EESTI LOODUSKAITSE SELTS

What EESTI LOODUSKAITSE SELTS does

Eesti Looduskaitse Selts (ELKS, English: Estonian Society for Nature Conservation) is a non-profit civic organization founded in 1966 in Tallinn by Jaan Eilart and 124 founding individuals. Its mission is to coordinate the relationship between nature and society in Estonia, promote sustainable development, advance nature conservation and landscape management, and increase environmental awareness among the Estonian population. The society operates through a network of local branches (osakonnad) in Tartu, Pärnu, Saaremaa, Maardu, Varstu and other locations, delivering its work via annual conferences, festival-conferences, nature trips, environmental education programs and local advocacy campaigns. Active programming in 2026 includes an Estonian Nature Day, a Saaremaa festival-conference at Suure Tõllu Puhkeküla, and a kokkutulek member gathering, alongside a library and art collection maintained at headquarters.

The society's technology footprint is deliberately lightweight: a trilingual website (Estonian, English, Russian) at elks.ee, an email newsletter (Infokiri), a YouTube channel for recorded conference content, and per-branch Facebook pages. It does not operate a mobile app, exposes no API, and has no proprietary software product. Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring individual membership fees, occasional event registration fees, and project grants from the Environmental Investment Centre (Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus), with additional in-kind support from the Climate Ministry (Kliimaministeerium), Environmental Board (Keskkonnaamet), State Forest Management Centre (RMK), the Estonian University of Life Sciences (Eesti Maaülikool), and cultural partners including the Estonian National Museum and the Finnish Institute in Estonia. Membership is open to the public and event participation does not require membership, making the organization effectively a hybrid membership-plus-public-engagement entity rather than a closed-membership society.

The current leadership is Chairman Kalev Sepp (Professor of Environmental Protection at Eesti Maaülikool, former IUCN Vice President, 2021 Eerik Kumari Award laureate), supported by a Secretary function. Historical peak membership reached approximately 23,000 individuals, while present-day active membership is materially smaller — the Tartu branch, for example, counts approximately 100 active members in 2026. ELKS plays a notable role in Estonian conservation policy, with its advocacy contributing to the establishment of the Sõrve Nature Protection Area (2023) and the proposal of Tõhela-Ermistu (2021).

Name

EESTI LOODUSKAITSE SELTS

Legal name

Eesti Looduskaitse Selts

Website

https://elks.ee

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Eesti Looduskaitse Selts is an Estonian non-profit nature conservation society founded in 1966, coordinating environmental education, advocacy, and community conservation projects through a nationwide network of local branches serving the Estonian public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAA

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYTHAAAGAL

Cultural Heritage & Indigenous-Led Visitor Services (Tribal Tours, Heritage Sites, Co-management)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access)

SECONDARYEDAJAMAJ

Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Educational Technology Solutions

Keywords

• Nature conservation services
• Environmental education programs
• Conservation advocacy
• Community conservation
• Sustainable development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Revenue generated through membership contributions from members across Estonia.
2. Event fees: Some events may have registration fees; annual conferences and festival-conferences are organized with support from various partners.
3. Project funding and grants: The organization receives support from the Environmental Investment Centre (Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus) for various conservation projects and activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eesti Looduskaitse Selts is a non-profit nature conservation society that coordinates relationships between nature and society through environmental education, advocacy, and community-based projects. It organizes annual conferences, festival-conferences, nature trips, and operates through a network of local branches across Estonia to promote sustainable development, landscape management, and cultural heritage preservation.

Product overview

Eesti Looduskaitse Selts (Estonian Society for Nature Conservation) is a non-profit nature conservation organization established in 1966, led by Jaan Eilart. The society does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional technology/product sense. Its activities include organizing annual conferences, festival-meetings, nature trips, educational programs, and environmental conservation initiatives. The organization publishes newsletters, maintains a library and art collection, and operates through regional departments across Estonia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Society Membership Annual membership in Estonia's oldest nature conservation society, open to anyone interested in nature conservation. Members gain access to events, conferences, nature trips, newsletters, and the society's library and art collection.
• Annual Conferences and Festival-Conferences Recurring educational events including annual general conferences and festival-conferences held in locations such as Saaremaa, featuring nature conservation speakers, presentations, and community gatherings for members and the public.
• Nature Trips Organized nature trips and excursions abroad for members, with logistics handled by partner travel agency Tiit-Reisid OÜ, allowing participants to explore natural environments and ecosystems.
• Email Newsletter (Infokiri) Regular email newsletter providing subscribers with updates on society activities, upcoming events, conservation news, and educational content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 years of continuous operation and nature conservation advocacy in Estonia

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kliimaministeerium (Climate Ministry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Climate Ministry collaborates with ELKS on organizing the Estonian Nature Day and other environmental initiatives. The ministry supports the organization's conservation efforts and policy development.
• SA Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus (Environmental Investment Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Environmental Investment Centre provides financial support for ELKS conferences, events, and various conservation projects. They co-fund the organization's activities and initiatives.
• Estonian University of Life Sciences (Eesti Maaülikool)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research expertise, conference venues, and student involvement in nature conservation activities.
• Keskkonnaamet (Environmental Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency that works with ELKS on environmental education, protected area management, and nature conservation initiatives.
• RMK (State Forest Management Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on nature tourism, visitor centers, and forest conservation education programs.
• Looduse OmnibussminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for nature education and outdoor activities, co-organizing Estonian Nature Day events.
• Eesti Rahva Muuseum (Estonian National Museum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner collaborating on exhibitions and events related to cultural heritage and nature conservation.
• Soome Instituut (Finnish Institute in Estonia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner supporting cultural exchange and cooperation between Estonia and Finland in nature conservation.
• Tiit-Reisid OÜminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTravel agency that organizes nature trips abroad for ELKS members, handling logistics and travel arrangements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest environmental association with a member-society, branch-based model focused on biodiversity, nature conservation, and environmental education. Comparable governance and engagement model, though operating at much greater scale.
• Sierra Club Foundation: One of the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organizations. Comparable in member-based governance, branch structure, and conservation advocacy mission, though far larger in scale and operating in the US.
• The National Trust: UK-based membership conservation charity that combines nature protection, heritage preservation, and public education. Comparable in its broad mission spanning nature, culture, and public engagement, and in member-supported financing.
• WWF Estonia (WWF Eesti): Estonian arm of a global conservation NGO. Directly comparable mission around nature protection in Estonia, but with vastly larger financial, staff, and international resources than ELKS.

Direct peers

• Eesti Metsaselts (Estonian Forest Society): Estonian non-profit society focused on forestry, forest conservation, and forest education. Overlaps with ELKS on its forest committee (metsatoimkond) activities and competes for similar members and policy attention around Estonian forest issues.
• Eestimaa Looduse Fond (Estonian Fund for Nature / ELF): Estonia's largest private nature conservation fund. Directly comparable: same Estonian geography, same conservation and environmental advocacy mission, similar reliance on donations, grants, and membership; competes for the same volunteer base and policy influence.
• Eesti Ornitoloogiaühing (Estonian Ornithological Society): Estonia's leading bird and nature conservation NGO. Comparable membership-based, branch-driven non-profit model focused on biodiversity monitoring, advocacy, and public engagement; serves the same Estonian donor and volunteer pool as ELKS.

Regional players

• Latvijas Ornitologu biedrība (Latvian Ornithological Society): Latvian biodiversity and nature conservation NGO with a comparable grassroots, member-driven structure and conservation-advocacy mission across the Baltic region.
• Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto (Finnish Association for Nature Conservation): Finland's largest environmental NGO, with a similar member-society structure, regional branches, and focus on conservation advocacy and environmental education. Operates in a neighboring Nordic-Baltic country with comparable socioeconomic and ecological context.

Emerging players

• Keskkonnaõiguse Keskus (KÕK / Estonian Environmental Law Centre): Estonian non-profit focused on environmental law and policy advocacy. Comparable in using a non-profit structure to influence Estonian environmental policy, but specialized in legal advocacy rather than grassroots conservation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcihyzZdwcGEjiE4jvqcTDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Eesti-Looduskaitse-Selts-178584468899590

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EESTI LOODUSKAITSE SELTS