According to the Ministry of the Environment, forest owners, for the second year, will receive support for private forest land located in the Natura 2000 area. Support will come through the Private Forest Center, the total sum to be 82 million kroons (5.2 million euros). According to Deputy Secretary General at the ministry, Andres Talijarv, this support is meant to help maintain the forests, and their value in terms of nature conservation. However, the owners can apply for a total of more than 100 million kroons, including support from the EU. According to ministry, the Private Forest Center also distributes national forestry support to private owners. The most important and substantial of these are support for the preparation of forest management plans and reforestation support.
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves expressed his condolences on Aug. 24 to the families of the members of the military killed in Afghanistan. "Our thoughts are filled with grief and our words with sympathy in memory of Sergeant Major Eerik Salmus and Sergeant Raivis Kang, the Estonian soldiers killed today in Afghanistan," the president said, as reported in a press release. He said that he learned of the death of two members of the Defense Forces, caused by the explosion of a mine in South Afghanistan. "Two families have lost sons, brothers and husbands, and Estonia has lost two brave soldiers that were fulfilling their obligation to their homeland," said Ilves. "Both victims were mine clearers, who were ridding Helmand Province of explosives. Our thoughts are with all those who are serving Estonia, on dangerous foreign missions.
