Estonian Landowners Demand Halt to National Nature Restoration Plan
A coalition of Estonian farmers' and forest owners' associations has formally appealed to the Minister of Energy and Environment, demanding an immediate stop to the national nature restoration plan and the creation of new expert groups that include landowners, arguing the current process violates EU transparency requirements.
- —Farmers' and forest owners' associations have jointly appealed to the Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt, demanding a halt to the national nature restoration plan and the formation of new expert groups that include landowners.
- —The organizations argue that the current process for developing the plan does not meet EU Nature Restoration Regulation requirements for openness, transparency, and inclusivity, as landowners are only involved retrospectively and superficially.
- —Concerns are raised about the composition of expert groups, with specific mention of the terrestrial habitats and species group lacking practitioners, and a lack of transparency regarding group member appointments and directives.
- —The agricultural sector's financial struggles are highlighted as a reason why additional obligations from the restoration plan, drafted without landowner input, are unsustainable.
- —The groups warn that the current stakeholder engagement process could lead to legal challenges against the final restoration plan, which Estonia must submit to the European Commission by September 1, 2026.
Recap
Estonian landowner groups are leveraging EU regulations to challenge the state's environmental policy-making process. This is not merely a procedural complaint; it's a strategic move to force a halt and gain direct influence over a plan they view as economically unviable. By threatening legal action, they are using the government's tight compliance deadline with the European Commission as leverage to ensure their financial and practical concerns are embedded in the final policy.