Sep 10, 2015. /Lesprom Network/. The State Forest Management Centre (RMK) has commissioned the construction and renovation of more than 489 kilometres of forest roads and the reconstruction of 23,800 hectares of drainage systems across Estonia this year. These investments and regular maintenance works will require an annual outlay of Euro 23.3 million, as RMK says in the press release received by Lesprom Network.

According to Margus Reimann, Head of the RMK Forest Improvement Department, the most works this year are being carried out in Pärnu and Ida-Viru Counties, Estonia’s richest in terms of forest.

“Works are also being carried out on a significant scale in Jõgeva, Lääne-Viru, Valga and Põlva Counties, where, depending on the county, Euro 1.3 to 1.8 million is being invested in sites due for completion,” Reimann said. Only in Hiiu County will roads and drainage systems not be completed this year.

The majority of works will be completed in September - October, with RMK being serviced by more than 50 companies. In total, approximately 200 sites will be completed this year.

According to Margus Reimann, overall investment volumes will also fall within the same range in the coming years. “Our hope is to complete the reconstruction of old drainage systems by 2020-2022, with just regular maintenance works left for a while; however, road construction is an ongoing process,” he said. “For the existing roads, we are allowing a renovation cycle of 30 years.”

RMK is the keeper, protector and manager of the forest and other natural biotic communities belonging to the Estonian state.