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Estonia

108 IPAs have been identified in Estonia covering 286,084 hectares.

Estonia covers just over 45,000 km2 in north-east Europe. Lying on the shores of the Baltic Sea, immediately across the Gulf of Finland from Finland, Estonia borders Russia and Latvia and has one biogeographical zone, the Boreal. There is 3,794 kilometers (2,357 mi) of coastline marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets. Estonia has more than 1 500 islands, the largest of which is Saaremaa, which is about 2900 km2 in size. Estonia’s natural and semi-natural vegetation consists mainly of forests - mostly of pine, spruce and birch, they cover 55% of the country. About one fifth of Estonia is marsh or bog, mostly located in the central and eastern parts of the country and there are also 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.

108 IPAs have been identified in Estonia, with a total area of 286,084 ha. Forests are the most frequent habitat (77 IPAs – deciduous broadleaf forests 28, coniferous forest 49, mixed forest 46). Grassland occurs as a frequent and significant habitat cover at IPAs (65 IPAs), and mire, bog and fen habitats are frequent (51 IPAs). Inland water habitats are also well represented (31 IPAs – standing water 23, running water 21, littoral zone 5).There are many coastal habitats (43 IPAs – dunes 13, shingle 32, cliffs 28) and four IPAs with marine habitats including two which are 100% marine.

Apart from nature conservation activities on protected areas the most frequent land uses on IPAs in Estonia are tourism and recreation, forestry, haymaking or mowing, grazing animals, and hunting. Forestry practices threaten almost half of IPAs and recreation and tourist development threatens 44%. Abandonment and reduction of land management is a high or significant threat at 41% of IPAs and in total, development transport/infrastructure and urban) threatens 21%. Burning of vegetation threatens 21% and water management practices threaten 17%.

Fact-sheets on the Estonian IPAs are available on the IPA Online Database

References:

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

Coordinating organization:

• The Environmental Protection Institute, Tartu

National coordinator:

• Mart Külvik