Häädemeeste Municipality- priorities and activities to guarantee sustainability in long term development Marika Kose & Merle Looring Häädemeeste Municipality Pärnu str 13, 86001 Häädemeeste Pärnumaa, Estonia Contribution of Häädemeeste to Estonian presentation / Session C03 22.03.2007, Sevilla

AGENDA 21 ESTONIA ONE OF THE GOALS: Viability of the Estonian cultural space, growth of welfare, coherent society, ecological balance.... ..... as an example in management of the small rural municipality HÄÄDEMEESTE

The preconditions Nature Reserves and NATURA 2000 areas cover more than1/3 of the municipalities territory Bogs and forests cover 3/4 of the territory Most of the population (alltogether 3200) lives in coastal area Area is becoming more and more popular among tourists VIA BALTICA highway is crossing the municipality

HÄÄDEMEESTE

Municipality strategy in using (nature) resources The municipality favours and participates in projects and activities which promote and enable to use nature resources in smaller scale and in longer run. The municipality has not been against to the creation of Nature Reserves and Natura 2000 areas in its territory. The spatial planning of the Häädemeeste is strictly regulating the building and favors the public interest on coast and other habitats

Coastal meadow at Häädemeeste

Wild gladiolus Gladiolus imbricatus on coastal meadows

HÄÄDEMEESTE municipality has seen its potential in investing the environment quality and inhabitants awareness as well as visitors. has participated or initiated several smaller and larger scale projects, restoring and promoting local nature values to wider public

The projects 1997-1998 Phare project (Rannametsa Nature trail, tourism Development plan, Yacht port technical design) 2001-2005 LIFE Nature Project (coastal meadow and bog restoration, Nature tourism facilities, working camps, promotion ...) 2005-2007 ERDF project on nature conservation activities 2005-2006 Interreg IIIA project Cross border tourism development and PIN Matra, ERDF, INTERREG, etc by different Nature conservation organisations, taking place in Häädemeeste territory

LIFE Häädemeeste project has enabled the local municipality and community a useful experience in managing conservational, tourism- and training projects, which has resulted in participation in several environmental and cross-border cooperation projects. Municipality has prepared 2 projects to Norwegian Fund Municipality is preparing projects for next EU programming period (Leader +, LIFE +, INTERREG)

Benefits from EU LIFE Nature Using the finances of EU LIFE project the coastal meadows have been restored and managed afterwards, which has maintained both the biodiversity as well as traditional land use Successful nature conservational activities in the region has brought significant positive recognition to the municipality and has had a positive impact to the economical development.

Continuation The conservational land management and argy-environmental subsidies has kept residents in the region, offering them economical perspectives as well as substances. Healthy and well- functioning ecosystems as well as positive international and national recognition rises the confidence of the inhabitants and the potential of the municipality for further applications

Future perspectives Häädemeeste Municipality has founded a FOUNDATION LUITEMAA to promote the region and write projects Via planning processes municipality tries to promote healthy and sustainable solutions for residents and nature Together with Nature Conervation Centre the tourism attractions and visitors guidance in nature are developed

Volunteers cleaning the coast from reedbeds in a working camp

Bird watching is popular in our coast, one can see alltogether 265 bird species here. There are about 10 different birding towers on coast and in the woods

The area is a popular destination for different conferences and post conference tours, scientific researches and student excursions. It has brought a lot of international recognition and visits to the area.