Forest land covers 51.5% of Estonia's land area and is thus an important factor in shaping the environment. A forest is a habitat for many plants and animals as well as a place for rest and relaxation. However, the forest is also the most important renewable natural resource and raw material base for the energy sector and other industries, providing work and livelihood for tens of thousands of...

Data on forest resources is collected by forest inventory. Up to 1992, data on all forests was collected based on the traditional inventory describing all forest divisions. Since then, only the inventory of state forests has been taken following the classic 10-year cycle, while private forests have been inventoried according to their registration in the Land Cadastre and the state's financial...

The long growing periods and droughts of recent years have caused an exceptionally large spread of bark beetles and damage in Estonia. No slowdown in the spread is expected in the coming years. Therefore, special attention must be given to the health of spruce and mixed spruce stands. If bark beetle damage is detected early, before the wood has dried, it can be used for the production of durable...