Eesti Ornitoloogiahing1

1
LANDOWNERS ATTITUDE TO THE RESTRICTIONS RELATED
TO THE BIRD PROTECTION 2009

• Hella Kaldaru

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

3
Structure of sample. All respondents n202
Approximate area of forest
Respondents type
Working position
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.

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).
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 receive
more information and education related to nature
conservation.
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).
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.
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.
10
1. Endangered species that have caused
restrictions to areas. Spontaneous. All
respondents n202
11
2. Respondents attitude to the restrictions
12
3. The good aspects of the restrictions
(summarised answers to open question). nall
respondents
13
4. The unpleasant aspects of the restrictions
(summarised answers to open question). nall
respondents
14
5. Respondents opinion of the role of Black
Stork and eagles. All respondents n202
15
6. Respondents opinion of the role of Black
Stork and eagles. by attitude to the
restrictions, nrespondents in the group
16
7. Respondents opinion of the role of Black
Stork and eagles. By the type of respondents,
nrespondents in the group
17
8. What has to be done to protect the eagles and
Black Stork. n202
18
9. The most important measure of protection
nall respondents
19
10. What has to be done to protect the eagles and
Black Stork.
20
11. What has to be done to protect the eagles and
Black Stork. In the breakdown of the attitude to
the restrictions
21
12. Is it necessary to create protected areas
round the nests?
All respondents Private persons Forest
districts Companies
22
13. Is it necessary to create protected areas
round the nests?
All respondents Private persons Forest
districts Company
23
14. Which kind of help is expected from the
state. n all respondents
24
15. The most expected help from the state (one
answer allowed). n202
25
16. The expected help from the nature protection
organisations. nall respondents
26
17. The structure of the expectations and
considerations, added by the respondents. All
respondents n202
27
Project team

• Project management and report Hella Kaldaru
• Fieldwork management Kea Väinoja
• Computer processing Kaire Siimon
• Graphs Hella Kaldaru
• Contact
• Phone [phone]
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• E-post Hella_at_turu-uuringute.ee
• Homepage www.turu-uuringute.ee
• Address Tatari 6, 10 116 Tallinn