Ülemiste centre has supported the nature-friendly forestry initiatives of the Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF) since 2018. In 2024–2026, the centre will contribute a total of €125,000 to further promote close-to-nature forestry practices.
The cooperation with Ülemiste Centre enables ELF to advocate for a stronger preference for continuous cover forestry in forest management. To achieve this, knowledge and practical experience of continuous cover forestry, as well as the diverse values of forests, are shared more widely. Community workdays, public campaigns, and practical training sessions are also organised.
According to Guido Pärnits, Head of Ülemiste Centre, ELF’s values and areas of activity are very close to the centre’s own principles. “Sustainable forest management and responsible environmental stewardship are topics through which we can value and preserve Estonia’s environment and nature. By supporting these activities, we are reinforcing the core values of Ülemiste Centre,” noted Pärnits. “The valuable educational materials, training days, and community initiatives created through this cooperation help increase understanding of forest management. It is important that greater attention is paid in Estonia to developing the knowledge and skills that support continuous cover forestry.”
ELF’s forest team welcomes the centre’s continued commitment to forest conservation. “Ülemiste Centre’s support, trust, and meaningful cooperation carry significant weight for us. Experience shows that consistent action delivers the best results,” said Silvia Lotman, Member of the Management Board of ELF.
Over the past six years, Ülemiste Centre has contributed €175,000 to promoting nature-friendly forestry and raising awareness of forest values. Initiatives have included the creation of a continuous cover forestry demonstration forest and the Laanetark study trail, a dedicated website for forest owners, a major international forest conference, Estonia’s first guide to continuous cover forestry, and educational materials for forest owners and schools. Various campaigns and initiatives highlighting the multiple values of forests have also been carried out.
Laanetark Study Trail in Pokumaa
In cooperation, Estonia’s only study trail dedicated to nature-friendly forestry has been created in Pokumaa.
The Laanetark Trail invites visitors on a journey through the forest, where each stop encourages discovery of the forest’s many values – from plants and wildlife to folklore and continuous cover forestry.
Visitors are accompanied by Puuko, whose stories can be accessed via a free audio guide app. The trail is 2.8 km long and features 22 engaging points of interest. It is suitable for anyone interested in nature, forestry, and the unique character of Pokumaa.
Pangamets Woodland Habitat in Maarjamäe
Only 1.8% of Estonia’s forest area has been preserved as natural or old-growth forest habitats, known as woodland key habitats. These are places where nature follows its own rhythm and where many rare and endangered species live. Such areas are rare in Tallinn – which makes the Maarjamäe cliff forest particularly valuable.
In autumn 2024, a study trail was completed in Maarjamäe, inviting visitors to explore this unique woodland key habitat. The natural beauty and biodiversity of the cliff forest are presented along the trail through illustrations, interactive sensory tasks, and QR codes that allow for further in-depth exploration online.
The study trail is approximately 500 metres long and circles part of the woodland key habitat, following the natural relief and landscape of the cliff forest. It is well suited both for a short walk and for a deeper reflection on the relationship between nature and urban space.
