The blatant destruction of Estonian nature? Example of Matsalu.

It has been noticed that recently there has been a sharp increase in clear-cutting of protected forests in Estonia, in places where you should not even have an ax with you.

According to the topic, an investigation has also been made that behind all this scheming are fat mountains of money and the direction of general opinion through PR companies. Took it Delphi also finally up.

• Wasp I – METSik lobby: Leaked internal documents reveal how forest industry influence the public
• Wasp II – METSik lobby: “We’re going into enemy territory.” The public relations manager taught the industrialists how to wage a forest war

What is seriously worrisome is that a large wind farm was started to be planned from last summer, nowhere else but next to the Matsalu conservation area. This is Estonia’s most important nature reserve, as the lion’s share of migratory birds that come to Europe stop there. Every spring and autumn it passes approx 3m lindu.

The wind farm next door will essentially destroy it. More on that:

• “Basically a death blow!” The huge wind farm is planned right next to the Matsalu National Park
• A trap for local governments: if the local government says “no” to the wind farm developer, the court road awaits

In essence, mafia-style action takes place, where Mait Õunapuu and Magnus Velling (RNW Projects OÜ) yes Timo Tatar yes Matthew Michael Charles Braund (Ignitis renewables DevCo1 OÜ) intend to push through their wishes to complete this plan and destroy one of the most important points of contact for nature in Estonia. And what does the Estonian state do? Intends to reward the municipality if it allows the wind park there.

• Option A: you follow the law and refuse, you will lose the state’s money and you will have to go to court.
• Option B: you whistle to the laws, your voters, but you earn an extra million from the state "for support" and some "bagfuls" bonus money from construction companies.

Yesterday (22.03.2026) one of the most blatant acts of destruction that has taken place there in the last 30 years was discovered in the Matsalu area – the quay area. Hectares of clearing and destruction of very special soil. At first, state officials did not even dare to go there to register it, they were needed with the media "to threaten" to put your feet down. They shrugged and "well, yes, what’s up?". All this in early spring, when not even a branch can be broken.