16 December 2010, Estonian Public Broadcasting news - The forestry development plan up to 2020 spearheaded by the Ministry of the Environment has been approved by the government.

The plan calls for a high intensity of activities aimed at ensuring sustainability. Forest regeneration must take place on at least one-half of cutting areas and 10 percent of forest land must be placed under reserve to protect biodiversity, for instance.

Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi envisions what might be called a nation of yeoman forest owners and says the state should trust private owners more. 

"I consider the biggest challenge in the development plan to be the objective of significantly raising the number of forest owners who belong to forestry associations and increasing the amount of timber sold through these associations," said Tamkivi

A total of 44 percent of forest land is in private hands, 34 percent being owned by individuals. The State Forest Management Centre controls 37 percent of forest land.

An important part of the development plan is the implementation of environmentally sustainable principles. Experts convened to assess the strategic impact of the development plan noted that moderate management was the best way to ensure sustainability.

Estonian reserves wold allow up to 22 million cubic meters of wood to be harvested each year but experts recommend moderate felling of 12-15 million, and that is the prescription that ended up in the development plan.

The cost of the activities and support measures in the development plan for 2011 is 14.3 million euros and in 2013, 16.3 million euros. The plan is subject to approval by Parliament.