Pille Ligi: Let’s turn European Union’s passive nature conservation into active nature stewardship!
Pille Ligi, the head of The Estonian Nature Fund, and Mari Köhler (IRC) from Luua Forestry School discuss the achievements, key highlights, and future goals of the WESEM project as it enters its second year.
Mari Köhler: Thank you Pille for joining me today to discuss the WESEM project. Can you start by telling a bit about the project and its main goals?
Pille Ligi: Absolutely! The WESEM (Wildlife Estates Sustainable & Ethical Management) project was launched in late 2023, and it focuses on sustainable and ethical management practices for forests and agricultural lands. It’s part of a larger effort to train professionals in forestry, agriculture, and environmental science to provide guidance to landowners and farmers. Our goal is to help them achieve the Wildlife Estate certification, which promotes environmentally friendly and sustainable land management.
Mari Köhler: That sounds like an important initiative. As the project has just reached its midpoint, could you share some key highlights from the project’s progress so far?
Pille Ligi: As of early 2025, we are halfway through the project. One major milestone was our third meeting, which took place in the beautiful region of Andalusia, Spain. During this meeting, we assessed the progress we’ve made in the past year and evaluated the training content we’ve developed. One of the key outcomes was refining our objectives for an online learning platform and a mentorship network. We also analyzed resources created to fill the gaps in the workforce, particularly focusing on the shortage of experts who can provide advice on nature conservation and biodiversity.
Mari Köhler: It seems that education and the development of practical tools are central to the project. Could you elaborate on the tools and resources that have been developed so far?
Pille Ligi: One of the key achievements has been the development of a toolset that provides practical advice for landowners who want to adopt ethical and sustainable management practices in their forestry operations. This toolset also helps them work toward the Wildlife Estate certification. The demo version of this toolset was presented during our meeting in Spain, and it will be continually refined as we move forward. We are creating flexible, practical, and web-based vocational training materials, which we believe will be incredibly beneficial for professionals in the field.
Mari Köhler: You also mentioned the importance of creating a network of consultants. How does this part of the project fit in?
Pille Ligi: Exactly. Another important aspect of the project is addressing the shortage of consultants who are knowledgeable about sustainable land management practices. We’re focusing on building a network of trained professionals who can not only help landowners understand the requirements of the Wildlife Estate certification but also encourage others to join the network. By creating an accessible and flexible learning system, we hope to provide both the knowledge, and the support needed to fill this gap in the workforce.
Mari Köhler: The project seems to be gaining great momentum! There was also a visit to a significant agricultural estate in Spain. Can you say more about that?
Pille Ligi: Yes, during our meeting, we had the opportunity to visit Castillo de Canena, a property that has achieved global leadership in the extra-virgin olive oil sector through its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and quality. This visit was very inspiring, as it highlighted how sustainability can be integrated into business models. It’s exactly the kind of innovative thinking we want to encourage among the landowners and professionals we work with. We’re thrilled that the next international meeting will be held at the Luua Forestry School in Estonia this summer, where we’ll continue to build on this momentum.
Mari Köhler: Thank you – I’m also looking forward to hosting the next meeting at Luua! How do you see the next phase of the project unfolding?
Pille Ligi: Moving forward, we will continue developing our educational offerings for both vocational students and professionals in the forestry, agriculture, and environmental fields. All of this information will be consolidated on a shared platform, making it easier for participants to access and engage with it. Our aim is to provide practical, real-world training that is flexible and can adapt to the needs of both the workforce and landowners who want to adopt sustainable practices.
Mari Köhler: Thank you for sharing all of this. It’s clear that the WESEM project may have a significant impact on both the environment as well as on the wider forestry and agricultural sector. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Pille Ligi: I’m excited about the progress we’ve made, and I hope that the work we’re doing will have a lasting effect on land management in Europe. We’re not just promoting a certification system; we’re building a community of professionals who are passionate about sustainable land use. The collaboration between educational institutions, industry leaders, and landowners will ultimately drive long-term change. We’re looking forward to the next steps and the continued development of this project.
Mari Köhler: Thank you so much for your time and insights today.
Pille Ligi: Thank you! I appreciate your support and the possibility to share information about the WESEM project with a larger community of European green sector VETs.
Key Benefits of WESEM
- Vocational Training – WESEM trains professionals to advise landowners on sustainable land management.
- Practical Tools – The project develops digital training materials and a mentorship network to support sustainable practices.
- International Cooperation – WESEM connects countries and organizations to share best practices and advance Green Deal goals.
Authors: Mari Köhler and Pille Ligi