Two measures compensate the loss of income due to nature conservation restrictions: 

  1.  Support for the promotion of biodiversity in Natura 2000 private forests in 2023–2027.
  2.  Support for the compensation of nature conservation restrictions on private forest lands located outside the Natura 2000 network. The application can be submitted in the e-ARIB portal. The application must be resubmitted every year!

When using the services of e-ARIB for the first time, you must register in the ARIB's registry of agricultural subsidies and agricultural parcels. This can be done by clicking on ‘Customer information’ in the menu bar after logging in to the e-ARIB portal.

It is also possible to issue a power of attorney to apply for compensation. Read more on the ARIB website. A power of attorney signed on paper can be sent to ARIB. The forms can be found at the bottom of the page by clicking on ‘Additional document forms’.

Additional information about the compensation can be requested from the Forest Department of the Environmental Investment Centre (EIC) at the e-mail addresses natura@kik.ee and siseriiklik@kik.ee or by calling 5668-3263 and 5683-3428.

I Support for the promotion of biodiversity in Natura 2000 private forests in 2023–2027.

  • A natural person, a self-employed person, or a legal person governed by private law who owns or holds possession of forest land can apply for compensation. Support will be granted to a usufructuary if the usufruct is established for at least five calendar years following the claim year. Only one of the co-owners may submit an application for co-owned land and the other co-owners must submit written consents. You can find the recommended form at the bottom of the page by clicking on ‘Additional document forms’.
  • Requirements for land for which support is requested:
    • Data from the Natura 2000 network have been included in the Estonian Nature Information System. This can be checked from the environmental portal and forest registry.
    • Forest land is located in a Natura 2000 area, a special management zone, or a planned area of a protected natural object specified in clause 1 or 4 of subsection 1 of § 4 of the Nature Conservation Act.
    • Forest land is at least 0.3 ha in size.
    • Eligible forest land includes a road up to four metres wide, a ditch, a firebreak, land in the protection zone of an electrical installation, and a clearing of up to 0.10 hectares.

The support may not be applied for the following:

  • Land for which data have been entered in the register of agricultural subsidies and agricultural parcels (ARIB agricultural parcels).
  • Semi-natural grassland, for which data has been entered into the Estonian Nature Information System.
  • Forest land for which a contract has been concluded for the protection of a key habitat.

Compensation:

  • 134 euros for a forest habitat in a Natura 2000 special management zone, Natura 2000 limited management zone, or special conservation area, an area planned as a Natura 2000 special management zone or a special management zone outside the Natura 2000 area;
  • Up to 60 euros for a limited management zone or special conservation area in the Natura 2000 area with no forest habitats and an area planned as a limited management zone or special conservation area.

If the amount of funding for all eligible applications exceeds the budget, the unit rate shall be reduced for a limited management zone or special conservation area in the Natura 2000 area with no forest habitats and an area planned as a limited management zone or special conservation area to the extent necessary to meet all eligible applications to the maximum extent possible.

The EIC makes decisions on support by 30 April of the calendar year following the claim year at the latest. ARIB will pay the support to the beneficiary by 30 June of the calendar year following the claim year at the latest.

The basis for granting compensation is Regulation No. 78 of the Minister of Rural Affairs of 23.12.2022 ‘Support for the promotion of biodiversity in Natura 2000 private forests in 2023–2027

II Support for the compensation of nature conservation restrictions on private forest lands located outside the Natura 2000 network

The support aims to compensate for nature conservation constraints in private forest areas located outside the Natura 2000 network (hereinafter referred to as the 'payment for constraints'), maintaining and improving the ecological status and compensating the private forest owner for loss of income due to compliance with the restrictions.

The support can be requested in the following cases:

  • Forest land is included in the Estonian Nature Information System (Map of private forest subsidies).
  • Forest land is located outside the Natura 2000 network.
  • Forest land is located in the limited management zone of a protected natural object of a protected area, special conservation area or species protection site.
  • Forest land is located in an area for which a procedure for placement under protection has been initiated within the meaning of subsection 1 of § 9 of the Nature Conservation Act.
  • Forest land is at least 0.3 ha in size.
  • Eligible forest land includes a road up to four metres wide, a ditch, a firebreak, land in the protection zone of an electrical installation, and a clearing of up to 0.10 hectares.

Support cannot be requested in the following cases: 

  • For land entered in the register of agricultural aid and agricultural parcels;
  • For a semi-natural grassland, which has been entered into the Estonian Nature Information System.
  • Forest land for which a contract has been concluded for the protection of a key habitat.
  • For a park and arboretum.

The amount of the support is up to 60 euros per hectare in the claim year.

The basis for granting compensation is the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 14.04.2014 No. 10 ‘The grounds of granting support, requirements for applications, procedure for application for support and review of applications, grounds of evaluation of applications and the procedure for recovery of support’.