Honorable Prime Minister, members of the government and the Riigikogu
Resolute implementation of science-based measures is essential to achieve carbon neutrality. One important issue is the use of biomass as renewable energy, which has shown far-reaching negative effects on biodiversity and on the achievement of climate goals themselves. Wood burning is currently the most common form of renewable energy, and its actual carbon emissions and impact on forests are under scrutiny of scientists.
Soon, the European Union is planning to review the Renewable Energy Directive and dealing with wood from forests and clarifying sustainability criteria is also in question. A recent report by the Joint Research Center, which is an input to possible changes, highlights the scope for improvement within existing regulations, but also explicitly states that many climate and biodiversity risk scenarios cannot be prevented by existing regulations. Without changing the current criteria, both greenhouse gas emissions and pressure on forest ecosystems will increase at the same time.
The dangers of large-scale wood burning for climate and biodiversity goals were also discussed by 500 scientists who addressed world leaders in a public letter on February 11th this year. They called for an end to the direct and indirect subsidies that favored it. However, the European Union needs the explicit support of the various parties, including the Member States, to address this issue in a meaningful way.
We therefore express our view that the promotion of industrial wood burning through both national and international subsidies and carbon trading rules must be stopped. The Estonian state and state agencies managing its natural resources must protect biodiversity and manage it sustainably, considering the EU and international climate and biodiversity goals.
As signatories, we welcome the relevant changes in Estonia’s political positions, one of the outputs of which is the opinion of the Environment Committee of the Riigikogu on the treatment of forest wood sustainability. It emphasizes the need for a science-based solution and supports the reopening of the discussion on biomass sustainability criteria under the Renewable Energy Directive.
Significant mistakes have been made in the past in addressing the link between forests and climate, and it is essential to correct these mistakes. The review of regulations in favor of wood burning in the light of new knowledge is a major step that would confirm the serious commitment of decision-makers to climate and biodiversity goals. As researchers, we would appreciate efforts to address the substance of such complex issues.
On behalf of the signatories
Raul Rosenvald
forest scientist (PhD)
UT ÖMI, researcher of sustainable forestry
Signatories:
Asko Lõhmus
ecologist (PhD)
Professor of Nature Conservation Biology, UT
Lea Hallik
plant ecology and ecophysiology (PhD)
Associate Professor of Remote Sensing of Vegetation, UT TO
Urmas Kõljalg
taxonomist (PhD)
Academician, UT Professor of Mycology
Virve Sõber
ecologist (PhD)
Researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, UT
Grete Arro
Educational Psychologist (PhD)
Researcher at the Institute of Educational Sciences, Tallinn University
Ülo Niinemets
ecophysiologist (PhD)
Academician, Professor of Plant Breeding and Plant Biology, EMÜ
Piret Lõhmus
lichenologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Nature Conservation Biology, UT
Antti Tamm
physicist (PhD)
Director of UT Tartu Observatory
Meelis Pärtel
ecologist (PhD)
Professor of Botany, UT
Maarja Öpik
ecologist (PhD)
Professor of Molecular Ecology, UT ÖMI
Kalevi Kull
ecologist (PhD)
Professor of Biosemiotics, UT
Anneli Palo
landscape ecologist (PhD)
researcher, UT ÖMI
Jaan Pärn
geographer (PhD)
researcher of natural geography, UT ÖMI
Tiiu Kull
botanist (PhD)
Professor of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism, EMÜ
Ivika Ostonen-Märtin
ecophysiologist (PhD)
Professor of Root Ecology, UT ÖMI
Stefan Groote
physicist (PhD)
Associate Professor at the Institute of Physics, UT
Reet Mändar
microbial ecologist (PhD)
professor, UT BSMI
Tiit Teder
ecologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Entomology, UT ÖMI
Valentina Sagris
Geoinformatics (PhD)
Researcher at the Department of Geography, UT ÖMI
Liina Remm
ecologist (PhD)
Researcher of Nature Conservation Biology, UT
Aveliina Helm
ecologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Botany, UT ÖMI
Tsipe Aavik
ecologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Macroecology, UT ÖMI
Kalev Sepp
landscape ecology and environmental protection (PhD)
Professor of Environmental Protection and Landscape Management, EMÜ
Urmas Tartes
biologist (PhD)
Chairman of the Nature Conservation Committee, EMÜ
Riinu Rannap
ecologist (PhD)
researcher in nature conservation biology, UT ÖMI
Kai Vellak
bryologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Plant Ecology, UT ÖMI
Kadri Runnel
ecologist (PhD)
researcher in nature conservation biology, UT ÖMI
Kuno Kasak
eco-technology (PhD)
Associate Professor of Environmental Technology, UT ÖMI
Lauri Laanisto
plant ecology and ecophysiology (PhD)
Senior Research Fellow in Macroecology, EMÜ
Piia Post
atmospheric physicist (PhD in geophysics)
Associate Professor of Meteorology and Climatology, Institute of Physics, UT
Tauri Tampuu (MSc)
doctoral student of natural geography, UT ÖMI
Katrin Rosenvald
landscape ecologist (PhD)
researcher of applied ecology, UT ÖMI
Kristin Kuutma
Professor of Cultural Studies (PhD)
Holder of the UNESCO Chair of Applied Research in the Intangible Cultural Heritage, UT
Ardi Tampuu
computer scientist (PhD)
Institute of Computer Science, UT
Floor Vodde
forestry and forest ecology (PhD)
Researcher of Forest Disorders and Forest Ecology, EMÜ
Marko Kaasik
environmental physicist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Air Pollution Modeling, Institute of Physics, UT
Jane Raamets
Construction and Environmental Engineering (PhD)
Tallinn University of Technology Tartu College
Kadri Pärtel
mycologist (PhD)
researcher, UT OMI
Aet Annist
anthropologist (PhD)
TLU Estonian Environmental Movements Research Group senior researcher; Associate Professor, Department of Ethnology, UT
Alexei Kuznetsov
chemist (PhD)
researcher, Institute of Chemistry, UT
Katrin Heinsoo
ecologist (PhD)
Senior Research Fellow in Production Ecology, EMÜ
Heidi Tamm
mycologist (PhD)
researcher, UT ÖMI
Elin Soomets
animal ecologist (PhD)
nature conservation specialist, UT ÖMI
Margit Kõiv-Vainik
eco-technology (PhD)
Associate Professor of Environmental Technology, UT ÖMI
Elle Roosaluste
plant ecologist (PhD)
specialist, UT ÖMI
Jaanus Terasmaa
ecologist (PhD)
Head of the TU Ecology Center, Professor of Ecohydrology
Mari Ivask
soil ecologist (PhD)
Emeritus Professor, TalTech
Mart Jüssi
animal ecologist (PhD)
Ivar Ojaste
applied biology (PhD)
Senior lecturer in environmental ecology, EMÜ PKI
Mari Arold
doctoral student in geography and environmental science
University of Oxford
Toomas Esperk
ecologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Invertebrate Zoology, UT
Tõnu Ploompuu
botanist and evolutionist
TU Institute of Natural and Health Sciences
Bellis Kullman
mycologist-geneticist (PhD)
lecturer, EMÜ PKI
Maris Hindrikson
zoologist (PhD)
researcher of teriology, UT ÖMI
Sten Anslan
biologist (PhD)
researcher, UT ÖMI
Ave Suija
lichenologist (PhD)
Associate Professor, UT ÖMI
Rein Kalamees
plant ecologist (PhD)
researcher of plant ecology, UT ÖMI
Krista Takkis
biologist (PhD)
Researcher of Restoration Ecology, UT ÖMI
Ants Kaasik
statistics (PhD)
researcher, UT ÖMI
Kersti Püssa
ecologist (PhD)
chief ecologist, UT ÖMI
Mari Lepik
ecologist (PhD)
researcher of plant ecology, UT ÖMI
Jüri Plado
geologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Geology, UT ÖMI
Mari Moora
ecologist (PhD)
Professor of Ecology, UT ÖMI
Eele Õunapuu-Pikas
ecophysiologist (PhD)
researcher of ecophysiology, UT ÖMI
Olev Vinn
paleontologist and paleoecologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Paleontology, UT ÖMI
Ülo Mander
landscape ecologist and natural geographer (PhD)
professor, UT ÖMI
Tõnu Oja
ecologist and geoinformatics (PhD)
Professor of Geoinformatics and Cartography, UT ÖMI
Marko Mägi
zoologist (PhD)
researcher of avian ecology, UT ÖMI
Peeter Hõrak
animal ecologist (PhD)
Professor of Behavioral Ecology, UT ÖMI
Inga Jüriado
lichenologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Lichenology, UT ÖMI
Kersti Riibak
ecologist (PhD)
researcher of macroecology, UT ÖMI
Randel Kreitsberg
zoologist (PhD)
Researcher of Ecotoxicology, UT ÖMI
Juhan Javois
ecologist (PhD)
researcher, UT ÖMI
Marko Kohv
geologist (PhD)
Department of Geology, UT ÖMI
Marko Prous
entomologist (PhD)
Researcher, University of Oulu
Martin Zobel
ecologist
Professor of Plant Ecology, UT ÖMI
Siim-Kaarel Sepp
ecologist (PhD)
researcher of plant ecology, UT ÖMI
Kadri Koorem
Ecologist (PhD)
researcher of plant ecology, UT ÖMI
Inga Hiiesalu
ecologist (PhD)
researcher of plant ecology, UT ÖMI
Egle Tammeleht
zoologist (PhD)
researcher of teriology, UT ÖMI
Martti Vasar
ecologist (PhD)
researcher of plant ecology, UT ÖMI
Siiri Kõljalg
microbiologist (PhD)
Department of Microbiology, UT BSMI
Tuul Sepp
ecologist
Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, UT
Harri Valdmann
Associate Professor of Zoology, UT
Jesse M. Kalwij
Senior Researcher in Plant Ecology (PhD),
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Oive Tinn
paleontologist (PhD)
Associate Professor, UT ÖMI
Rein Einasto
Professor Emeritus of Geology and Environmental Studies (PhD), TTK
Tiina Elvisto (PhD)
Associate Professor of Plant Ecology, TU
Polina Degtjarenko
lichenologist (PhD)
researcher of lichenology, UT ÖMI
Eve Veromann
Professor of the Chair of Plant Health, EMÜ
Kadri Põldmaa
mycologist (PhD)
Associate Professor of Mycology, UT ÖMI
Signing complete!!!
Another list of scientists
Priit-Kalev Parts
environmental protection (PhD)
Associate Professor of Heritage Technology, UT Viljandi Academy of Culture
Ivar Raig
Member of the Board of MTÜ Saku Metsa Kaitseks,
Member of Saku Parish Council, (PhD econ.)
Tallinn University, Academy of Law, Professor
Anzori Barkalaja
folklorist (PhD)
Member of Viljandi municipality council
Member of the NGO Lätkalu-Lalsi village society
Alar Aab
medical science (PhD)
Postdoctoral Fellow of Lund University
Madis Vasser
researcher (PhD)
Institute of Computer Science, UT
Ave Mets
philosophy (PhD)
senior researcher in philosophy of science, UT
Kadri Just
agriculture (PhD)
Member of the Estonian Green Movement
Tiina Sedman
biochemistry researcher (PhD), UT
Leho Tedersoo
Botany and Mycology (PhD)
Professor of Mycorrhizal Research, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, UT
Aet Annist
anthropologist (PhD), environmental activist
Member of XR Tallinn
Tarmo Timm
biologist-zoologist (PhD)
EAU ZBI senior researcher
LIVE member
Elin Soomets
animal ecology (PhD)
Nature Conservation Biologist, UT
Janek Urvik
Human Biology Assistant (PhD)
UT Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Transitional Medicine
Fred Puss
private forest owner, lexicographer-junior researcher (PhD)
Institute of the Estonian Language
entrepreneur, member of ELUS
Linda Rusalepp
Botany and Ecology (PhD), Junior Researcher, EMÜ
Tiit Maran
nature conservation biology (PhD)
Director of Tallinn Zoo
Ülo Vooglaid
sociologist (PhD)
Helle Mäemets
botanist (PhD)
LIVE member
Senior researcher, EMÜ
Thea Kull
botanist (PhD), EMÜ
Sulev Iva
philosophy (PhD), forest owner
Lecturer of South Estonian Language and Culture at UT
Researcher at the Võru Institute
Jaak Jaagus
geographer and climatologist, candidate of geography
Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, UT
Külli Kangur
hydrobiologist, ecologist (PhD)
Senior researcher, EMÜ
member of ELUS
Merike Lillenberg
biologist, (PhD) (environmental protection)
lecturer, EMÜ
Raudjärv
visiting professor
(PhD econ.), TalTech alumni, TU
Georgia UT Kaasiku forest farm owner in Lääne-Virumaa
Kadri Tali
botanist (PhD)
LIVE member
Senior researcher, EMÜ
Vivika Väli
botanist, palynologist (PhD)
Researcher, EMÜ
member of ELUS
