costs and the carbon footprint.

Multiple studies have shown that biodiversity can be supported in several ways. For instance, one could consider creating small water bodies or establishing nesting sites for birds and small animals. Additionally, a bee area could be created, which not only supports bees and other pollinators but also enhances agricultural yields through pollination.

At the same time, solar parks ensure an additional source of energy, contributing to green transition goals. Eco-friendly solutions implemented in solar parks can serve as an example for other renewable energy producers as well.

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Biodiversity Climate

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Estonian Landowners Discuss New Conservation Partnerships at Eurosite Event

Estonian landowners co-operation conservation partner The Nature Fund was invited to Eurosite to discuss on new forms of partnerships and cooperation that are a prerequisite. How do you learn from each other, which mentor systems find the right language, and which tools work as incentives for farmers, private landowners and local communities?

Eurosite is the network of landowners and conservationists protecting and restoring private land for nature and the climate in Europe
https://www.eurosite.org/

Key takeways from landowners perspective:

⚖️ One can not have all good things at once.
-> To have grouse population high in UK, you reduce the number of forested hectars and catch the small predators.
-> To solve the water contamination problem of old lead quarry, one needs to bind the earth, create the soil and regreen, but cant probably control the birds eating the insects that are on those restored areas.
-> In order to maintain the long term management possibilities, it is needed to make compromises in short-term profit.

🌄 Landowners presentations ecoed similar things -
-> No urge to notify authoroties of special species, as I will end up losing my rights to my land.
-> Peer-to-peer learning that is lead by landowners organisations is one of the key aspects. Other way the mistrust is too big.
-> Landowners are part of solution, not anti-nature.

🍁 SER presentation confirmed our understanding of the EU policy requirements:
-> it is 20% not 30% and it is 1/3 of this 20% under strict protection. Favourable conservation status (Habitats directive) means on national level conservation objectives. Not on stand level.
-> It is not the same as a "good condition habitat type" that is measured on site level.
-> No significant deterioration of areas in good conditions or areas subject to restoration measures means on site level, the structure, fundtions and typical species or typical species composition of a habitat tyle remain stable or show continuous improvemnt. And it means we commitment is effort-based, not result based.

#WeActForBiodiversity #landowners #ourlandournature #restorationdecade #eurosite

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Biodiversity

Loodushoiu Fond in innovation partnership in the European Union Green Assist programm with Forestry France.

The newly announced funds will support partner countries throughout the world.

The EU announced several transformative actions at the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, to reaffirm its commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss worldwide by 2030.

Building on its commitment to double external funding for biodiversity from 2021 to 2027 to €7 billion, the EU has unveiled a package of new initiatives aimed at supporting partner countries and safeguarding biodiversity globally worth close to €160 million.

At COP 16, the EU presented its exploratory works on the potential and challenges of biodiversity certification and nature credits, as part of the innovative finance instruments toolbox for broadening sources of funding to mobilise resources, help companies set nature-positive goals, and reward those who protect and restore nature, including farmers, foresters, fishers, and other sea- and land managers as well as IPLCs.
EU exploratory works include two pilot projects, one on wetlands in partnership with France and one on private forests in partnership with Estonia, as well as a project in the Peruvian Amazon.

Sometimes stars align and there opens an opportunity to cowork within innovative European partners for common good. Thank you Forestry France for all the hard work we have had so far already.

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Vibrant private conservation stewardship community

Creating a vibrant private conservation stewardship community.

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Conservation Science: Balancing the Needs of People and Nature

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