Estonian Nature Fund
Encyclopedia
Estonian Fund for Nature (Eestimaa Looduse Fond) or ELF is an Estonia
n environmental non-profit organisation
.
. WWF has remained ELF's main international co-operation partner. ELF is a member of IUCN.
The board is directing the activity of ELF convenes four times in a year and one third of its members will be re-elected in every two years (even years). The task of the Board is to give guidelines to the Executive Committee, workers and volunteers in planning the activities (approving annually the action plan and budget) and to counsel workers of the Fund in treating various issues. Members of the Board work on the voluntary basis.
ELF's Executive Committee members in 2010: Jüri-Ott Salm and Ivar Tamm.
national parks and Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve
. The area of these taken together is about 740 sq kilometres.
During the following years, ELF has played a significant role in the establishment of tens of other smaller protected areas in Estonia. ELF has carried on inventories of valuable habitats - wetlands, old-growth forests and meadows and participates in designing the Natura 2000
network of protected areas. In recent years ELF has more and more activities dedicated to environmental education
, public awareness and public participation in environmental decisions and activities.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n environmental non-profit organisation
ENGO
An ENGO is an Environmental Non-governmental organization, such as WWF, Greenpeace, Conservation International or the Environmental Investigation Agency.-Goals:...
.
Mission
Mission of ELF is to preserve the rich natural diversity in Estonia and the world through active cooperation with individuals, business enterprises, organizations and state institutions through the following activities:- protection of endangered species and their habitats;
- preservation of characteristic Estonian landscapes and habitats;
- promotion of sustainable use of natural resources;
- raising public awareness about environmental issues;
- finding solutions to preserve clean environment for future generations
Founding
ELF was established in 1991 by biologists and conservationists and in close co-operation with World Wide Fund for NatureWorld Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
. WWF has remained ELF's main international co-operation partner. ELF is a member of IUCN.
Board and Executives
Board members:- Rainer NõlvakRainer NõlvakRainer Nõlvak is an Estonian entrepreneur and nature protector who isChairman of the board of Estonian Nature Fund.Rainer Nõlvak has advocated for the Estonian energy industry to move away from oil shaleand move towards renewable energy systems...
- Chairman of the Board - Andres Arrak
- Rein Einasto
- Üllas Ehrlich
- Rainer Kuuba
- Andres TarandAndres TarandAndres Tarand , is an Estonian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists between 2004 and 2009. Tarand also served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1994 to 1995.Born in Tallinn, Tarand graduated from the...
- Katarina Veem WWF
- Lembit Maamets
- Uudo Timm
- Henri Laupmaa
- Ahti HeinlaAhti HeinlaAhti Heinla is Skype chief architect, investor and nature protector.He was an organizer of Let's Do It 2008, a civic action with 50,000 volunteers participating in cleaning up the countryside of Estonia in one day....
Skype - Mart Jüssi
- Sakarias J. Leppik
- Daniel Vaarik
- Riinu Rannap
The board is directing the activity of ELF convenes four times in a year and one third of its members will be re-elected in every two years (even years). The task of the Board is to give guidelines to the Executive Committee, workers and volunteers in planning the activities (approving annually the action plan and budget) and to counsel workers of the Fund in treating various issues. Members of the Board work on the voluntary basis.
ELF's Executive Committee members in 2010: Jüri-Ott Salm and Ivar Tamm.
Achievements
After the restoration of independence of Estonia in 1991 a political decision was taken to restitute properties including land to the former owners or their descendants. Since it is much easier to form new protected areas when the land is owned by the state, ELF took quick action to safeguard the future of valuable areas by proposing the establishment of new big protected areas and natural parks. This led to the formation of Soomaa and KarulaKarula National Park
Karula National Park is national park in southern Estonia. It was established in 1979 as a protected area and in 1993 became a national park.-External links:*...
national parks and Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve
Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve
Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Estonia. It is a vast wilderness area which covers and consists of a complex of 5 large bogs separated by unregulated rivers, their floodplains, and extensive forests...
. The area of these taken together is about 740 sq kilometres.
During the following years, ELF has played a significant role in the establishment of tens of other smaller protected areas in Estonia. ELF has carried on inventories of valuable habitats - wetlands, old-growth forests and meadows and participates in designing the Natura 2000
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
network of protected areas. In recent years ELF has more and more activities dedicated to environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
, public awareness and public participation in environmental decisions and activities.
Founders
- Aare Mäemets
- Ain Raitviir
- Aivar Leito
- Aleksander Heintalu
- Andres Koppel
- Andres Kuresoo
- Andrus Ausmees
- Ann MarvetAnn MarvetAnn Marvet is an Estonian botanist. She is an editor of the journal "Estonian Nature" and a member of the Estonian Commission for Nature Conservation, approved by the Estonian Academy of Sciences in 1998.-External links:* *...
- Helve Anton
- Arne Kaasik
- Eerik Leibak
- Einar Tammur
- Erik Sikk
- Ervin Pihu
- Fred JüssiFred JüssiFred Jüssi is an Estonian biologist, nature writer and photographer.Jüssi was born on Aruba, where his father worked for a Venezuelan oil company. His family returned to Estonia and settled in Tallinn when Jüssi was 3 years old...
- Hans TrassHans TrassHans-Voldemar Trass is an Estonian ecologist and botanist from Tallinn. He has been a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences since 1975. He was the president of the Estonian Naturalists' Society in 1964–1973 and 1985–1991....
- Indrek Rohtmets
- Ivar Jüssi
- Jaan Viidalepp
- Jüri Keskpaik
- Kalevi KullKalevi KullKalevi Kull is an eminent biosemiotics professor at the University of Tartu, Estonia.He was the president of the Estonian Naturalists' Society in 1991–1994.Ecologist Olevi Kull was his younger brother.-Publications:...
- Kristjan Moora
- Mart Jüssi
- Mart Külvik
- Mart Niklus
- Martin Zobel
- Mati Kaal
- Nikolai Laanetu
- Peeter Ernits
- Aivo Pidim
- Rein Kuresoo
- Tiina Talvi
- Tiit Maran
- Tiiu Keskpaik
- Tiiu KullTiiu KullTiiu Kull is an Estonian botanist. She specialises in the study of population dynamics in plant species and has published an extensive number of papers on the subject...
- Toomas Jüriado
- Toomas Tiivel
- Ülle KukkÜlle KukkÜlle Kukk is an Estonian botanist and conservationist.-Education and Career:She was born in Tartu and graduated from the University of Tartu in 1960...
- Vaike Hang
- Veljo Ranniku
- Vilju Lilleleht