ECOCLUB, Issue 95
11
could be normalized without hunting but they had serious influence on elk, roe-deer, wild bore population and killed many dogs
and sheep. In that case hunting helped to stabilize our wildlife population. Our government worked also hard to get permission
from EU to hunt wolf, bear, lynx etc. But in case of ecotourism I think that we do not have to make only right decisions, but also
decisions that look right internationally for people from different cultural and natural environments. I remember a conference in
Sweden than many ecotourism related persons seemed unpleased when they heard that Swedish Natures Best ecolabel system
has included also hunting tours. I think that this is not a good idea when we will consider hunting as a ecotourism in Estonia.
ECOCLUB.com:
Tallinn is a wonderfully-preserved medieval city, rightly recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. However it is also developing as a city-break for stag nights, with young tourists arriving from places as far as the
UK, with bars and other associated establishments proliferating. Do you see this as a problem, and what is needed in
your view to attract those tourists who would better appreciate Estonia's vibrant nature & cultural traditions?
Mart Reimann: This is a problem that Tallinn has had reputation as a good party place with cheap alcohol and beautiful girls.
A good thing is that alcohol and also tourism services are getting more expensive here, so our tourism sector has to rely on other
attractions than cheap prices. I think that this is just a question of time when the image of a small cosy country with rich natural
and cultural heritage will get stronger than a nice party place. We do not have gorgeous natural attractions as Victoria Falls or
Grand Canyon that sells even without marketing efforts. Most interesting is how Estonian cultural and natural heritage are
harmoniously combined. We have big amount of predators, but it is not possible to find fear, anger and conflicts among local
communities towards them. Our most diverse natural habitats are actually semi-natural wooded meadows. People have lived for
centuries between nature and adjust their life well with natural forces. Some places are prepared that natural floods bring water
to their house every spring and they can paddle with boats in the room and put their bed to higher places in order not to have wet
nights
ECOCLUB.com:
Finally, at what time of the year should our readers visit Estonia, which top eco spots they should
not miss, and what type of eco activities could they pursue there?
Mart Reimann: I usually invite my friends in August when the biggest tourist crowds are gone, weather is usually still nice and
our Baltic sea has warmed up. I think that our biggest treasures are our 1500 islands were nature is well preserved and
traditional lifestyle has been preserved to a large extent. As most of islands are uninhabited it is good to take a trip with a
fishermen boat or a sea kayak. As 22% of Estonia is covered with wetlands, Estonians have used bog-shoes for centuries those
are similar for snow-shoes which are widely used in snow regions around a world. Thus bog-shoeing is definitely a must to do
ecotourism activity, this protects soft and fragile bog ground and avoids people to sink. In southern Estonia old traditions are
kept also very well. It is worth to visit farm networks where good local guides will show and explain how traditionally bees are
kept, honey made, bread baked, etc. Estonian limestone cliff is in UNESCO natural heritage list, together with waterfalls this is
the is a pearl of our Northern Estonian sites. In Soomaa (bogland) National Park one can still experience making of a traditional
one aspen log-boat and paddle with those on the rivers.
ECOCLUB: Thank you very much.
