LANDOWNERS´ ATTITUDE TO THE RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO THE BIRD PROTECTION 2009

1. Composing of current document is supported by EU LIFE programme (EAGLELIFE project) LANDOWNERS´ ATTITUDE TO THE RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO THE BIRD PROTECTION 2009 Hella Kaldaru Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 1

2. Research method • The current report bases on the survey that was carried out among the landowners whose properties are under restrictions due to the protection of endangered bird species living there. • The research was conducted by telephone • The sample size was 202 respondents • The database for the sample was provided by the client, a part of the numbers were found from the Internet • The sample contains as the private owners, so the representatives of the forest districts and enterprises • The persons, competent in the land problems of the company, forest district or family, were selected to respond the questions • The questionnaire of the research repeated this of the 2005 • The fieldwork of the research took place in 2009, April 18-26 Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 2

3. Structure of sample. All respondents n=202 Approximate area of forest Respondent´s type Working position Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 3

4. SUMMARY • The great majority (74%) of land owners who “own” endangered birds have positive feelings towards the restrictions, 20% have rather positive or (few) completely negative feelings. According to the average assessment, the general attitude towards the restrictions has slightly cooled, although, on the whole, the percentage of those opposed to the restrictions has not increased. • The main cause of negativity is the loss of economic profit; the main positive aspect is the contribution to the preservation of endangered species. • The majority (80%) of land owners considers creating protected areas around nests to be necessary and justified; this perception has considerably deepened as compared to 2005. Almost everyone shares the opinion that eagles and black storks play an important role in nature and, as compared to a survey conducted in 2005, the belief that these birds can be regarded as the symbols of nature conservation has become significantly more widespread. • It can be said that the protection of both eagles and the black stork is valued more today than it was in 2005; however, the current situation requires more attention to be paid to economic aspects than was done before. • Confirming the aforesaid, almost all respondents (92%) deemed state compensation for the non-management of forest necessary. Such an expectation of the state has become noticeably stronger when compared to 2005. • In addition to the fixation of compensation mechanisms, people most of all expect the state to provide information and education related to nature conservation (32%) – evidently for society as a whole. From nature conservation organisations people most of all expect annual information regarding the wellbeing of birds nesting in the immediate vicinity (45%). Respondents continue to be concerned that their activities might be restricted even after the birds have already left the area. • Most of the respondents, more than in 2005, nevertheless consider themselves sufficiently informed regarding eagles and black storks, although more than one third of the respondents would want to receive even more information. The proportion of those who are not interested in information has somewhat increased (11%). Private land owners are more interested in information. Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 4

5. THE RESULTS 1 This year, just like in 2005, most restrictions established on the lands of the respondents were, to their knowledge, related to the lesser spotted eagle, black stork, spotted eagle, white-tailed eagle, and capercaillie. In comparison to 2005, black stork and capercaillie were mentioned slightly less frequently, lesser spotted eagle more frequently. In the case of respondents who represented large territories with an area of over 100 hectares and/or forest districts, the capercaillie and black stork were mentioned most frequently. In the case of respondents who were private persons, the lesser spotted eagle was named most frequently (35%). The majority, approximately ¾ of respondents, still had positive feelings towards the restrictions related to endangered birds. 20% of the respondents expressed a completely or rather negative attitude. In 2005, the percentage of negative responses was the same, but the average assessment has nevertheless dropped slightly when compared to 2005; mainly due to businesses and, to some extent, private persons. The current economic distress probably plays a role here. The slight decline is a result of the minor decrease in the percentage of “completely positive” assessments and the increase in the number of “rather positive” assessments. Just like in 2005, the average assessment of the necessity of the restrictions was most positive among private persons, most negative among businesses. The greatest difference of opinions reigns among forest districts: the percentage of completely negative assessments was highest in this group (11%), while, at the same time, the percentage of completely positive attitudes also exceeded the average -37%. Similarly to 2005, the possibility of the preservation of an endangered species was most frequently named as one of the positive aspects of the protected areas (64%). This is complemented by the various opinions under the category “other”, à la “birds get to nest in peace”, etc. Other variants were seldom mentioned. 11% of the respondents were of the opinion that there is nothing pleasant about the restrictions. In 2005, only 4% provided such a response Of the unpleasant aspects of the protected areas, the argument that they hinder the economic activity of the owners (48%) still dominated first place. The following arguments, listed in order of importance, also occurred somewhat more often than before: they limit the owners’ freedom of movement (24%) and right to decide (16%). Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 5

6. THE RESULTS 2 To a lesser extent, there continued to be respondents who complained that the restriction has remained valid in spite of the fact that the birds have already left the area, that the restrictions are too rigid, the compensations are too low or there are no compensations at all, and that the protected areas should be smaller. 27% of the respondents asserted that there is nothing unpleasant about the restrictions. Opinions on the role and significance of eagles and black storks in Estonian nature are still very favourable. Almost all the respondents agreed that these birds play an important role in nature. As compared to 2005, the opinion that these birds are symbols of nature conservation has become considerably more widespread. Nevertheless, 69% of the respondents were of the opinion that the protection of nesting areas significantly hinders land owners in profiting from their forests and this opinion has not changed when compared to 2005. This opinion was shared the most in the group of businesses; among private persons it occurred slightly less than average. When comparing the opinions of the respondents who deemed the restrictions as something positive with the ones of those who instead found negative aspects in restrictions, it became evident, as expected, that the main cause of the negativity is indeed the loss of economic profit; although the majority of the negatively tuned respondents also agreed that eagles and black storks are symbols of our nature conservation and they play an important role in nature. Nearly ¼ of the respondents were unable to comment about the situation with the number of protected birds. Nevertheless, the informing process has obviously been successful, as, in 2005, the proportion of such respondents was 1/3. On the question of the number of birds, there was a large gap between the opinions of private persons and businesses-forest districts: among private persons there were many more who thought that the number of birds was low (64%). As many as 45% of forest districts expressed the opinion that there are no problems with the number of birds. In the responses to the question of what should be the main target of activities in the protection of eagles and black stork, a similar ranking of activities became evident as in 2005. In first place, almost without competition, continued to be the recommendation to develop decent compensation mechanisms (92%). As compared to 2005, the relative importance of this aspect has increased even more (78% at the time). In second place, supported by 76% of the respondents, continued to be the wish to receivemore information and education related to nature conservation. Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 6

7. THE RESULTS 3 As a response to our request to choose up to 2 of the most important aspects out of the given ones, the need for compensation mechanisms (65%) and information (32%) stood out again, as expected. More frequently than before, people wished to create even more protected areas (19%, 10% in 2005). Likewise, there were considerably more of those respondents who were of the opinion that nothing needs to be done, because birds can manage on their own (16%, 1% in 2005). There were many such respondents in the groups of private persons and businesses, but very few among forest districts. At the same time, there were very few of those in the group of forest districts who found that more protected areas should be created, whereas this idea was supported by 41% of private persons. Among private persons, the need to strengthen inspections covering the observance of the law was emphasised more frequently than among other respondents. The respondents were asked how justified they consider the creating of protected areas around nests to be, including on their own registered immovable. It must be admitted that the attitude has considerably improved on this matter. Wholly 80% of the respondents considered it justified, including 77% also on their own registered immovable. In 2005, only 62% of the respondents were in favour. In all target groups, the proportion of those who could not answer the question has decreased. The attitude has improved the most among forest districts of which only 48% considered it necessary in 2005, whereas now the percentage is 85%. Although 76% of the respondents were of the opinion that it is still important to educate the public in terms of nature conservation in the protection of eagles and black storks, the percentage of those respondents who would need such additional information themselves has slightly decreased. While in 2005, 50% of respondents wanted additional information, then now the percentage has dropped to 38%, whereas 11% of the respondents declared that they are not interested in such information at all. As before, the number of people who are not interested in information exceeded the average in the group of businesses (15%). Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 7

8. THE RESULTS 4 On average 51% of the respondents possessed sufficient information (45% in 2005). The most aware group was that of forest districts, where 22% would nevertheless be interested in even more information. Among private persons there were those who possessed adequate information slightly below the average (46%); however, when compared to 2005, their percentage has grown (at the time it was 40%). Additional information is needed the most among private persons (42%), although in comparison with 2005, there have emerged a few of those who are not interested in that information (12%). In the responses to the question, “What kind of operation do the respondents expect from the state?”, the percentage of those who have no opinion on that matter has clearly decreased. Compensations for non-management are still considered as the most important step, which was emphasised more strongly this time than it was in 2005 (89%, 72% in 2005). Likewise, the ranking of other activities has remained the same and the number of their supporters has grown, already exceeding half of the respondents (subsidies for the maintenance of feeding areas, replacement lands, possibility to sell the land to the state). At the same time, the percentage of those respondents who do not support one or another measure has somewhat increased: the most -40%- of such responses were on the issue of replacement lands.There were very few (8%, 15% in 2005) respondents who found that there is not much that should be done. Such an attitude was least evident in the group of forest districts (4%). When the respondents had to choose one most important measure from the named measures, then the majority (55%) continually chose the option of compensations, 13% replacement lands, and 11% the possibility to sell the land to the state. The replacement land was more important to businesses (20%) than to other target groups. Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 8

9. THE RESULTS 5 Amongst the given variants, annual information about the wellbeing of a bird nesting in the immediate vicinity (79%) is most frequently expected from nature conservation organisations by the respondents; such information is especially needed by businesses (85%). Nearly half (45%) of the respondents would need instructional materials on how to manage forest and/or feeding areas in a manner that preserves the nature. The least interest in environmentally sustainable forest management occurred in the group of businesses (25%), while among private persons almost half (48%) would be happy to receive such instructional materials. The interest towards instructional materials on the management of feeding areas was above average in the group of forest districts (56%).Interest towards all measures has increased and there were less of those who would not want to do anything more for the birds (14%). The respondents were asked if they wished to add something on the given topic. The proposals were systematically divided into groups of relatively equal sizes, of which most opinions were related to the necessity of reviewing the restrictions from time to time and adjusting them to the actual conditions, alleviating the restrictions, and making them more logical. Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 9

10. 1. Endangered species that have caused restrictions to areas. Spontaneous.All respondents n=202 Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 10

11. 2. Respondents´ attitude to the restrictions Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 11

12. 3. The good aspects of the restrictions (summarised answers to open question).n=all respondents Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 12

13. 4. The unpleasant aspects of the restrictions (summarised answers to open question).n=all respondents Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 13

14. 5. Respondents´ opinion of the role of Black Stork and eagles. All respondentsn=202 Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 14

15. 6. Respondents´ opinion of the role of Black Stork and eagles. by attitude to the restrictions, n=respondents in the group Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 15

16. 7. Respondents´ opinion of the role of Black Stork and eagles. By the type of respondents, n=respondents in the group Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 16

17. 8. What has to be done to protect the eagles and Black Stork. n=202 Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 17

18. 9. The most important measure of protectionn=all respondents Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 18

19. 10. What has to be done to protect the eagles and Black Stork. Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 19

20. 11. What has to be done to protect the eagles and Black Stork. In the breakdown of the attitude to the restrictions Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 20

21. 12. Is it necessary to create protected areas round the nests? All respondents Private persons Forest districts Companies Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 21

22. 13. Is it necessary to create protected areas round the nests? All respondents Private persons Forest districts Company Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 22

23. 14. Which kind of help is expected from the state. n= all respondents Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 23

24. 15. The most expected help from the state(one answer allowed).n=202 Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 24

25. 16. The expected help from the nature protection organisations. n=all respondents Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 25

26. 17. The structure of the expectations and considerations, added by the respondents. All respondents n=202 Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 26

27. Project team Project management and report: Hella Kaldaru Fieldwork management: Kea Väinoja Computer processing: Kaire Siimon Graphs: Hella Kaldaru Contact: Phone: 6 684 859 Fax: 6 277 584 E-post: Hella@turu-uuringute.ee Homepage: www.turu-uuringute.ee Address: Tatari 6, 10 116 Tallinn Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing 27