Summary

The aim of the Law is to create an institutional system which helps a long–lasting maintenance of the values of the natural environment. One of the nearest goals of the envirnomental policy in Estonia is to carry out the land reform in such a way that natural resources would be maintained and not suffer damage from the reform. In the course of land privatization the determining of proper proportions of state – owned and private land is essential. The problem is especially topical in nature reserves and other protected areas. The economic loss caused by the governmental regulation of land use should be compensated to the landowners through land tax reduction or tax break.