Ess-soo peat extraction case is a great example of how people stood up against the system for their only wetland left in the area. In 2002, environmental service of Võru county in Estonia gave an order to issue a mining permit in Ess-soo wetland. Local environmental activists in Urvaste parish found out about this order two years later. The activists formed an association called Green Urvaste to stop Ess-soo from being destroyed and to establish Ess-soo nature protection area. Even experts found that Ess-soo should be Natura 2000 site. For locals, Ess-soo used to be a valuable recreation area and well known berry picking site. Most importantly, this wetland in southern Estonia is home for 11 protected bird species and several protected plants, which cannot survive when wetlands ecosystem is ruined through peat extraction. Activist fought many years to get Ess-soo under protection. After first trial which they lost it seemed that there is no point to continue, even the government was seemingly against them by giving the peat extraction company their permission. Still they did not stop until they got what they demanded - justice for this wetland. In 2007, when local municipality council decided not to take Ess-soo under protection, Green Urvaste sued them again because councils decision was not based on any analysis or calculations, only by speculations. Finally, they won in this lawsuit. The court obligated council to discuss Ess-soo topic one more time. Ess-soo was finally taken under local protection in December 2010. The company who had plans to start peat extraction in Ess-soo appealed this decision, but luckily it was dismissed by Tartu District Court. Ess-soo remains to be a local nature protection area to this day. Not all stories including wetlands or other rare ecosystems end well like it did for Ess-soo mire, but it was a battle for greater good.

Written by: Diana Sell

Related Case File Folder

Peat extraction in Ess-soo mire in Estonia