Estonia Eyes Controlled Burns for Forest Revival

Experts seek to restore dry forests through natural processes and strategic intervention.

A new plan to rejuvenate Estonia’s dry forests may include controlled burns, aiming to boost biodiversity and resilience. These forests, featuring old natural stands and spruce forests, face challenges that require innovative solutions.

Restoring Forest Health

A collaborative effort by the Estonian Environmental Service, the University of Tartu, and the Estonian University of Life Sciences is underway to develop a strategy for dry forest maintenance. According to Taavi Tattar, Head of the Nature Conservation Planning Department of the Environmental Service, these forests are struggling across Estonia and Europe.

Tattar told Aktuaalne Kaamera that “They’re either too uniform in age or have impoverished structure. The problem is that there are certain species and species groups that need forests with diverse structures for their life and activities, coarse woody debris, dead trees, and so on. These species groups are particularly vulnerable here because they lack sufficient habitat. On a broader scale, diverse forests are also more resistant to disease and better able to adapt to climate change.”

The EU aims to restore forests, and Estonia is creating its plan. By autumn, guidelines for implementation by 2030 will be available for public input, focusing on mapping and restoring 9,000 hectares. The central question involves determining the necessary degree of human intervention in natural processes.

Balancing Intervention and Nature

While allowing nature to take its course could be beneficial, speeding up natural processes is also under consideration. Options include cutting trees to create decomposing wood and controlled burns to eliminate undergrowth and moss. Creating small gaps by cutting strips of trees encourages decomposition and habitat creation, according to Tattar.

Interestingly, letting forests grow to an older age could store even more carbon. A recent study indicates that allowing forests to reach old-growth status could increase carbon storage by 10–20% (The Nature Conservancy).

Financial Commitment

Approximately €4.2 million has been earmarked for preserving and restoring dry forests between 2025 and 2032.