Nature management and environmental education in

Estonia

Environmental Board

2011

Environmental management in Estonia

Some facts about the situation of environmental education (EE) in

Estonia

Environmental Board- formed in 2009• Environmental Education Department- 20

specialists cover all regions in Estonia• Programmes for schools and kindergartens- in

2010 more than 1000 programmes were given for 23000 participants

• Acitivities for adults- in 2010 more than 200 acitivites for 14500 participants were arranged

• Environmental roundtables are assembled• 2 environmental regional conferences were

held in 2010

Nature centres of Environmental Board

The State Forest Management Centre (RMK)

• RMK maintains, grows and manages the Estonian state forest

• RMK provides hiking opportunities in 13 recreation areas, 5 national parks and approximately 40 other protected areas.

• The 17 nature centres and 5 nature houses of RMK provide information and activities

Nature centres of RMK

Ministry of Education and Research

– National Basic School and Upper Secondary– School Curriculum cross- cutting theme “

Environment and Sustainable Development”;

– Preschool Curriculum cross- cutting theme “Me and Environment”

– New approach- inquiry learning

Nature Houses

• Tartu Environmental Education Centre• Pärnu Nature House• Nature House of Nõmme in Tallinn• Tallinn Hobby Centre “Kullo”

• Tallinn Zoological Gardens;• Tallinn Botanic Garden

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

NON-GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES

• Estonian Fund for Nature www.elfond.ee - Nature Schools (2)• Regional Environmental Centre - Estonia www.recestonia.ee• Estonian Green Movement •HARED• .....

The problems in environmental education in Estonia

• Visiting nature centres is not part of the school curriculum: it is optional and not supported by school budget

• The work of many the nature centres and schools is project –based

• There is not yet development plan of environmental education in Estonia

• The cooperation between the 2 ministries (Education and Environment) is weak

Nature centres in southern Estonia

Tallinn

Rakvere

Kärdla

Kuressaare

Haapsalu

Pärnu

Paide

Viljandi Tartu

EmajõeSuursoo

HaanjaKarulaNP

Otepää

Soomaa NP

Kabli

Matsalu NP

VilsandiNP

Viidumäe

Alam-Pedja

Võru

Valga

Narva

Thank you!