Implementability of agro-environmental targets in Estonia

The document examines Estonia's agro-environmental targets set within the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, the Water Act, and the Nitrate Vulnerable Area programme. While chemical loads have decreased since 1990, challenges remain regarding fertiliser efficiency, manure management, and institutional coordination. The brief recommends integrating policies on the marine environment and water courses, establishing a permanent commission for water policy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment, and improving advisory services for small and medium producers.

• Estonia's agro-environmental targets are established across the Water Act, the Nitrate Vulnerable Area programme, and the Rural Development Plan for 2007-2013, covering air pollution, climate change, soil and water quality, and the use of plant protection products and fertilisers.
• The Pandivere and Adavere-Põltsamaa nitrate-vulnerable area, which comprises 7.7% of Estonia's territory, is a zone of conflict because it contains the country's most fertile soils but is a karst area where ground and surface water are poorly protected from pollution.
• Environmental chemical loads have been declining since 1990 following agricultural restructuring, and agricultural support payments provided further impetus between 2004 and 2010. However, phosphorus levels in organically farmed soils are decreasing because the manure used lacks sufficient phosphorus.
• The area dedicated to organic farming in Estonia grew from 8.8% in 2007 to 17.5% in 2009. Additionally, the share of protected territory increased from 12% in 2004 to 18% in 2010 after joining the EU Natura 2000 network, with 6% of total arable land located in Natura sites.
• Implementation of agro-environmental targets is hindered by inefficient manure and fertiliser management, insufficient capacity for marketing and processing organic production, poor advisory services for small and medium producers, and a lack of cooperation between implementing institutions.

APA

Peterson, K., Kuldna, P., & Poltimäe, H. (n.d.). Implementability of agro-environmental targets in Estonia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/SEI-BalticCompass-Policy_Brief_Estonia.pdf

Chicago

Peterson, Kaja, Piret Kuldna, and Helen Poltimäe. Implementability of agro-environmental targets in Estonia. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/SEI-BalticCompass-Policy_Brief_Estonia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Peterson |first1=Kaja |last2=Kuldna |first2=Piret |last3=Poltimäe |first3=Helen |title=Implementability of agro-environmental targets in Estonia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/SEI-BalticCompass-Policy_Brief_Estonia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{petersonndimplementability, author = {Peterson, Kaja and Kuldna, Piret and Poltimäe, Helen}, title = {{Implementability of agro-environmental targets in Estonia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Sustainable-livelihoods/SEI-BalticCompass-Policy_Brief_Estonia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }