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Private forest owners are increasingly responsible for providing an extensive range of goods and services from their forests, as there are around 100,000 forest owners in Estonia. In order to support forest owners in providing these services, the state has continuously backed the forestry sector and established a public-private partnership with forest owners’ associations as well as their umbrella organisations and cooperatives. The aim of this paper is to identify the service and information needs of private forest owners in the context of this established support system. Using a survey sample of 757 respondents, we found that in regard to informational needs more focus should be put on forest management activities, i.e. on available information about service providers’ contacts, prices, options and principles for selling harvesting rights and timber. Furthermore, joint timber sales as a service should be further developed and focused on. While forest owners ranked highly both the information about financial support and the specific measures, they found the system sometimes too complicated. Both in terms of information and service importance-performance, forest owners indicated certification as a low-priority topic. Whilst interest representation in policy processes was indicated as a very important service, its performance was rated quite modestly indicating slight dissatisfaction with the current arrangements. There are also several socio-demographic attributes of forest owners that influence their needs for information and services about forest management. However, a better understanding of these attributes might help develop the system further.

Nutrients are important elements in marine ecosystems and water quality, and have a major role in the eutrophication of water bodies. Monitoring nutrient loads is especially important for the Baltic Sea, which is especially sensitive to the eutrophication. Using optical remote sensing data in mapping total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) is challenging because these substances do not have a direct influence on the water optics that remote sensing sensors can detect. On the other hand, it would be very rewarding. In this study, more than 25,000 Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) data algorithms were tested in order to detect the TN and TP concentrations in the Estonian marine waters between 2016–2021. The TN estimations were well derived for Estonian marine waters (R2 = 0.73, RMSE = 4.87 µmolN L−1, MAPE = 14%, n = 708), while the TP estimations were weaker (R2 = 0.38, RMSE = 0.23 µmolP L−1, MAPE = 24%, n = 730). The Estonian marine waters were divided into six geographic regions in order to study the effect of regional water quality on the TN and TP retrievals. The nutrient concentrations were derived in every region when spring and summer periods were treated separately. In this study, the detection of both nutrients was more successful in more closed areas with P deficiency, while in open sea areas it was more challenging. This study shows that it is possible to estimate nutrients, especially TN, from remote sensing data. Consequently, remote sensing could provide a reliable support to the conventional monitoring by covering large marine areas with high temporal and spatial resolution data.

A new paradigm in forest management using a streaming input of public participation needs effective online solutions. The process should be real-time, secure, effective and efficient. People are expected to share their data and thoughts on forest management with forest owners for improving forest management and planning. The participatory approach supports communication within society and can be designed as an interactive web-based solution. Many pre-requisites have already been met and society is ready for a successful start of an interactive participatory forest planning system in Estonia. People use digital identification for various purposes and the state already maintains an online public forest register. Motivating people to participate in the planning process is always challenging yet important for the successful implementation of the system. The system should allow simulating the development and management of forest stands following the participatory input and using ecosystem models and economic calculations. The outputs from the system include management alternatives, risk assessments and financial reports. The system requires a reliable financial compensation scheme to ensure overall long-term stability of the system and agreements between interested persons or groups and forest owners.

Background and Purpose: Sustainability, sustainable development and sustainable forest management are terms that are commonly, and interchangeably used in the forest industry, however their meaning take on different connotations, relative to varying subject matter. The aim of this paper is to look at these terms in a more comprehensive way, relative to the current ideology of sustainability in forestry. Materials and Methods: This paper applies a literature review of the concepts of: i) sustainable development; ii) sustainable forest management; and iii) economic and non-economic valuation. The concepts are viewed through a historical dimension of shifting paradigms, originating from production- to service-based forestry. Values are discussed through a review of general value theory and spatial, cultural and temporal differences in valuation. Along the evolution of these concepts, we discuss their applicability as frameworks to develop operational guidelines for forest management, relative to the multi-functionality of forests. Results and Conclusions: Potential discrepancies between the conceptual origins of sustainable development and sustainable forest management are highlighted, relative to how they have been interpreted and diffused as new perceptions on forest value for the human society. We infer the current paradigm may not reflect the various dimensions adequately as its implementation is likely to be more related to the distribution of power between stakeholders, rather than the value stakeholders’ place on the various forest attributes.

The Natura 2000 network contains many different habitats in Estonia, including old-growth forests and semi-natural woodlands. Ten years after the establishment of the Natura 2000 network in Estonia, changes have occurred in habitat type and habitat quality. Vegetation composition as well as the structural and functional qualities of a forest habitat type – Fennoscandian herbrich forests with Picea abies (EU Habitats Directive habitat type 9050) – are analysed in this study. The study is based on sample plots measured in 2014 and are located in protected and non-protected areas. Aegopodium, Filipendula and Oxalis vegetation types are included for assessment of vegetation, tree structure and deadwood composition. Habitat composition and dynamics on conservation sites are compared with commercial forests and possible ecosystem restoration measures are discussed in the study. The 46% of the studied habitats had considerably lowered their initial conservation value and 49% were developed towards habitat type 9010 during 2004–2014.

Forest owners are an important group of people as they own and use a significant amount of our land resources. Their choices, decisions and behaviour are closely related to the benefits that forests provide to everyone. It is for this that information is needed about forest owners and their behaviour. Private forest ownership in Central and Eastern European countries is relatively new and there is not much knowledge about the new forest owners. Therefore, several owners’ classification studies have been made in different countries. The aim of this paper is to give an overview about some forest owners' classification cases in this region. Observed typologies and the methodological aspects are compared between the country cases and their policy importance is discussed. In almost all such studies, quite universal forest owner groups are found – the economically and ecologically oriented, the multiple users or producers and indifferent or passive owners. Depending on the data and specific clustering methods some variations of course exist. The similarity and the broad description of groups rises a question if such larger-scale classifications are in fact depleted. Also, there are several methodological downsides in the used clustering processes. Nevertheless, such classi¬fications are useful for designing large-scale and long-term objectives for management of forest resources. This is due to the high level of generalization of these owner types. However, using such classifications for designing more specific tools for particular groups, might not be appropriate. Instead, qualitative research in describing particular owner groups might give new and more in-depth information about the characteristics of private forest owners. Also, these results might help more in developing forest and environmental policy tools.

Changes in the society have created a need for a systematic approach in forestry combining forest management, timber harvest analysis, research and demonstration of new technologies. A research and demonstration area is an option for explaining and visualising frameworks of forest design, modelling and planning in the real nature. A research and demonstration area of forest management planning can be defined as a forested landscape that combines various forest uses and aims to ensure and explain forest management strategies as well as conservation of ecosystems and natural resources. A suitable area for creating the research and demonstration area of forest management planning is at Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre in Estonia. It has naturally diverse forests and these include also habitats of several rare and endangered species and already comprise different sets of nature conservation areas. The centre has been used for forestry higher education and research for over 90 years and therefore all essential infrastructure has been developed including dormitories and lecture rooms for field training as well as different nature paths, old field experiments (e.g. initial spacing and thinning experiments) and new modern research facilities. Forest management plans and inventory data since 1922 still exist for the area. The area at Järvselja is expected to demonstrate present studies and research work in the most comprehensive way as well as the implications to forest management and the newest technologies in forest management and planning. Different systems and techniques of forest management can be studied and demonstrated to the wider public by establishing the research and demonstration area of forest management planning at Järvselja.

Seagrasses are distributed across the globe and their communities may play key roles in the coastal ecosystems. Seagrass meadows are expected to benefit from the increased carbon availability which might be used in photosynthesis in a future high CO2 world. The main aim of this study was to examine the effect of elevated pCO2 on the net photosynthesis of seagrass Zostera marina in a brackish water environment. The short-term mesocosm experiments were conducted in Kõiguste Bay (northern part of Gulf of Riga, the Baltic Sea) in June-July 2013 and 2014. As the levels of pCO2 naturally range from ca. 150 μatm to well above 1000 μatm under summer conditions in Kõiguste Bay we chose to operate in mesocosms with the pCO2 levels of ca. 2000, ca. 1000 and ca. 200 μatm. Additionally, in 2014 the photosynthesis of Z. marina was measured outside of the mesocosm in the natural conditions. In the shallow coastal Baltic Sea seagrass Z. marina lives in a highly variable environment due to seasonality and rapid changes in meteorological conditions. This was demonstrated by the remarkable differences in water temperatures between experimental years of ca. 8°C. Thus, the current study also investigated the effect of elevated pCO2 in combination with short-term natural fluctuations of environmental factors, i.e. temperature and PAR on the photosynthesis of Z. marina. Our results show that elevated pCO2 alone did not enhance the photosynthesis of the seagrass. The photosynthetic response of Z. marina to CO2 enrichment was affected by changes in water temperature and light availability.

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere are causing reduction in the global ocean pH, also known as ocean acidification. This change alters the equilibrium of different forms of dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater that macroalgae use for their photosynthesis. In the Baltic Sea, benthic macroalgae live in a highly variable environment caused by seasonality and rapid changes in meteorological conditions. The effect of increasing water CO2 concentration on the net photosynthesis of the red macroalgae Furcellaria lumbricalis (Hudson) Lamouroux was tested in short-term mesocosm experiments conducted in Kõiguste Bay (N Gulf of Riga) in June–July 2012 and 2013. Separate mesocosms were maintained at different pCO2 levels: ca. 2,000, ca. 1,000 and ca. 200 µatm. In parallel, different environmental factors were measured such as nutrients, light and water temperature. Thus, the current study also investigated whether elevated pCO2 and different environmental factors exerted interactive effects on the photosynthetic rate of F. lumbricalis. In addition, laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the optimal temperature for photosynthesis of F. lumbricalis. The results of our field experiments demonstrated that elevated pCO2 levels may remarkably enhance the photosynthetic rate of F. lumbricalis. However, the magnitude of this effect is altered by different environmental factors, mainly by changes in water temperature.

Estonian forest management is based traditionally on long rotations. Recent trends in wood industry and wood consumption promote also production of small-size timber for bioenergy and timber products. This opens a discussion about shorter rotations and intensive forest management again in Estonia. In current study, profitability of Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch stand management on fertile soils was analyzed according to three different rotation lengths: traditional long rotation, short rotation and economically optimal rotation according Finnish TAPIO rules. Stand simulation software MOTTI was used to simulate and optimize forest growth and management. Simulation results were compared with actual data on forest growth and yield in Estonia. Economically optimal rotations were for Scots pine stand 58 years, Norway spruce stand 53 years and silver birch stand 41 years. Short and optimal rotation length enable 5.9-6.5% profitability for forest owner, traditional long rotation length enables 4.8-5.4% profitability. Rotation forestry is challenging task. Based on our analysis, it is likely that applied practices can intensify wood production and reduce forest management risks. However, theoretical approach is not enough for assessing practical feasibility of short rotations. Thus further studies and experiments are needed for careful analysis and recommendations

Mesozooplankton communities were studied monthlyat six sites in the Gulf of Finland during six ice-free seasons.The abundances of different zooplankton taxa were related totemperature, salinity, eutrophication level (total nitrogen andphosphorus), phytoplankton Chl a and density of predatorycladocerans, including the non-indigenous Cercopagis pengoiand the native Leptodora kindtii. The results indicated thatvariability in the zooplankton communities was correlated notonly with predation by mesozooplankton but also with bottom-upeffects. Predation by the non-indigenous C. pengoi may significantlyaffect the dynamics of Cladocera and Rotatoria in the Gulf ofFinland during the summer season.

Charophytes are found in fresh and brackish waters across the globe and play key roles in coastal ecosystems. However, their response to increasing CO2 is not well understood. The aim of the study was to detect the effects of elevated CO2 on the physiology of charophyte species growing in the brackish Baltic Sea by measuring net primary production. Mesocosm experiments were conducted in the Kõiguste Bay (N Gulf of Riga) during the field season of 2012. Separate mesocosms were maintained at different pCO2 levels: ~2000, ~1000 and ~200 µatm. The experiments were carried out with three species of charophytes: Chara aspera, C. tomentosa and C. horrida. The short-term photosynthetic responses of charophytes to different treatments were measured by the oxygen method. The results show that elevated CO2 levels in brackish water may enhance the photosynthetic activity of charophyte species and suggest that increasing CO2 in the Baltic Sea could have implications for interspecific competition and community structure in a future high CO2 world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]