Important Plant Areas in Estonia

The IPAs identified in Estonia. For an
interactive map search the IPA database ( right hand column). ©Plantlife International

Text by Mart Külvik, Anneli Palo, Ülle Kukk, Ene Hurt, Tiiu Kull, Erast Parmasto, Kai Vellak, Elle Roosaluste, Inga Jüriado, Irja Saar

Estonia covers just over 45,000 km² in north-east Europe, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Estonia borders Russia and Latvia and has one biogeo-graphical zone, the Boreal. Estonia’s natural and semi-natural vegetation consists mainly of forest, mires, grasslands and coastal habitats. The Alvar forests and Alvar meadows are characteristic habitat types of the north-western and western part of Estonia and the Baltic Islands. Estonia joined the EU in May 2004 and is also a member of the Council of Europe.

IPA summary statistics

Total number of IPA: 108
Area of IPA (ha): 286,084
No/Area of IPA in Protected Areas (all or part): 103 IPA

IPA national team

National coordinating organisation: The Environmental Protection Institute, Tartu

National coordinator: Mart Külvik