The Endla Nature Center is located in Tooma village, Jõgevamaa. The last children's camps were held there in August. Now the premises are empty and the employees have left.
Elo Raspel worked at the nature center for 15 years. She said that the number of employees has decreased in recent years. Before the closure, only three people worked there. The nature center played a significant role in providing nature education.
Leelo Kuke, deputy director general of the Environment Agency, said that the state needs to save money. In recent years, expenses have been reduced by 3 million euros. In addition to Endla, other offices have also been closed.
According to Kuke, more than 60 employees have been laid off. The maintenance of the Endla Nature Center cost 82,000 euros per year. To save this money, three employees would have had to be laid off.
Raspel and Kuke said that the quality of environmental education is declining because there are fewer providers.
Voldemar Ilves, a resident of Tooma village, said that the closure of the nature center affects the community. People often visited there. Now it is sad that it has been closed. Ilves fears that people will leave and the village will become deserted.