The forests of the city of Tallinn (Reval) - a historical approach

This article deals with the development and management of the forests of th e city of Tallinn until 1940. At that time 2878 ha, or 22%, of the total ar ea of urban forests (13,100 ha) in the Republic of Estonia was owned by Tal linn. The development of forests in the city of Tallinn started in step wit h the formation of the medieval town at its site in the first half of the 1 3th century. The extensive precincts of the town (about 83 km(2)) also incl uded forest-like areas. Were may also be added the forest-covered islands o f Naissaar and Aegna (with the total area of about 22 km(2)) in the Bay of Tallinn that belonged to the town until the late 17th century. The lands wi thin the town precincts were initially in common use. Their priority was to meet the needs of the town and its inhabitants. Later the town also acquir ed a number of richly forested estates in the vicinity as well as farther a field. By the birth of the Republic of Estonia the city was bordered by lar ge forested areas, with a part of these spilling over into its administrati ve boundaries. The only plot farther afield (approximately 60 km) was a 890 ha section of forest. Modern forestry was introduced in Tallinn in the 1860's. At that time the u rban forest district was established, a competent head forester was employe d, and forest management was carried out in more important forests. Regular clear cutting was initiated, follow ed by reforestation. A number of fores ts suffering from excessive moisture were subjected to extensive melioratio n works. The wastelands within the boundaries of the city were started to b e forested. Among these, 160 ha of blown sand areas by Lake Ulemiste were p lanted with trees. The forests at some distance from the city were managed as quality production forests whereas those in its immediate vicinity and w ithin its administrative boundaries were treated as park forests since the late 19th century. The management of these was confined to selection, sanit ation and improvement felling. For the sake of variety, foreign cultures we re introduced. In the Republic of Estonia the management of forests was con tinued in line with the established principles, until the forests were nati onalized and included in the state forest fund following WW II.